Even if you want to be a super independent traveler, boldly going places where no one else dares (or cares) to go, I say it is still wise to mix in a few super high profile tourist things into your daily sightseeing. Today the turn came to Taj Mahal, a place I first heard about when I was five years old. Back then, I was told that it was one of the absolute wonders of the world, a ultra fantastical creation that symbolizes eternal love, grief and devotion. Talk about a setting myself up for a let-down.
Turns out it isn’t much of a let-down. It IS an ultra fantastical creation that symbolizes eternal love, grief and devotion. It looks absolutely surreal where it stands, surrounded by the polluted industrial city of Agra – a pocket of sublime beauty in the middle of poverty-ridden chaos. This is a trait it shares with the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Actually, if I was more experienced as an India traveler I would be tempted to generalize and say that this is the way things work around here.
On another note, I’m not sure if the trick of ‘holding’ Taj Mahal with your fingertips is something that every visitor does, but it sure looked that way when we were there. Maybe it is a fad that changes from day to day?
You know the term, “fly by the seat of your pants?” Well, that's been our philosophy for most of our adult lives – before and after meeting, falling in love and marrying. We're now taking that idea on a 14 month round-the-world trip. Follow us as we share the good, the bad and the downright nasty of life on the road.
