Despite our hotel in Lucknow being more than adequate I still found myself tucking my money belt deeper into my groin whilst eying people with Gestapo like suspicion. Unnecessary really when the closest we have come to being robbed is by the cycle rickshaw drivers who do so in plain daylight. after another confusing exit and a quick stop to ask directions from the only white person we say (an albino Indian man incedently, so useless) we set off on the NH2 road to Agra.
It is easy to see why the Taj Mahal is the number one sight to see in India, as Steph and I limped the last remaining kilometers of the 370ish KM drive from Lucknow, the towers and dome of the Taj became visible. the heat of Agra was nothing like what we had experienced anywhere else in India. It was ferocious, made worse by the fact that it was the suns highest point of the day. It is always a challenge trying to find your hotel in the chaotic streets of an Indian city, so we thought we could make things easier by using google maps.. our plan failed and once again we were touring the side streets of an Indian city swearing and wondering how anyone could live like this. Eventually we got to the Taj Mahal and were told that we could drive no further, we would have to park and walk to our hotel, and that the Tuk couldnt be left over night. This was a nightmare as there was literally no where to park within 5 kilometers. The result was we had to abandon our hotel booking after some strong words from the police, and we settled for one further away but still with a good view of the Taj. there really is no way to describe the taste of a cold beer watching the sun set and the bats fly over the Taj Mahal, easily one of the greatest experiences of my life.
After deciding that the Taj was best seen in the morning before the hordes arrived Steph and I decided a day of rest was needed, during which we could finally sort out some sort of insurance for the rickshaw. This proved to be very entertaining, with the help of my new over enthusiastic freind Mathew and his accomplice, we negotiated the streets of Agra to the Transport Naga (transport district). Steph, who had Delhi belly remained at the hotel suffering hard whilst i fought the bureaucracy of three overwheight men sat on chairs by the side of the road with a stack of paper. Needless to say some extra money was needed to ensure that our insurance was done today. After a quick dash across 4 lanes of fast moving motorway traffic and a trip to the ATM I was 4000Rs lighter and awaiting my finished documents which are going to be delivered tonight. We will have to wait and see.
It is easy to see why the Taj Mahal is the number one sight to see in India, as Steph and I limped the last remaining kilometers of the 370ish KM drive from Lucknow, the towers and dome of the Taj became visible. the heat of Agra was nothing like what we had experienced anywhere else in India. It was ferocious, made worse by the fact that it was the suns highest point of the day. It is always a challenge trying to find your hotel in the chaotic streets of an Indian city, so we thought we could make things easier by using google maps.. our plan failed and once again we were touring the side streets of an Indian city swearing and wondering how anyone could live like this. Eventually we got to the Taj Mahal and were told that we could drive no further, we would have to park and walk to our hotel, and that the Tuk couldnt be left over night. This was a nightmare as there was literally no where to park within 5 kilometers. The result was we had to abandon our hotel booking after some strong words from the police, and we settled for one further away but still with a good view of the Taj. there really is no way to describe the taste of a cold beer watching the sun set and the bats fly over the Taj Mahal, easily one of the greatest experiences of my life.
After deciding that the Taj was best seen in the morning before the hordes arrived Steph and I decided a day of rest was needed, during which we could finally sort out some sort of insurance for the rickshaw. This proved to be very entertaining, with the help of my new over enthusiastic freind Mathew and his accomplice, we negotiated the streets of Agra to the Transport Naga (transport district). Steph, who had Delhi belly remained at the hotel suffering hard whilst i fought the bureaucracy of three overwheight men sat on chairs by the side of the road with a stack of paper. Needless to say some extra money was needed to ensure that our insurance was done today. After a quick dash across 4 lanes of fast moving motorway traffic and a trip to the ATM I was 4000Rs lighter and awaiting my finished documents which are going to be delivered tonight. We will have to wait and see.
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