Yesterday was a very long and rushed day. I got to bed late 12:45am and being sick, the blog was low on the priority list.
Currently sitting in compartment F on a top bunk of the First Class A/C 4 berth compartment I share with an Indian family… more about that later.
We had an al la carte breakfast in the courtyard as there were not many guests in the hotel that night. Everyone is sick and not looking forward to the long drive to Agra.
The roadside scenes were as always highly entertaining and the cameras could not record the moments with sufficient speed – frequently ‘aaah missed it!’ is heard. Successful shots are shared and admired.
As we were not sure what time I had to be in Delhi for the train we moved the Agra fort visit to today. The schedule was jam-packed.
Our first visit was Keoladeo National Park – a birders paradise if you plan your visit to coincide with the bird migrations. Before we headed off into the “great outdoors” we had to conquer the ladies facilities – catering to locals, not international tourists. It was bound to have happened at some point in the tour… luckily it was clean and well maintained.
The guide gave me creeps. He was shifty with a high reedy voice. There was some mixup with our booking and the entry payments and he kept mentioning how lucky we are to have gotten the electric golf cart for the 1 hour whistle-stop birdwatching trip (so called – VIP transport) and the 500 Rupees just kept popping up in the conversation. At some point I wondered if he would shut the heck up if I just give him the money. We saw a few birds, looked at some through the telescope (especially for you… see VIP). We walked past the temple after which the park was named. At some point he actually said – Now you pay me R2000 and the driver you can tip as you please… Adam payed him. Once he had his money (halfway back) he lost interest, no more stops and explanations, it was as if he could not deposit us back at the entrance fast enough. Which as all good with me anyhow. By the time we returned Mann Singh had sorted out the issue with the tour company and refunded Adam.
Our guide for Agra (hence forward known as road runner -RR) joined us on the way to Fatephur Sikri. He is a very knowledgeable guide, but he moves at the speed of light. We had to run to keep up with him. The complex is beautiful and we also took a look inside the adjoining mosque.We could only go as far as the courtyard, has it was Friday prayer. We took a look from the shady collonaded side pavilion. That red sandstone is HOT midday – no shoes in complex, remember?
We then went to lunch before going to Agra to visit the Agra Fort. We got there just in time to do the tour before sunset – the light was actually beautiful. At first the smell along the entry route is quite overpowering, but once you get into the perfectly manicured complex, it is a clean flower-filled oasis of calm (save the throngs of tourists, of course).
It is difficult to explain… the white marble work is exquisite, pity the fountains are empty. My camera worked overtime.
We then visited a workshop that specializes in the inlay of precious and semi-precious stones in marble. This is used through-out the white Marble palaces in Agra fort and what gives the Taj Mahal its jewelbox features. It looks like it is painted on the marble. Here Sara got some ‘retail therapy’ and was rewarded by with a little marble elephant gift from the store. Adam also took some marble home.
With all this shopping additional luggage was called for. On the way to the hotel we stopped for luggage re-enforcements. Adam and Sara bought the small and medium trolley carry-ons of a sand coloured set. I indulged in a red small trolley carry-on to store non-essential items at the Delhi hotel while out in Varanasi and Rathambore legs of the trip.
We got to the hotel, refreshed and at 08:00 pm set out for our postponed “welcome dinner” compliments of the tour company. Actually it turned out to be farewell dinner as I will be moving on solo to Varanasi the next day. The food was excellent and the restaurant is across the road from the first McDonalds store we have come across in India – photo time!
Back in the hotel I sms’ed the company to confirm the required schedule for the next day, as my departure time will determine the pace of the day. Luckily I am only due by 17:00 at the station.
I went through the luggage to determine what can go into the red case. After the first sort, the case was still more than 15kg. I ended up with 14kg. This will have to do.
Then it was bed time as we had to be at the Taj Mahal at 06:15 for sunrise.
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