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Hi Everyone, After the meal, we had a bit of a celebration not only because we had made it in one piece to Agra, but it was one of the group members birthday Rafeeq had already ordered the cake so it was just a case of tucking in to the delicious choclate offering.. So the word on everybodies lips was what are we gonna do without the bus.....Rafeeq had already advised me that the bus had been fixed and was already on its way and that by the time we had finished the meal the bus would be outside but not to tell the group as he wanted it to be a surprise ... It's amazing how quickly things are fixed in India and what with !!! so true enough, we all left the restaurant and sure enough to everyone's suprise there was our precious bus ... with Suman and Irshad. I dont think that anyone truly believed that it was fixable with such a short turn around but hey TI I (this is India right!)
Taj Mahal
Next Morning sure enough, there was the dreaded 0500 wake up call,up and out by 0530 to get to the Taj for Sunrise ... the challenge is to get there early enough to be the first in the queue so that you get to be the first in the gate and and snap away at the most photographed structure in the world without the blemish of another Human being in the shot !!! now what you dont know is that the queue should you miss the 1st place is massive and much jostling takes place to see who can be the 1st tour group to establish pole position. Well needless to say because we have the marvellous Rafeeq we were indeed head of the queue he jollied us up on the march down as there were a German group hot on our heels !! I got the lead of the ladies queue and the other girls of our group fell in behind me ...Michael, created the men's queue and there we stood waiting to be frisked and the opportunity to run like the wind once inside to be the 1st in....Michael and I got chatting to the doorman .... who with a nod and a wink (not to mention a mit full of Rupees) got the chance to be the only people inside for a couple of minutes to get those all important photo's.
The Taj is simply beautiful. This is my 3rd visit and it never ever fails to render me speechless . It's tranquility and beauty seem to take over and a rush of melancholy engulfs your soul, build something to remember me by ... the dying wish of Mumtaz Mahal wife of Shah Jahan so he did and what an accomplishment and dedication in the honour of Love. Back from the Taj to the Raj (our hotel the Raj Mahal) to feast on a much needed breakfast and a short rest, then out in the afternoon for the Red fort and some optional extra excursions the opportunity to tackle the ever crazy traffic of Agra to visit the Baby Taj and the view form the opposite bank of the Yamuna River overlooking the The Taj for sunset...ahhh !! Love to everyone Christine
