Two weeks gone already and now the Taj Mahal
I find it hard to believe I've been here for 2 weeks already, how time flys. Hope you like the new look of the journal, I'm trying to create something special here and unique, so bare with me if I change the look a couple of times.
Ok, its been a few days since my stomach problem and I can finally say I feel better, have not had to take imodium since Thursday.
On Friday my team and I went for a snack, well they went.... I just went along. Being that it was only a day after my stomach problem I really did not want to experiment with foods. They understood, what they did was get me this dessert of Pistachio ice cream with noodles on top........
I tried it was extremely sweet, had a few spoonfulls and I could not eat anymore. Not a problem they said. We just sat there and talked for a few and went back to work, however on the way to the office there was a food vendor next to the store. My team is always asking me to try foods, but this I can tell you I would not try.
It was a green leaf in which the vendor dabbed something that looked like honey, he had 5 little containers and he took a pinch of each one and placed it in the middle, actually it looked like he was making a cigarette. It was not....
They really looked like large pot stickers. I talked to Cathy Nicholls about them and she reccomended I did not try them, she had one once and it took her 20 minutes to eat and about 3 hours to diggest. That would be a NO for me to try this.
She also told me that maybe once my stomach has grown about an inch thick of lining the food my not bother me anymore.
Friday night I had Ramen and jerky for supper.
I did not want to eat anything heavy since I was going to Agra the next day, 3 hours each way.
Lets talk about Agra, but let me start by saying something funny happen on the way to Agra. When we crossed from one state to another Ramesh had to stop and show some paperwork. Ok, this is the funny part. I had no idea what he was doing all I knew was that my driver just left and I was alone. I look to the left and out side were the following, one not to happy looking bear and his handler, one guy holding 4 monkeys that kept bearing their teeth, and 3 guys holding bags which I'm sure contained cobras......
To my right I had 4 guys selling jewelry, they all wanted my attention. I looked around and I could not see Ramesh, and saw no one else walking over to have their picture taken with the animals. If you wonder what I did I can tell you, NOTHING.....
The bear looked pissed, the monkeys..... well have you seen the movie outbreak, enough said, and finally the cobras...are you kidding me????
Call me a WUSSS, its Ok. Eventually I do want to see a snake charmer, however I did not think that was the time. :)
Now on the way to Agra, I saw monkeys in the trees, and a caravan of working camels, for real.........
We arrived and picked up my tour guide, his name was Manish. He was well imformed and knew where I should go and shop.
Bought the tickets then stood in line for 20 minutes to get padded down for security. Had to turn off my cell phone about 1/2 mile from the entrance. Security reasons.
Passed a metal detector, they padded me down and checked bag pack. Now this is the embarrasing part, they took away MP3 player, and my jerky. The security guard gave me look and shook her head then gave it Manish to put in a locker. I did get everything back, Thank God.
Now, what can I say about the Tah Mahal, Amazing, incredible or as the Indian Poet Rabindrath Tagore said " A teardrop on the face of eternity "
I walked around for 2 hours, took some pictures. Being in the presence of one of the 7th wonders of the world left me speechless and in complete awe, I could touch this monument of love, that's when it hit me. I am in India.
After we left the Taj Mahal, we went shopping, and boy did I ever shop.
Got some nice things for our house, a marble vase,and hand made rug.
Another 2 hours of shopping I was ready to get back to Delhi, it was hot and hummid... HELLO ?????
Got to my roon around 6p, and after changing my mind several times on the way back on what to do for dinner, I decided on Dominos Pizza, Yes,,, again......
I was tired so I went to sleep at 830p, got up around 1130p and ate the rest of the pizza.
Sunday I had a blast. Met Cathy Nicholls and Rajesh, which by the way is the name of her companion and house manager. I met them at the Shangrila hotel for the most wonderful and leisurely brunch I've had in a long time. Got there at 1p and 3 hours later we were still drinking french champagne and having wonderful conversations.
Made plans to meet sometime this week for supper, have not decided when. Tomorrow since she is going to be in my building she's going to show me where Khan Market is, where I could meet her taylor. I'm looking at having some shirts mame. This market also has provisions that I may need, so I will take a look around.
This is all for now as I am starting to fall asleep.
Keep those comments coming along, I enoy reading me.
So long for now..
New Delhi Louie