Bannisters in India

Everyone with the runs so in room for the day watching TV. Amelia and I feeling the best so have chanced down to a close internet to do this. Hope we can get out tomorrow, our last day.

Got everyone up at 6.45am in cold, thick fog, auto to Agra Cantt railway station. Train due at 8am, delayed firstly to 9.25, Some really persistant beggars and shoe cleaners. train didn't finally come until 10am. Neww CC coach but full, however we did have our seats. Train took two hours longer than it should have so a 2.5hr trip turned into a 6.5hr trip. We were pretty over it by the end.

Guy from the hotel had been waiting the whole time at the train station for us. Past the India Gate to our guest house. In residential area but also hotels and businesses, lots of illegal electric wires. i went for a woak round the block, others happy to stay in. We ate a small dinner inhotel, all not feeling that great.

HUGE DAY!! Up early and off to Taj Mahal by 7.30am. Lots of people but impressive as always. THe detail of precious stones inlay beautiful.

Saw a monkey, squirrels. Lots of parrots being a bit destructive . Looking around river , lots of bird life. Tony spied a weather station in one corner and they have a digital readout of the smog level but it was from 2 days ago.

At 9.30am we headed on by rickshaw to Red Fort. Oliver really enjoyed the Fort and said it reminded him of Lord of the Rings
"It was perfectly guilded , reminded me of Gondors capital out of Lord of the Rings, Minas Iirith. A huge city fort that is made fully out of stone!!"

workman at Red Fort

We finished wandering through the labyrinths about 12.15pm and decided to take the kids to Fatepur Sikri, 40km from Agra, another UNESCO world heritage site (3 in one day!)

Found a guy who organised taxi $20 return to Fatepur Sikri. Surrounded by touts while waiting for taxi. 1hr plus drive out through slums, saw camels, got dropped at the base and had to climb up to it. Started at the far end at the mosque, huge gate into a huge courtyard. Lots and lots of touts around, got tiring. Then a short road down to the royal courts, what Rebecca and could remember from 20 yrs ago. They had put in gardens, which I liked and Rebecca didn't.

Then dropped into the public area then out, walked back down to taxi. Fast trip back, nearly hit a buffalo. Dinner by candlelight at hotel.

Arrived mid-arvo in Agra after a 3 hour bus trip from Gwalior. we are already missing our comfortable beds at the palace.

The boys headed off to do internet and Amelia and I walked up the road about a km. Lots of touts. Hotel Sheela in a great position right next to East gate. Taj Mahal closed today.

Had dinner out upstair at Shanti Hotel with monkeys screeching. Could see a black silhouete of the Taj in the distance. Food okay in particular huge pancakes for dessert!

Walked back past touts and had an early night. All getting a bit tired of travelling and kids counting down days till they are home.

Is lovely to be able to pull curtains back and see gardens outside. Also there are green parrots and mongoose on the grounds. Talked to an english couple at breakfast, given the lady our last two books to read. They are over for indian version of their son's wedding.

Walked round to the real Palace, not far. Built in a big square, we finally relented and hired a guide, turned out he was the manager of the complex. In the women's wing first, an indoor swimming pool only for women, 12ft deep with two diving boards, one on a bridge. A lot of the stuff was presents given to the maharajahs over the years, also stuffed tigers, rhino and buffalo heads they had shot. Another arms collection. Amazing Belgian glass chandeliars, furniture, a cut glass fountain. The hall (durbar) was amazing, largest first floor hall in India, 580kg of gold leaf, two huge chandelairs that they tested the weight with 8 elephants walking up a 1km long ramp onto the roof. Cut glass railings on banisters. under the hall was the dining area with train that carried drinks and cigars, electric, would stop when someone lifted a carriage up. One table veg, one non-veg. One hall on the side had 2 billiard tables, on the other side indian eating area on cushions.

Rebecca back to hotel, rest to find internet. 2 workers from hotel saw us and helped find internet.

Smattering of room service for dinner tonight.