Taj Mahal- and almost getting kicked out of it

*Woke up at the tender time of 4 AM to leave Delhi. Headed to the train station which was pretty much the craziest three minutes of my life. It’s pitch black, and all those lovely vehicles are brushing past you in a mad rush to the station. Meanwhile, you’re walking in between buses, and other moving objects, trying to cross the street with 60 other awkward Americans. The station itself reminds me of Europe, except there are bodies everywhere with blankets wrapped around them like cocoons. Except every now and then your wondering if it’s really a body because it’s so tiny. But, yeah, it is. A little rat runs across the tracks- yummy. Everyone is just staring at you, which believe it or not- you totally get used to by day 3. I actually run into my roommate Mason, which is amazing because I thought she wouldn’t have made her 12:40 flight the day before considering it was an hour away and we left the ship circa 11 or so. (She stepped on the plane at 12:38 precisely, no joke.) Then we went on the train to Agra. On the way we go between rice fields and shanties. We start to see people squatting. The people start to become prevalent. Hmm… what are they doing? Workers? Sitting, pondering life? No… most definitely shitting right there. Right next to your train. Hundreds of people just pulling down their pants and -viola!- potty time.

*After breakfast we headed to some structure- Taj Mehal? Taj Mahal? Something like that. It’s like, white? Haha… So we were dropped off at the beginning of a park. We were like where is it? We expected some huge looming building with life surrounding it. Instead, it’s tucked away in this huge park. Of course, the beggers and people selling things see the huge TOURIST bus and 194347327 cameras and go nuts. Which triggers this huge effect. EVERYONE on the street is suddenly alive. 10 for 100 rupee. Rickshaw? Maybe later, Madame. Remember my name. Madame, madame! Walking next to you the entire way holding up little globes of the Taj Mahal. Their little hands sticking things in your face. Then of course there are the crippled. Glued in your memory. The man- so little- with his right arm permanently draped behind his back and laying next to his left. The older man who dragged his body with his arms, with his foot limp and folded under as if boneless. Then you get to the turn before the entrance. Men stand behind sandbags with their guns sticking out. On a bench to your right are more with their guns just dangling in their hands.

*Before you enter the Taj is a giant courtyard with red buildings. Then you go through an arched building and there you have it. 22 years of work. Entirely marble. Embedded with rubies, emerald, and other precious stones. Perfectly proportional. The four pillars slanting so should there ever be an earthquake or anything, they would fall away from the main building. Oh, and 10938782 tourists. Haha…

*PS- Don’t feel inclined to take a picture with any handwritten signs. You will be harassed by your favorite gunmen and a fight with your guide in a rapid Indian language will ensue. I did not- but a couple girls in our group did.

*So the Taj Mahal was a gift from the king to his deceased wife. Before she died she made him promise him he would never marry again and remember her. So remember her she did and henceforth one of the 7 new world wonders. We stopped by a marble place and watched how they carved one stone, let alone thousands that are in the Taj. Impressive. Except it’s just like looking at a picture. I mean, I knew exactly what to expect. We all see them. The pictures pretending to hold it, or dangle it, or appear larger than it. Surprise surprise, it’s the same as the pictures. Except… you’re there going, ‘Oh my god, I am ACTUALLY here.’ The structure of it is undoubtedly beautiful and special. That isn’t why the experience is so unbelievable. It’s more of, I made it here. A sense of gratification that you have to be doing something right with your life to have gotten there by 20.

*Not to mention- the most BOMB picture I have ever taken in my life. EVER. But first, let’s talk about pictures. Be ready to have 3284 tourists walking RIGHT in front of your picture and 29473 behind it. Clearly, I’m taking a picture SIR. Thank you for joining me. Then, if you take a different angle or pose- EVERYONE will follow. A bunch of British men saw me take one pond up, and immediately assumed the same position, snapping away. As far as the best picture ever- well, you’ll just have to see. Can’t give it away now can I? Let’s just say maybe gymnastics paid off after all.

*After the Taj Mahal, we visited the fort the king was imprisoned in the last 8 years of his life- by his son. After for stopping for lunch, we started making our 6 hour drive to Jaipur. We stopped at another palace. Let me tell you- you haven’t lived until you have used the luxurious squat toilets smack dab in the middle of a fort. Then we walked to our bus, being swarmed by thousands of kids all expecting pens and gum- apparently what other tourists have given as the standard. Got in our bus and napped on and off for the next couples hours or so. It was hard because every now and then we’d come to a screeching halt, nearly crashing into the car in front of us- which was usually, convientently telling us HIGHLY FLAMMABLE in giant red paint. Nice. Oh, and the other time where it was almost a human- but who cares about those things. Right. So in comparison to the more urban setting in the South, this was more rural. Every now and then we’d hit a patch of stores, hundreds of people, and no homes. Then we’d go through huge patches of land, and repeat. The shops and areas with civilization was always different. After the entire trip, I still think I’d be in awe every time. You can’t really soak it all in. There would be areas that looked like a set out of Aladdin. You know, the wooden frames in front of little store fronts and tarps. Complete with monkeys and all. You’d have your fair share of fruit stands. Other stores had strips and strips of what I am assuming to be little candies hanging from the ceilings. Then, you’d have cows. Cows, cows, and more cows. Just chilling like nobodies business. We arrived in Jaipur late, had a quick dinner, and practically collapsed in bed. All the traveling has been so exhausting, but you want to keep your eyes open and see as much as you can.