People I met in India (a slight horror story though has a good ending)

1. The first person I met in India was a cab driver who wouldn't take me to the hotel I specified. He kept on insisting that I switch to a hotel of his recommendation (Cosmos Hotel). I have tried to explain that I have already booked and paid for my hotel (as if I would admit it if I haven't.) and yet he stopped right in front of Cosmos Hotel. It was after minutes of refusing to go down and "see the hotel" did he finally drive me to the correct hotel. Upon arriving to the hotel of my choice, I gave him Rs 600 in payment and he gave me a big Indian smile and said thank you to my horror. (The meter read Rs 525. After what he did, I wasn't really inclined to give him any tip.)

Home of Love, Agra

It's true, you can go 'round Agra in a day even if I chose to do otherwise. I've always been smitten by the thought of Taj Mahal and took my time sitting there and just staring at it. I once read that the special thing about Taj Mahal is that you sit there the whole day and you'll see the beautiful theoretically white structure turn from pink to blue to yellow to orange and to green. Well, not in that specific order. 

Wandering Alone in Fatehpur Sikri, India

Fatehpur Sikri complex is in between Agra and Jaipur, but since we were going to take the train I went for a half-day visit right after arriving in Agra. 

I opted to book a car (Rupees 1000) with my hotel (Hotel Taj Resorts for 77.38 USD tax inclusive for 2 -I know it's not the cheapest but we're girls, we like good hotels!) thinking it's safer (all those stories of women, local and foreign, disappearing in India that I read from the newspaper in the train going to Agra!!!) even though there were lots of others offering (in a very forceful manner) at half the price.


The moment I arrived in the complex parking lot a huge man got in the car beside me (frightening for a girl who just read horror stories in the newspaper, even more frightening for one who read Slumdog Millionaire!) and showed a government ID (you'll find the government is on making the most money out of tourists as well.) and claimed to be an official tour guide. The fees are even on his ID, a whopping Rs 600.00! 


To visit Fatehpur Sikri, you have to pay Rs 250.00, if you bring a video camera, you have to pay an additional fee of Rs 200.00 but you do not have to pay extra if you bring a point-and-shoot camera with great video quality. :)

 

Having just a little sleep from the night before, I FELL asleep on the way back to Agra. I woke up half way when the driver stopped in front of a railroad and got down the car. I went, "WHAT?? Would it take that long??" and it did. We were right there waiting for the train to pass by for an hour! 


I Fell back asleep after a while and woke up from loud honking. Traffic in India is worse than horrendous. They do not follow any lane. It was truly a sight to behold.


We fast forward to the next day. I spent an entire day going around Agra by foot. Mostly, I bought stuff like the Petha from Panchi Petha Store. It's a sweet jelly-like dessert I read from the Internet. It's actually more expensive than I expected at 300/box, and it's not at all a big box. It's not that yummy for me as well, too sweet for my sweet tooth. It's worth a try anyway. 


That late afternoon I went to buy a ticket for Mohabbat the Taj or the Taj Mahal Show. It's my only Indian theater experience and so I deem my Rs 1,100 very worth it.

By any means, don't expect that I actually remembered all these details. I am referring to brochures and tickets I kept, as well as my Agoda account, as I go along. In a way, this should be good as you're assured my information is surely correct. :)