19th June Agra

Trip to Agra to see Taj and Agra fort. We woke up at 4AM , got ready, had chai and left at 4.30. It took us 5 hours to get to Agra as we broke down because we had a puncture half way through. We met Ketan (our medic friend from uni) at his house and his mum made us a huge breakfast of dokhra, toast, omelette and coffee. We were stuffed (story of our life) before we left the house. We went to Taj and were consumed as soon as we were out the car by touts, guides and sellers. Ketan the local sorted us out and got us through the harem to the ticket gates safely. I managed to pass as a local (but was a bit touch and go as he asked me where I was from and I’m pretty sure he didn’t believe my hindi accent was real). Milly being the foreigner paid a lot but got a free cold bottle of water with her ticket and some shoe covers so she didn’t have to burn her feet walking on the hot marble which Ketan and I were v jealous of later on. Taj Mahal was beautiful, but boiling hot and packed full of locals of all ages. Everyone seemed to think that Milly was a celebrity (don’t know why she was v sweaty and red) and every step she took someone wanted a picture with her, asked to shake her hand or just said hello! Ketan and I felt priviledged to be in her presence.
We left Taj and went to pizza hut for lunch. This wasn’t just your average UK pizza hut, It was a crazy place where the waiters danced and sang to you!! We had a lovely lunch out (AGAIN). We tried masala lemonade and I don’t think we’ll be having it again. Ketan bravely drank the jug for us. Well done.
After this we thought we’d brave the heat once more and go to Agra fort. It was beautiful and Milly got some more ‘artistic’ pics. She’d also picked up ‘le liye’ which in hindi means ‘I’ve already bought it’ so everytime someone tried to sell us something (which was every step) she answered with this and it worked a treat. She managed to shock and impress all at the same time with some even wondering if she spoke hindi…
Hm.
We are now relaxing in Ketans house about to embark on our mammoth journey home. We’ll be going to Haridwar on Monday and will bring you more news of our travels soon. (depending on power cuts and internet etc etc etc.)