Day Six
Today we had the day "off" we were being escorted to see the Taj Mahal in the ancient city of Agra. Since the train ride to Agra was 2-3 hours I imagined the car ride would be even shorter, but not in India. Here it takes longer to get anywhere by car.
Let me try to describe the driving situation in India without understating it. Imagine the craziest car chase scene in a movie, now put the car going down a two lane road being used for six lanes of traffic by bicycles carrying sheets of marble, scooters with a family of four, motorcycles whizzing in and out, motorized rig-shaws, bicycle rig-shaws, horse drawn carts, cow drawn carts, an occasional elephant or camel and oh ya cars, trucks and buses. Lane lines, turn signals, stop light, all merely a suggestion not guidelines. And the best part... use your horn every five seconds to let the other traveler around you know you are coming up on them and plan to pass them in any way possible !
I will never need to jump out of plane, scale a mountain or swim with sharks... I have had all the thrills of a life time in one road trip to Agra, the four hour trip each way to Agra.
We did stop to have tea on the road to Agra. The place we stopped was a tourist trap and I got trapped alright... by a dressed up monkey or two.
Once we arrived at the city of Agra we meet up with our guide. A very refined educated local with very proper British English. He educated and advised us through the Taj Mahal experience.
The Taj Mahal is a tangible work of art ! From the front gate through the fountains to the Taj Mahal the entire experience was like walking through a painting.
The beauty however profound, all seemed to be a waist, all form and no function, as the building and grounds were all built as a mausoleum for one very loved queen. It was no palace, no events, no parties, no one (alive) lived here, nothing significant happened here. The Taj Mahal great awe inspiring art yes, purpose sadly none.
Today we had the day "off" we were being escorted to see the Taj Mahal in the ancient city of Agra. Since the train ride to Agra was 2-3 hours I imagined the car ride would be even shorter, but not in India. Here it takes longer to get anywhere by car.
Let me try to describe the driving situation in India without understating it. Imagine the craziest car chase scene in a movie, now put the car going down a two lane road being used for six lanes of traffic by bicycles carrying sheets of marble, scooters with a family of four, motorcycles whizzing in and out, motorized rig-shaws, bicycle rig-shaws, horse drawn carts, cow drawn carts, an occasional elephant or camel and oh ya cars, trucks and buses. Lane lines, turn signals, stop light, all merely a suggestion not guidelines. And the best part... use your horn every five seconds to let the other traveler around you know you are coming up on them and plan to pass them in any way possible !
I will never need to jump out of plane, scale a mountain or swim with sharks... I have had all the thrills of a life time in one road trip to Agra, the four hour trip each way to Agra.
We did stop to have tea on the road to Agra. The place we stopped was a tourist trap and I got trapped alright... by a dressed up monkey or two.
Once we arrived at the city of Agra we meet up with our guide. A very refined educated local with very proper British English. He educated and advised us through the Taj Mahal experience.
The Taj Mahal is a tangible work of art ! From the front gate through the fountains to the Taj Mahal the entire experience was like walking through a painting.
The beauty however profound, all seemed to be a waist, all form and no function, as the building and grounds were all built as a mausoleum for one very loved queen. It was no palace, no events, no parties, no one (alive) lived here, nothing significant happened here. The Taj Mahal great awe inspiring art yes, purpose sadly none.
The road from Agra back to Delhi proved to be as death defying as the trip in. We had a day off of doing ministry but God was doing miracles keeping us alive on the road to Agra.
That was exciting!! Thanks Frances for a great word picture and a chance to see the Taj Mahal through your eyes of wonder. Keep the ink flowing! It is appreciated.
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