Ok I know I disappeared for a few days, but it has not been easy to find access to the internet (despite what many of you told me before I left!!). So I will try to remember most things that have happened since last I wrote. I know I am teased by many for having the memory of an elephant, but believe me, in this heat, I think my brain may have melted a bit!!
Here goes ... TUES 15th we finally left Varanasi!!! Having got through the embarassment of signing out of our hotel AGAIN, we made it to the train station in plenty of time and met a couple of Russian ladies - Irene and Lena - sharing with us. (One spoke English, the other understood English but could speak French - which Claudine is fluent in and they both spoke Russian - which Claudine can speak too!!) So, I let Claudine practise her language skills whilst I lay back and listened to my music and read my book.
This particular train journey was so much better than the last, (less crowded and no 'gaseous noises' or gobbing up) our dinner comprised of a packet of Oreo Cookies and a mango juice as there was no food served, (well apart from 4am when someone walked down the aisles shouting out 'Chai, Chai!!') Unfortunately it took me a while to fall asleep and when I fnally did, the light was flicked on at about 1am as the 'cabin boy' showed another man to his bed above Claudine and then continued to have a long and loud conversation with the ticket inspector, with no regard for the rest of us sleeping there. That was until we shouted out in unison: 'Shut Up!!' which seems to be a universal term!
Finally we arrived in Agra!! Our driver Suresh was there to meet us - the train was an hour late!!! And he drove us to our hotel.
Our first place to visit that day was of course ... The Taj Mahal!!! It is absolutely stunning!!! So pleased I didn't miss the opportunity to see one of the Seven Man-Made Wonders of The World. (my sis on the other hand, when she was a travelling student of photography, never made it to Agra whilst over in this sub-continent, her reason being that all the tourists go there, so why should she?!?) It did make me laugh as we constantly heard the various American tourists trying to suss out which bench Princess Diana was photographed sitting on, and obviously needing to have the 'Diana shot'; sat alone on the bench staring straight ahead?!!
Here goes ... TUES 15th we finally left Varanasi!!! Having got through the embarassment of signing out of our hotel AGAIN, we made it to the train station in plenty of time and met a couple of Russian ladies - Irene and Lena - sharing with us. (One spoke English, the other understood English but could speak French - which Claudine is fluent in and they both spoke Russian - which Claudine can speak too!!) So, I let Claudine practise her language skills whilst I lay back and listened to my music and read my book.
This particular train journey was so much better than the last, (less crowded and no 'gaseous noises' or gobbing up) our dinner comprised of a packet of Oreo Cookies and a mango juice as there was no food served, (well apart from 4am when someone walked down the aisles shouting out 'Chai, Chai!!') Unfortunately it took me a while to fall asleep and when I fnally did, the light was flicked on at about 1am as the 'cabin boy' showed another man to his bed above Claudine and then continued to have a long and loud conversation with the ticket inspector, with no regard for the rest of us sleeping there. That was until we shouted out in unison: 'Shut Up!!' which seems to be a universal term!
Finally we arrived in Agra!! Our driver Suresh was there to meet us - the train was an hour late!!! And he drove us to our hotel.
Our first place to visit that day was of course ... The Taj Mahal!!! It is absolutely stunning!!! So pleased I didn't miss the opportunity to see one of the Seven Man-Made Wonders of The World. (my sis on the other hand, when she was a travelling student of photography, never made it to Agra whilst over in this sub-continent, her reason being that all the tourists go there, so why should she?!?) It did make me laugh as we constantly heard the various American tourists trying to suss out which bench Princess Diana was photographed sitting on, and obviously needing to have the 'Diana shot'; sat alone on the bench staring straight ahead?!!
Whilst being taken around by a guide, we bumped into Irene and Lena! They joined us on our tour. Which the guide was quite happy about as it meant more of a tip for him - he had already told us how much money he had earned the day before!!
The Taj took 22 years to build and over 20,000 men to build it!! Shah Jahan had it built to enshrine the body of his favourite wife (he had three) Mumtaz Mahal - who died giving birth to their 14th child!!! Only six of these children survived (four boys and two girls) - and as happens in a lot of these historical stories, one of the sons grew up wanting it all to himself, so cut off the heads of his brothers and threw them in the river then sent his father over to the Agra Fort where he was imprisoned for the rest of his life and later buried next to Mumtaz. What a nice family man!
As we got to towards the end of our tour, the guide insisted that we go and have a look at a factory where cloths and carpets were made - we humoured him out of interest and it was amazing how his attitude turned slightly hostile when we left without purchasing anything.
FINALLY! It has taken us just over two weeks and a few over priced purchases, to suss out that the guides get commission for everything we buy in their recommended shops!
The following day we left Agra and stopped off at Fatehpur Sikri which was the former capital before the king moved to Agra. Where, we bumped into Lena and Irene again!!
The Royal palace was amazing, the designs engraved into the walls showed Christian, Islamic and Hindu symbols to symbolise the three wives that the Raj was married to.
After spending a few hours here Suresh drove us off to our hotel in Jaipur, The Laxmi Palace. Despite it's name, I have to say the Laxmi Palace couldn't be more of a mysnoma?!?! But the beds were comfy and at least there was an anti mosquito device in the room. (Claudine is worried she may catch Malaria).
We arrived late in the day and just chilled out in the hotel before going out for dinner (no Macdonalds, so it was Curry night again?!) And when we woke yesterday, Suresh took us to meet our guide in the City. (Jaipur is known as The Pink City, due to the buildings all painted a salmon pink for the visit of Prince Albert during Victoria's reign).
We saw the Hawa Mahal - the most recognisable landmark (Palace of the winds as it is known). Which is more or less a facade for the ladies of the court to stand behind and watch the royal processions etc ... without themselves being seen. Cause we all know what temptresses us females are?!?!
During our tour of the palace and the mosque we bumped into Victoria, an Argentinian girl we had met in Varanasi!!! It's true that India is such a large country yet small enough to keep bumping into people again and again and again ...
I have to say, everything started to merge together after a while, so will try to write more on these sights at a later date, as there is only one computer where I am sat and a queue of people waiting to use it.
The long and short was that two days in Jaipur was enough, so much haggling and people asking us for money, was enough to drive me slightly insane - though some would say I was driven there a long time ago!!!
This morning we left Jaipur around 10 and were driven over to Pushkah, were we are staying at a slightly better hotel, with an extremely inviting swimming pool - though Claudine is worried she may catch Cholera from it?
In about half an hour we are being picked up and taken to one of the Temples at a hill nearby. Well I say a hill, but apparently there are 320 steps to climb and I am starting to wonder if this is such a good idea!!! Claude is keen, she reckons we need to exercise, where as I reckon I need a large Vodka and Tonic!!! So fingers crossed, wish me luck and hope to be able to write more soon ...
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