Mar 8, 2011 After a 5:00 am wakeup call (yuck!) we got up and ready for breakfast. Breakfast was a mixture of traditional Indian food and some cereal, which was delicious. Ive never drunk so much milk so fast- it tasted so amazing after a couple months of little access to milk. After breakfast we made our way to the Dehli train station to catch the Taj Express train to Agra, to see the famous Taj Mahal. We left our extra breakfast on the platform outside the station for the street children. This was our guides idea because of her belief in Karma. As Hindus, many people in India feel that what they give, they will receive. Our guide Achla explained this to us by saying that even the most wealthy Indian man will bend over to hand a child his extra cookies while hes waiting for the train. Because of their belief in Karma, most of India is a very peaceful culture. Of course, this could have been Achlas way of trying to trump up her country, but I have to confess that I personally did not see anything to disprove her statements. We had to wait at the station for about an hour, and as we were waiting I could just see the leads from Slumdog Millionaire dancing in the Dehli station to Jai Ho. When our train pulled up we were all anxious about what to expect but we boarded the 1st class AC car with assigned seats. Once we were comfortable I put in my headphones and looked out the window to watch the Indian countryside roll by. I could not look any direction without seeing someone shitting somewhere. Seriously, this is no exaggeration. Two things about India: there are always people everywhere and someone is always shitting. It seemed like the train tracks were being used for public restrooms or something. After a while it wasnt as shocking, though, and it began to blend into the scenery. After a three-hour train ride we boarded a bus (seems to be a general theme, huh?) to our hotel in Agra. We got to the Hotel Marina and had to go through an extensive security check before we could even walk through the door. First our bags were x-rayed, then we were patted down and wanded, then we walked through a metal detector! I guess the security for touristy hotels has really cracked down since that terrorist attack in Mumbai a couple years ago, which I suppose I should be thankful for. After we checked in we were given the opportunity for a quick shopping trip before lunch. Genevieve and I decided not to go because both of us had already done a lot of shopping that first day, so we napped in our room for about an hour before we met the rest of the group for lunch at the hotel. The lunch was delicious. It had similar choices to that lunch I had the first day, and this is when I really decided that I love Tofu Masala. Its a kind of curried tofu, and is absolutely delicious. Naan, a type of bread, is served with every meal so I would get the Masala and the Naan and eat it all up. I cannot wait to get an Indian cookbook when I get home and try out some recipes. Anyway, after lunch we headed to the Agra Fort. For many centuries it was the most well protected place in India- its surrounded by moats and heavy gates. It was beautiful, red sandstone everywhere and lots of little details. Inside the walls is the palace of the Mongols. There was lots of interesting history that I dont remember, but the thing that stuck with me the most was the hawkers at the stands outside. Ive experienced plenty of persistent people trying to see their stuff, but that was NOTHING compared to this. These people do not let up. Saying no, ignoring them, being rude- nothing stops them. They keep following you and grabbing you and bargaining themselves down. It was very overwhelming so as we were leaving we all practically raced to get on the bus. From there the bus finally took us to the Taj Mahal. Even while I was there, it still looked completely like something from a postcard, like I was standing in front of a green screen. It is beautiful. The building is constructed so exactly symmetrical that pictures cannot do it justice. We spent the evening there and watched the sunset. We sat on the side of the Taj and watched the sun hit the different angles of the building and it was amazing. It truly looked different from moment to moment. Of course, along with the beautiful setting came masses of people. People from all over were there, including TONS of Indians. I was the ultimate tourist and bought the professional photographers pictures of me holding the tip of the Taj between my fingers. While we were there I ran into Meredith, Kim, Katie, Jenny, Kelly, and Patrick and I was so thrilled. Finally I was with my friends! I know it sounds ungrateful, but I truly was so excited to be there with them. We all left after the sunset and split up to go to our respective hotels, and when we got to the hotel we went to dinner. The dinner was delicious, the tofu Masala again of course, and then we headed off to bed.
