Agra

Agra is home to the famous Taj Mahal, as well as some lesser known historical sites. We arrived in Agra Friday night and decided to stay in a budget hotel recommended by a guidebook. Now I’m not kidding when I say budget, it cost us each about $2.50 to stay the night. The room was spacious (although filthy).

Shortly after arriving I go to the bathroom to wash up. Out of the corner of my eye I think I see a little movement at the bottom of the sink…probably just my imagination…and I splash some water on my face. Wait, something is definitely crawling up the drain of the sink despite the deluge of water I am now pouring down upon it. Aaaaaaaaah! I run out of the bathroom. After regaining my courage (and roommates) we return to find a monstrous centipede chilling out in the sink. Now the picture here does not do this thing justice…this thing was easily half a foot long.

Anyway, back to the traveling. We got up at 6 am and got to the Taj to see the sunrise—absolutely beautiful in the morning light! We got some amazing pictures. The Taj Mahal is one of those historical wonders, like Versailles for example, that takes place amidst great poverty of common people. For all its magnificence, the Taj is simply a tomb for an inordinately wealthy prince and his bride.

As is the case in many countries, traveling solely to tourist destinations here will give you a very negative view of the people. Beggars and peddlers crowd around tourists in these destinations. I’ve found the people have very few morals with regard to this: they will lie to your face or make elaborate scams to get your money. This is really quite a shame because you must be wary of anyone near these places, and of course does not represent the majority of the Indian people.