A trip through Delhi and Rajasthan
read the full story here http://traveltalesfromanywhere.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/delhi-and-rajasthan.html
Showing posts with label agra. Show all posts
Showing posts with label agra. Show all posts
Sunday, 31 March 2013
INDIA - a short film
been meaning to create this for a while and so now it's done.....
A trip through Delhi and Rajasthan
read the full story here http://traveltalesfromanywhere.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/delhi-and-rajasthan.html
A trip through Delhi and Rajasthan
read the full story here http://traveltalesfromanywhere.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/delhi-and-rajasthan.html
Thursday, 22 November 2012
Taj Mahal was okay I suppose
At the Taj Mahal by about 7am to beat the crowds. It's okay I suppose but I wouldn't say its a wonder of the world, I'll give it a 7/10. Seen more impressive things here such as the Jain temple at Ranakpur or the Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur but the Taj has its iconic status for whatever reason, probably because its made very photogenic due to its elevated base meaning it looks defined having only sky as background and also helped by a partly made up love story of a man who built it in tribute to his dead wife. Very cynical today aren't I?
A funny sideshow its watching the habits of the photo taking tourists. Here's a few of my favourites;
- The 'Hoggers' who lay claim to the prime posing areas until they've got another perfect profile pic, anyone who dares trespass into this posing area risks shouts of "excuse me! we're taking a photo!", Bec tells me off when I start replying "look around, so is everyone else!".
- The 'Happy Clickers" who's mission is to snap anything and everything in sight with minimum thought and maximum speed just incase when they turn around everything has disintegrated including the Taj Mahal.
- 'Madam CUCO' decribes the middle aged women who are trying to look elegant and regal with this wonderful monument in the background. Stand poised at 45 degree angle, swish of hair and then chin up, chest out (CUCO) and click. Repeat several times at each good viewing point.
Later on went to Sadaar Bazaar, an area reputed to have more up market good quality restaurants and found a place called 'Vedic' which is certainly a nicer place than we've been used to maybe at the sacrifice of a bit of local charm but the food is good and well presented.
Went to buy some gifts and souveniers. There's a row of shops all selling the same kind of stuff so we set each other a challenge of both going off to buy the same item and seeing who bargains the best price. The item - a little carved marble tea light holder. I went for the tactic of asking the price in several different places then going back to haggle in the ones with the best starting price, meanwhile Bec got charmed into a shop by a cheeky young boy then went for the tactic of getting a discount because we are friends. The results are in and the scores are Becci 105 rupees, Jonny 70 rupees!
Just chilled out for the rest of the day, back to Delhi tomorrow.
A funny sideshow its watching the habits of the photo taking tourists. Here's a few of my favourites;
- The 'Hoggers' who lay claim to the prime posing areas until they've got another perfect profile pic, anyone who dares trespass into this posing area risks shouts of "excuse me! we're taking a photo!", Bec tells me off when I start replying "look around, so is everyone else!".
- The 'Happy Clickers" who's mission is to snap anything and everything in sight with minimum thought and maximum speed just incase when they turn around everything has disintegrated including the Taj Mahal.
- 'Madam CUCO' decribes the middle aged women who are trying to look elegant and regal with this wonderful monument in the background. Stand poised at 45 degree angle, swish of hair and then chin up, chest out (CUCO) and click. Repeat several times at each good viewing point.
Went to buy some gifts and souveniers. There's a row of shops all selling the same kind of stuff so we set each other a challenge of both going off to buy the same item and seeing who bargains the best price. The item - a little carved marble tea light holder. I went for the tactic of asking the price in several different places then going back to haggle in the ones with the best starting price, meanwhile Bec got charmed into a shop by a cheeky young boy then went for the tactic of getting a discount because we are friends. The results are in and the scores are Becci 105 rupees, Jonny 70 rupees!
Just chilled out for the rest of the day, back to Delhi tomorrow.
Wednesday, 21 November 2012
Agra
Got to Agra ok on the overnight bus despite having nearly missed it last night. Arriving in Agra we're instantly back to smoggy polluted streets just like many parts of Delhi but it seems worse here.
We've decided to go to the Taj Mahal early tomorrow morning after sunrise to beat the crowds and the day trippers. So for today we get a tuk tuk and arrange to be driven around for the day starting at Agra fort. Wandered around the fort for an hour or so, its not as impressive as the forts in Delhi or Jodhpur but there's enough to keep us occupied for a while. Our driver is waiting for us and takes us to the Itimad-ud-Daulah tomb which is more conveniently nicknamed 'the baby Taj', Bec says she likes it better than the actual real Taj Mahal. Next went to Mehtab Bagh Park, some gardens across the river directly behind the Taj Mahal. Its 100 rupees to enter but from what we can see inside looks not much different from the rest of the area so we take a free walk around and down a path to the river bank where there's some good views.
We ask the driver to take us to a restaurant but as he's driving he keeps slowing down and asking "shall I take you to the marble factory now?" and "I'll take you to the markets and the shopping bazaars now, yes?", we have to keep insisting "NO! we are hungry!" and eventually he takes us where we want. We decide we've had enough of the tour and pay the driver. Bit of food and meandering fills the rest of the day.
We've decided to go to the Taj Mahal early tomorrow morning after sunrise to beat the crowds and the day trippers. So for today we get a tuk tuk and arrange to be driven around for the day starting at Agra fort. Wandered around the fort for an hour or so, its not as impressive as the forts in Delhi or Jodhpur but there's enough to keep us occupied for a while. Our driver is waiting for us and takes us to the Itimad-ud-Daulah tomb which is more conveniently nicknamed 'the baby Taj', Bec says she likes it better than the actual real Taj Mahal. Next went to Mehtab Bagh Park, some gardens across the river directly behind the Taj Mahal. Its 100 rupees to enter but from what we can see inside looks not much different from the rest of the area so we take a free walk around and down a path to the river bank where there's some good views.
We ask the driver to take us to a restaurant but as he's driving he keeps slowing down and asking "shall I take you to the marble factory now?" and "I'll take you to the markets and the shopping bazaars now, yes?", we have to keep insisting "NO! we are hungry!" and eventually he takes us where we want. We decide we've had enough of the tour and pay the driver. Bit of food and meandering fills the rest of the day.
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