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We reached Agra in the evening and relaxed at the hotel. I had talked to quite a few people on the bus but everyone was fatigued with the heat and the 24 hours or so of travelling. A group of young kids were gathered outside the hotel trying persistently to sell us things- they don't take no for an answer. People were staring at us and someone even threw a rock but no-one was hurt.
At 5.45am we left for the Taj Mahal. No matter if you have your face pressed against the walls, it still seems like the fairytale building that we've all seen so many times in pictures. We had snaps taken by a photographer but even though we are right in front of the Taj, the background still looks super imposed. We left to catch our bus to Jaipur and were hassled by people selling things all the way home. I worked out that the best way to avoid hassle is to point blanc ignore the vendors, not even acknowledging their presence. The moment you interact with them even if it is just to say "no, thank you" or "nahin, dhanya-vat" they think that they might be able to pester you into buying something and it I felt bad just walking past without looking at them but it really does work! All around me people were politely declining whilst being followed by vendors on all sides, Charlotte and I were walking along talking to each other with each vendor who approached us soon realising they would be getting nothing from us and moving on to the other people. The distressing thing is, I want to be able to buy something from these men. Like everyone they're just trying to make a living.
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