Taj Mahal

I saw the Taj Mahal today, cross another wonder off the list. It was, as you might anticipate, way better than the pictures could ever let on. The intricacy of detail in all the marble lets you apreciate why it took a labour force of 20 000 to build the complex. Imagine the kind of power you would need to command in order to accomplish such a project.

I was also struck by the contrast between the magnificence that was, and the terrible care that is now taken of it. It is not on the level of mismanagement of the Egyptian pyramids, but there is still trash, pools of dirty water, and broken benches all around the property.

Outside of the Taj, you are truly back into the third world. It really stinks, there is garabage everywhere, and touts try desperatly to extort any money they can. We saw monkeys chasing each other over rooftops fighting for a scrap of food, cows wallowing in their own filth, and dogs that... well, let's just say that I don't think those dogs will be around when anyone who reads this blog makes it here.

Off to the train station now. My last experience on a train was buying what I errantly thought was a second class ticket, only to get on my car and find that it was no class of any identifiable kind. Picture the hottest place you have ever been (including saunas) then imagine it full, then multiply the size by ten, and the people by thirty, and you have an idea of the worst car on a Indian train. Pushing is the only rule, and no, it does not exclude small old ladies who look as though pushing might put them in the grave. We upgraded.