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My last day in Agra was a quiet one, having visited the Taj Mahal I didn't want to spend too much time, and more importantly money, traipsing around some nondescript forts and museums just for the sake of it. Agra is known for two things, that's Going to The Taj Mahal, and viewing the Taj Mahal from the Yamuna river directly behind it! Quite simply....Agra is the Taj!
I lounged around all morning and didn't venture out until early afternoon. I requested the rickshaw driver take me to the banks of the Yamuna river for a quiet stroll along the banks, It was beautifully quiet and the only sounds were from a couple of young lads who shadowed me asking for money or food.
I sauntered across the river bank and considered crossing the barbed wire for a better glimpse, I would have were it not for the armed guards I passed in the way. Not the kind of game I was prepared to play! It was wonderful and peaceful. Another group of 5 European guys turned up, they looked very English and I wasn't in the mood to mingle, I strolled passed and gave hem a cursory nod of the head. Right as I did I felt a sharp pain in my foot, I'd trodden on a loose bit of barbed wire, my flip flops giving absolutely no resistance, straight into the sole of my foot! I slipped my foot out of the flip flop and removed it from the spike, conscious that I looked a right plank. I made no facial expression and continued the walk back to my rickshaw driver, who waited patiently smoking his weird tobacco rolled in leaves! Only when I got round the corner did I take a good look and murmured 'feck sake that hurt'. Conscious of the onlooking group of lads! It was more a puncture wound so next to no blood, I will survive!
On the evening, whilst donning my newly purchased traditional Indian pyjama shirt, I went to a restaurant I would later find out is rated no.2 on tripadvisor and bloody expensive! Total cost for the best ever butter chicken, garlic naan and other appetisers - £12! That's a hell of a lot in India, consider my room for the night was £2! This was unplanned for spending, but the food was unbelievably good!
The next day I left for the station at the ungodly hour of 7:30, this is early for me now, far too bloody early. I could have tolerated it if the train hadn't been delayed for well over two hours! About 11:30 it finally arrived after I sat agitated by thousands of flies, Mosquitos and crickets. I don't think it helped that I had trodden in a stagnant sloppy pool of unidentified liquid upon entry, it attracted them to the point I considered throwing newly pierced flip flops and wearing my trainers. I wasn't having much luck with footwear. Agra station was filthy and I was glad to leave, it was swarmed with disabled beggars, filthy kids collecting plastic bottles and had the general stench of a rancid swamp of diseases!
I have this evening found Delhi to be quite the contrast. It's extremely cosmopolitan in comparison. My guesthouse location is expectedly in a more rustic location and the room itself resembles a cow shed but for £3.50 what can you expect in India's capital. I met up with the guys I had met in Udaipur who kindly showed me the new metro system and it all felt very un'indian! Apart from the armed guard we passed who perched over a checkpoint pointing his gun at every passer by, I believe that is the first time I have ever had a gun with live ammunition pointed directly at my head. Any experience, I think!?
After checking out a few restaurants that turned out to be relatively expensive we conceded defeat and went to a subway. Cheap and convenient! We then scoured the streets for a rooftop terrace, eventually returning to one we had seen earlier in the evening, taking up our position in the trendy business district of Connaught Place, with full view of the countries largest flag. Measuring a whopping 207ft in height and the flag itself an impressive 60x90ft. It was a good catchup and we traded stories.
I returned to the cowshed and planned a Skype with the parents. Would you believe they are staying in a 4star Hilton Hotel in London and have no wifi. I am in a tinned roof cattle shed in Delhi and have a cracking wifi signal. Typical inefficient England! Oh well, another time!
Iv just noticed a sporadic squeaking noise coming from the ceiling fan, could be in for a tough nights sleep! Not to mention the inch thin mattress and itchy blanket!
Night night! Sleep tight! Don't let the bed bugs bite....or the mosquitos, midges, ants, lizard or any other frequent visitors for that matter!
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