India, Part 1: The Taj and Bird Turds
After spending most of the semester planning our 40 day backpacking trip, Emma and I were SO READY TO 走吧. Planning was stressful because a lot of India details had to be last minute and doing anything with a VPN is like trying to play tennis against Serena Williams without arms. #chinaproblems, am I right?!
BUT WE DID IT.
We flew into New Delhi and stayed one night before grabbing a train to Agra. The Indian Railway system is really extensive and incredibly useful, but trying to book a ticket in advance as a non-Indian person is a mess. It involved a fake phone number, e-mailing my passport page to who even knows, and a unicorn. You can do it, but prepare to refer to yourself as a wizard from thereon after. Because that is what you will be.
BUT WE DID IT.
We flew into New Delhi and stayed one night before grabbing a train to Agra. The Indian Railway system is really extensive and incredibly useful, but trying to book a ticket in advance as a non-Indian person is a mess. It involved a fake phone number, e-mailing my passport page to who even knows, and a unicorn. You can do it, but prepare to refer to yourself as a wizard from thereon after. Because that is what you will be.
Other than our room being on the loudest floor, our hostel in Agra wasn't too bad. It is owned and run by an Indian family - the cups of chai were big and the food was amazing. Emma and I ate most of our meals here while we were in Agra, just because it was convenient and seriously yummy. We met another backpacker, Dave from Canada/Kazakhstan the first night at the hostel, and we ended up going to the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort together the next day. The hostel's location was so prime: just a 10 minute walk from the Taj Mahal ticket booth.
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| INDIAN FOOD FO-EVAH |
A word on the Taj Mahal: BELIEVE THE HYPE, PEOPLE.
Believe. The. Hype.
Believe. The. Hype.
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| SWOON |
We did the recommended thing: got there as early as we could - aka before the ticket booth opened. During the winter, northern India is really foggy, so many people wait until after the fog lifts to go to the Taj.
And when it finally does and the sun hits the white marble, THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH HEART-EYED EMOJIS IN THE WORLD, my friends.
It shimmers.
It gleams.
It captivates.
And it also makes you think: "Well, YYEAAAHH. If the same guy knocked me up 14 times and I died mid-childbirth, I WOULD DESERVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS, TOO."
And when it finally does and the sun hits the white marble, THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH HEART-EYED EMOJIS IN THE WORLD, my friends.
It shimmers.
It gleams.
It captivates.
And it also makes you think: "Well, YYEAAAHH. If the same guy knocked me up 14 times and I died mid-childbirth, I WOULD DESERVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS, TOO."
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| when you is trying to take a selfie but your Indian boo photobombs like a boss |
Everything about the Taj is so fascinating: how it was built, what happened after it was built, etc. We spent all morning just DROOLING. Then we walked to the Agra Fort. Obviously #itaintnoTaj, but the story behind it is super intriguing: it involved a son overthrowing the king and exiling him to the Agra Fort, where the Taj is visible from a distance. Real life drama for yo mama and really interesting stuff.
One of the most entertaining parts about Agra was the continual cameos of THE WONKS (women monks).
They were on our flight from Shanghai to New Delhi (CHATTY KATHIES OHMYGOSH). They showed up at the Taj. Then they also made an appearance at the Agra Fort. There were so many of them. Were the wonks following us or were we following the wonks? 谁知道呢. WHO CAN EVEN SAY.
We walked around the non-tourist part of Agra for a long time in the afternoon and then walked to the other side of the river to watch the sun set over the Taj. Whilst Taj-gazing, a bird pooped on me because THAT IS MY LIFE. Equal parts: hilarious and I'M-NOT-EVEN-SURPRISED.
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| PRE-BIRD BOMB |
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| POST- BIRD BOMB |
We gave ourselves one more day in Agra just to chill, which was seriously the best idea ever. We didn't do much except hang out on the roof of the hostel and visit a Gurdwara, which was so interesting and involved a really nice Indian guru who kept talking to me in Hindi. He was adorable. I couldn't understand a single word he said, but I totally wanted him to be my grandpa.
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| Me, Dave, and Emma |
A short ode to the New Delhi Metro Rail: You are the poster child of convenient. THANK YOU. However. Thanks for the reminder that while Chinese people are light and feathery and can be pushed easily out of the way (#asia), Indian people on the other hand: NOTSOMUCH. I don't remember much about being born, but if I had to guess, it probably felt like trying to exit that metro car.
BBAB Travel Tips:
1. E-tourist Visa's FOR THE WIN: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html
2. Get an Indian SIM card. But then when Unk from India helps you find the train station, don't be polite, because then he will call you 23490234 times.
3. Madpackers Hostel (New Delhi) - within walking distance to the metro, most comfortable bed I've slept on for 6+ months, and a fairly easy taxi ride from the airport when you fly in: http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/The-Madpackers-Hostel/New-Delhi/91989?dateFrom=2016-01-04&dateTo=2016-01-05
4. Friends Paying Guest House (Agra): http://friendspayingguesthouse.com/index.html
5. How to book a train/become a wizard: http://www.seat61.com/India.htm#.Vns34vkrKhc
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1 comments
Thanks for the post, Sarah...the Taj looks like a worthwhile adventure.
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