The hotel in New Delhi was excellent and we were up early at 06:15 ready to leave on our 4.5 hour journey to Agra in Uttar Pradesh province - for the Taj Mahal.
The experience on the coach was amazing; the activity outside was like a travelogue, but this was real. Tuktuks (is that how you spell it?) carry up to 15 people to work. There were numerous markets, but only a few beggars to be seen.
We passed fetid rivers and pools and dilapidated, redundant factories. There is a lot of small scale commerce along the sides of the roads, mainly car and motor bike repair shops, as well as 'English Beeer and Wine Company' outlets.
Monkeys are fed with bananas as an act of kindness to start the day and, of course, the ever-present holy cows are revered and avoided by the chaotic traffic. Our coach driver, Mr Singh, has prevented many an accident with his deft tooting of the horn.
There are spelendid temples that sit uneasily with the poverty. Education is highly valued and numerous educational establishments line the route.
Men carry out their ablutions on the sidewalk without any embarrassment.
One of our older co-passengers, although fascinated, described what she saw on the journey as scruffy. Certainly there is a lot of poverty and what is in front of you is not always easy on the eye, but we are told that India is one of the fastest developing economies in the world.
Mr Hem Singh, our tour guide, tells us of an emergent middle class of young people training abroad who have made the positive decision to return home to make it a better place.
Life expectancy is now much better at 69 for women and 67 for men, due to a successful child innoculation programme.
Whatever we think from our western perspective, the journey was a must.
As was the Taj Mahal. As tourists we were fast tracked through admission, although the security checks held the men up for some reason. As we approached the Taj, not unexpectedly we were amazed. It is everything that people say and more. Beautiful, symmetrical, magical. We left at dusk and are returning at dawn tomorrow.
Dinner and bed!
The experience on the coach was amazing; the activity outside was like a travelogue, but this was real. Tuktuks (is that how you spell it?) carry up to 15 people to work. There were numerous markets, but only a few beggars to be seen.
We passed fetid rivers and pools and dilapidated, redundant factories. There is a lot of small scale commerce along the sides of the roads, mainly car and motor bike repair shops, as well as 'English Beeer and Wine Company' outlets.
Monkeys are fed with bananas as an act of kindness to start the day and, of course, the ever-present holy cows are revered and avoided by the chaotic traffic. Our coach driver, Mr Singh, has prevented many an accident with his deft tooting of the horn.
Men carry out their ablutions on the sidewalk without any embarrassment.
One of our older co-passengers, although fascinated, described what she saw on the journey as scruffy. Certainly there is a lot of poverty and what is in front of you is not always easy on the eye, but we are told that India is one of the fastest developing economies in the world.
Mr Hem Singh, our tour guide, tells us of an emergent middle class of young people training abroad who have made the positive decision to return home to make it a better place.
Life expectancy is now much better at 69 for women and 67 for men, due to a successful child innoculation programme.
Whatever we think from our western perspective, the journey was a must.
As was the Taj Mahal. As tourists we were fast tracked through admission, although the security checks held the men up for some reason. As we approached the Taj, not unexpectedly we were amazed. It is everything that people say and more. Beautiful, symmetrical, magical. We left at dusk and are returning at dawn tomorrow.
Dinner and bed!
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