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Unfortunately my fears of some form of Delhi belly came to reality today.  Thankfully I had arranged for my driver Ali to pick me up after 9.30am.

I had been suitably stocked with medical supplies for the occasion, so we will see how it goes.  Ali and his co-driver, I have no idea why there were two people required other than the fact that one spoke pretty good tourist English, arrived at the hotel.   I told him that we will start with the Taj Mahal and see how we go.  He wanted to take me in a different order but I insisted.  He parked up and guided me how to get the ticket and what not to do.  A 10 seater electric golf trolley ferried the High Ticket payers (Foreigners) to within 200 yards of the gate. The Taj Mahal doesn’t allow vehicles to go any further to maintain the serenity of the place.  Once through the security scanners of the Army you immediately bump into ‘Guides’.  They stand there and do an assumptive sales close.  They talk about something and then say that they will be your guide for 100 Rupees.  You get a feel that they all do the Guide then Tour of their brother’s emporium.  There are also lots of touts who want to guide you on taking the best photos or sell you photos.  That aside, the whole site is really quite amazing and despite the volume of people and the pushing.  Yes, Indian’s have a tendency to push you if you are moving slowly in a queue.  Everyone knows that if you all run through a narrow space at the same time that you all get through quicker and safely.

Let’s talk about the Taj Mahal.  The first glimpse you get of the White Mausaleum, the pictures you see of this real wonder, is through a large domed gate.  From about 100 yards away, its like spying through a keyhole.  As you walk through the Gate, you really get a sense of ‘Wow’.  Bleached in the sunlight the marble is the brightest white.   The gardens and shallow ponds that create an aperitif for the main attraction are equally well manicured.  Built by the Shah Jahan as a tribute and resting ground for his wife.  He must have loved her a lot.  You can go off in any direction but lots of people try to see the central perspective that lines everything up and I have to say that is a special photo.  I hope I have done it proud.  In the sunlight it is hard to see the screen on your camera, so I made a double route to make sure.  The Mauseleum itself was a bit disappointing just due to the behaviour of the Indian tourists and the reaction of the security staff.  The sign says “No noise, no photography” and I think that is a bit of respect that the place deserves.  All you could hear was jabba, jabba, jabba as the sounds merged into one and Flash after Flash after Flash.  The security response was to blow a loud whistle and yell when a Flash went off.  Not quite the serenity that this deserved, more fitting a Milan local derby at the San Siro stadium.

But let me not detract from this wonder of architecture that has survived centuries to still be the icon of India.

Around the rest of the complex there are Templates and high walls of Red sandstone in a highly symmetrical layout.  It really is beautiful.  In this case pictures do say a 1000 words so just have a look.

I had about Two and a Half hours at the Taj Mahal and the sun was beginning to bake and my stomach was beginning to brew.  I made my way back to the the Driver in the exact reverse order, but also this time after having to forcefully tell a Bicycle Taxi to go away.  I advised the Driver to take me to the Hotel and he agreed that in this heat it is pointless seeing anything else until 4pm.  I was very hungry by this stage as I hadn’t eaten much in over a day but the only less spicy thing on the menu was some Pasta with Bolognese sauce.  It was fine though, not as in Milano, but…

At 4pm the two cohorts were in the Hotel Car Park waiting for me.  I told them that I would have to cancel my car now, but paid them a full days price to compensate them.  Ali asked if he could have a tip on top, but I just look at him and pointed to the 1000 Rupees I have given his co-pilot.  We had agreed a price of 960 the night before.  “Let me take you to one more location” said Ali.  I refused, but his co-pilot said “OK, but let me take you to see the treasure of Agra”.  This is when I could see that they were not listening and wanted to take me on the shopping trip.  This made me straighten up to my full high and I would say I was a foot taller than both of them.  They got the point, but did mutter between them as they left.  I know it is the way they doing things, but a pain nevertheless.  I really had seen what I had come for and it had beaten my expectation and I needed to fix myself for a long day up to Amritsar via the train and another flight from Delhi tomorrow, so I felt I had made the right decision.