Taj Mahal

I'm now in Kathmandu after a couple of crazy days in India. Yesterday I took a train to Agra to see the Taj Mahal. New Delhi railway station was mental. I got there at 5.15am and it was absolutely buzzing. There were people sleeping all over the station concourse. Figuring out where to go once in the station is also fun and games. It clearly said Platform 1 on the departures board but once on platform 1 it said an entirely different train the screen. I eventually ended up on the right train, the Shahabti Express and was in 1st Class, where the seats are like aeroplane seats but with far more legroom, and we were provided with a constant supply of food and drink for the whole 1 hr and 45 mins. Going well, I thought.

I arrived into Agra only to see no sign of the guide and driver I had booked for the day. After about 20 different people offering me their services I suddenly heard 'are you Suzanne Rilley?' Result!

First stop was the Taj Mahal itself. It really is stunningly beautiful and it was still early in the morning when I got there so was eerily peaceful compared to the chaos of the cities. The decoration on the palace is so incredible. From a distance it looks like it is painted on but up close you realise it is made of tiny pieces of precious stone of all different colours that have been painstakingly embedded into the marble walls.

Next stop was Agra Fort which is interesting and would have been beautiful in itself but having just seen the Taj Mahal, it didn't really compare.

I spent the rest of the day just going around Agra. This week across India, Hindus are celbrating the festival of Holi, which is a celbration of harmony and love. It basically involved them covering each other in brightly coloured paints from head to toe and generally having a merry time (the traditional drink of Holi has cannabis in it...) It was fascinating to see fully grown men having such a good time and throwing paint around.

My journey back from Agra was as opposite as it could have been from the one going there. I only managed to get a seat in 3rd Class, so was fearing the worst but apart from the fact that it took 4 hours, it was surprisingly ok and I just laid down on one of the sleeper beds for the whole time. I might add however, that using a squat toilet on a moving train is not an experience I wish to repeat.

Anyway...now I am in Kathmandu which already seems very different to Delhi and I can wait to see some sights tomorrow. I'm running out of internet time though, so cheerio for now.