To start, we must say we got to bed at about 2:30am after
the party . . and up and ready for our Tour Guide not long after 8am. MASSIVE effort!! and possibly a little hung over.
The tour
guide we are using for the Taj Mahal is P.C. (Puran Chand Updhyay) a local guide Jase met when he was
here in Agra last year. He is a great, genuine and a very knowledgeable person. He
also looks out for us and keeps the touts away the best he can short of using a
Tazer. An amazing person . . . highly recommended.
The fog has been covering the North of the country the last
few days so it didn’t look good when we awoke. He decided to go ahead though as
we had no idea when or if it would lift over the coming days. It turned out
well howver as we got a lot of insight as to the history of the building . .
and decided to come back without the guide if and when the fog lifted over the
next few days. Whilst we are extremely tired we
decide to soldier on . . . .
Early arvo we decide to head out and look around the strips
to see the sights etc. . . . .Jase also wanted to check out a highly
recommended Rug store. We decided to go on our own and leave the touts as they
just want commission from the places you buy from . . . So we headed out of the
hotel and immediately the Tuk Tuk drivers swarm on us. We grabbed the first
one, agreed on a flat fare and headed to a busy intersection we knew of where
we could leave the Tuk Tuk driver and dissolve within the crowd . . so we
thought. Anyway, he drops us off where we request and we head into a store. We
leave pretty soon after as it’s all white marble etc . . not what we’re
interested in. The driver immediately pulls up beside us and tells us to go somewhere
else. We try to shake him again . . this time crossing roads etc . . .but no,
he just drives down the wrong way of the road and continues to tail us. This
was getting annoying. We spent about 45 minutes in a great rug place and bought
a few things that will be shipped directly to us at home. When we left he was
there again . . we then continued to other stores and simply ignore him.
Another 2 hours later it all of a sudden got cold, the fog rolled in and
darkness begun to set in. We had full backpacks of stuff and a carry bag and
just wanted to get back to the hotel. We discussed and agreed we’d use him as
he knew where our hotel was . . . At no time did we feel unsafe and we knew
where we were . . just that this guy was really annoying, whiny and way too pushy. We agreed to pay him 100
rupee to get us home which is a great fare for him . . 2-3 times what you would
normally pay.
All they way home he complains that he only gets commission
and he was poorer off as we did not use his shops etc . . . what a story! We
tipped him well and he continued with his Bullsh!t story!! We agreed not to use
him again . . . we now leave on foot and head off around the corner as if we don’t
want transport . . only when we are out of sight we grab one . . and all with
no dramas from this d!ckhead! However Jase gets the death stare each time he sees us.
We get inside, freshen up, deal with a couple of power
blackouts and head downstairs for a non-spicy dinner. We both eye of pizzas from
the menu . . yum . . only to be told they no longer make them . . great! We
then go for pasta, someting bland. its wonderful and just what the doctor ordered. We are tired and trashed we need to
retire . . . what a day . . .such a massive one!!!
Wendy and Jase at the Taj..
It's out there somewhere, we are sure
Such a nice colour contrast . . .
