Northern India Journey - Day 7 Agra - 19/12/2010

Woke up in the morning and met our driver. We started the ride to Agra. The ride took pretty long than expected but we could have a nap in the car. That's pretty good.

Before we went to Taj Mahal, the driver take us to Akbar's Mausoleum which is a of a Indian royal family. The decoration there was excellence. You can see many fine craftsmanship of the ancient Indian. In the monument, I saw some teachers taking their pupils to visit there. I saw the children were so happy to have this field trip. You know, in Hong Kong, there were barely any historical thing to let you see. I was a bit jealous that they could be "witness" their history in the tender age. Anyway, after that we went ahead to Taj Mahal!!

In the way to Taj Mahal, suddenly a man got on to our car, he was our tour guide for Taj. But it didn't mention when we booked the car. By the way, we just let him take us to visit. When we arrived the entrance, the guide always told us to do everything quick. (I did think there must be something. But I didn't care.) As this' an important heritage, we also needed to go though the security check. But the security was so strict that even a mini triple couldn't bring inside.

Inside the Taj, Oh, there were so many people even we were in late afternoon. That made me a bad mood. But when we passed though the gate to see the Taj, that's truly magnificent! Our guide suddenly very enthusiastic to help us taking pictures. He asked us to do all the poses which the photo seller inside the Taj would ask you to do, like put a finger on the top of Taj in a juxtaposition way. Crazy. Ha. After a long waiting, we finally got inside to the Tomb. But there was so noisy, everyone was just blah blah blah and even taking picture. But we supposed can not take any.

I found myself a bit stupid here. XD

After this messy tour, our guide asked for tour fee! It didn't mentioned before. We, of course, spent a long time to bargain with him. A bit unhappy here. Anyway, we took to car to our hostel and say goodbye to our driver. But when we asked for a room, they charged us more than what we asked by phone before! So, unquestionably, we moved to another one in lower rate nearby. So we settle for the day. What a pity that we had no time to visit Agra Fort.

The street where our hostel located. Like all place in India, it's suddenly out of electricity.

Roof top restaurant next to our hostel