Agra and the Taj Mahal - Amazing!!!!!

March 6-8, 2010

Agra and the Taj Mahal:

A year and a half ago we dreamed of seeing the Taj Mahal and staying at the Amarvilas (Oberoi Hotels) in which every room has a view of the Taj Mahal. Well, here we are, enjoying the ultimate indulgence of our trip and absolutely loving it.

First of all the Taj Mahal: AMAZING – UNBELIEVABLE –INCREDIBLE…………… Need I say more…… It is the most beautiful and mesmerizing monument ever built and my words cannot do it justice. We found ourselves just staring in awe for hours.

Along with the beauty of the Taj we have discovered the true differences in a society of Haves and Have Nots - and we have been living as a Have Not up until now. Here’s why:

We normally get off the train (or plane) and negotiate with a taxi or auto rickshaw to get to our hotel – not this time! A driver was waiting at the depot with our names listed and took us to a running SUV (kept the AC on), gave us cold rose scented towels to refresh with and chilled water for the drive to the hotel. Once at the hotel we are greeted by no fewer than four people with welcoming drinks and a guided tour of the hotel’s facilities. Following the tour they came to the room to do check-in (no common lobby here). When we sit outside to look at the Taj (500 yards away) and order drinks the phrasing is “would three ice cubes be sufficient sir?” We have had personalized tours of the kitchens and long conversations on music and life philosophy with the managers of each restaurant; we are driven to the Taj in electric golf carts and picked up whenever we come out without even asking! Laurie wanted breakfast-in-bed with a view of the Taj so we are eating our French toast and looking at a wonder of the world. Today we have to return to the land of Normal but not yet ready, willing and prepared.

A few days back Laurie picked up a mild case of the Delhi Belly, as they call it here, but fortunately it was a very mild case and did not impact the Taj experience. Because we are still in the world of Have’s she experienced the best doctor visit ever as the doctor came to our room and she was examined, diagnosed and prescribed in the room while viewing the Taj Mahal. By the way, the doctor and meds cost a whopping $40.

We did leave the hotel once in a while. We made a morning and an afternoon visit to the Taj and another visit to Agra Fort to see where Shah Jehan was imprisoned by his son.

March 5-6, 2010

Wound down in Udaipur by strolling the city streets (not sure if you can call it strolling when you are constantly dodging motorcycles, cows, rickshaws and people) and enjoy the views of the palaces from our hotel’s rooftop restaurant. On the 6th took the overnight train to Agra. This time we decided to go first class which was much better since we had our own cabin and actually slept this time. And it only cost $67 for the two of us for a 13 hour train ride.

Steve and Laurie