I was very much looking forward to the Taj Mahal trip. It didn't start out well though (neither did it end well, but we'll get to that). Being the last to have access to the shared bathroom, I didn't have much time. Vela was pounding on the door shouting for me to hurry up, while I was half-way shampooing my hair, and told me that the buses were already waiting. Wheeee. I hate rushed showers.
The trip to Agra wasn't cause for celebration either. Vela and I were right in front, and thought we were quite lucky to have the front view of this ancient city. A few minutes into the streets and we were looking at each other in horror.
The bus driver has a honking-obsessive-compulsive disorder, I swear. He honks about twice every minute, and Vela counted about 27 seconds before his next honk. That's his record. He honks at women crossing the streets, honks at cars that stop at the traffic light, honks at a stray automobile, honks at the street, honks at nothing and honks at everything. It wouldn't be so bad if the honks weren't so loud it could make a deaf person go deaf again, but sitting in front, the honks were amplified. Sleeping wasn't an option. All the seats at the back were full.
*SHAKES FIST*
Breakfast was a distraction, though.
NO ONE SHOULD USE THIS AS AN EXCUSE TO HONK INCESSANTLY
And the stop for refreshments was very welcome, too.
The trip was to last three hours. I believed I lost 5 IQ points sitting in front. Now, the seats at the back might be full, but the floor suddenly looked very comfortable.
Poor, mind-boggled, desperate Vela
But wait! We were nearing the Taj Mahal!
Waiting for the shuttle bus
You know the feeling you get when you're minutes away from witnessing one of the Seven Wonders of the World? That jumpiness and impatience and desire to run around hopping up and down? I was having a rather serious case of that.
The entrance gate
Security check which was focused on ladies D:
And through the gates yonder
!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I-don't-care-if-I-accidentally-kick-you-or-poke-you-in-the-eye-please-sir-get-out-of-my-way phase
OK the poses end here. The Taj Mahal looks like it should! All white and magnificent and brilliant. Though we only had one hour, what a shame.
Time to leave. I left walking backwards.
Lavatory
And on to the shuttle bus where this kind lady offered to take a picture
Lunch/Tea (it was already 4pm) was in Jaypee Hotel.
And back on that horrid bus..where Vela had managed to steal the seat of one of the accompanying Modernites way behind, and where I spent two hours trying to sleep, and failing to do so, sulked, and while doing so, managed to figure out what those "USE BIG DIPPER AT NIGHT" signs painted behind trucks meant..since I noticed a longer period of interval between honks, which was very unusual, I watched the driver for a bit, and noticed that instead of honks, he was using highlights! The bus trip was turning out to be more tolerable! But it took about four or five hours I think. I gave up in the end and stood behind, where the Mexican teachers taught me and Yu Chia Spanish (which regretfully I have forgotten).
Dinner was McDonald's, and here I got excited again because I love going to McDonald's around the world. In my excitement to take a picture of the burger, I dropped my camera lens cover, and it was never found again.
I still haven't decided whether the Taj Mahal day was awesome-sauce or a punch in the face.
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