29-30 jan

So from delhi, much too early, we took a train to Agra. thats where the taj mahal is basically! pretty much a must-see. So arrived at our accommodation and there it was! from the roof top terrace you had an amazing view of it, it is really so amazing to see in real life and it is so beautiful. we'd decided to do yet another early start (cos i'm so good in the mornings) the next day as apparently sunrise is amazing time to view it. agra is quite small and nice to escape the vastness and chaos of big time delhi. headed to agr fort where the dude who built the taj lived and then was later imprisoned by his son. nice. so that was another cultural notch in our belt, considering i'm usually more concerned woith the food and shopping...
Talking of which, had dinner in place called taj cafe, of coruse ordered and ate far too much, but was family owned and mum was cooking and kids were waiting, just the nicest people and good home cooked food too! still loving that butter nan!
got up at 6am, headed down to th taj. security was tight and the security ladies (as i was in the womens security check queue) thought my mittens/gloves were very strange...
anyways walked through and sat and watched it get light around the taj. so so beautiful and peaceful (until toursit bus arrived) and just amazing to be somewhere you have seen so many times. is so big , considering is just a tomb for the dudes second wife, she died during childbirth of her 14th child (did she not think to perhaps give up after 13???!!). but is amzing has all these flowers on it, well can't explain, go see for yourself. in great condition considering from 1600's...everthing here seems to be in good condition...perhaps building with marble or soemthing?
went for a walk to the local village, away from the tourist routes, all nice normal people again so good to gt away from touts and remind youself of the normal everyday people.
rest of the day was a bit of a writeoff for me, as ate something for lunch which REALLY didn't agree and had to retire to bed (and bathroom..). first case of delhi belly!!! guttered.