11/03/2010

Today we left Orchha to get to Jhansi for our train to Agra to see the Taj Mahal for a day.

We left just after midday after getting some breakfast/lunch and geeked it up at an internet café. We managed to get a tuk-tuk to Jhansi for only 10 rupies each although we had to share with 10 other locals, it was a very cramped and bumpy journey but for only 25 cents for a 20 minute drive I certainly was not going to complain.

We waited around the train station for a couple of hours before boarding the train, lots of homeless children approached us gesturing for food and I really wish I could help them out but if you give food or money to one more and more keep on approaching you. It’s really quite upsetting because the kids look really in a bad state.

The train ride again was cramped but manageable although again all the locals just stare and try discretely to take pictures of Emer and I. As annoying as they are I caught out a few of them and it was funny to see because they get all embarrassed and pretend they were making a phone call.

We arrived in Agra at 6 pm where we found a nice but expensive guest house that had a slightly obstructed view of the Taj but because it was dark and not illuminated (why don’t they?) we could not see it. Tomorrow we will get up early to see the sunrise over it.

We went out for dinner at a place recommended in the loney planet guide book and ordered a meat dish, it’s the first time eating meat since Thailand, mutton is delicious and its great to finally sink my teeth into something you have to chew; even typing about it is making me grind my teeth for some more. Price was not a factor here as I do need to treat myself once in a while whilst traveling on such a budget.