Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Delhi to Agra

After breakfast yesterday we packed up and checked out of our hotel. Our driver picked us up shortly before 10 am and we started off for Agra. On the way south through Delhi, we noticed that every car, except the odd brand new one, is covered with dents and scrapes. This seems to be expected. On our city tour, we were stopped in traffic and another car gently hit our car. The driver was apologetic as he backed up a few feet. Our driver just shrugged. It happens all the time. On the way here we got a picture of a family of 4 on a motorbike. We've seen 5 but didn't get a picture. In Vietnam we've seen 6.
Here there are more cars and tuktuks than motorbikes. Traffic is scary. On the way out of Delhi we got a picture of one of many seedy apartment buildings. However, we need to stress that most people in Delhi live in decent apartments or houses and they dress much like Canadians. In Connaught Place, many young people wear skintight jeans and T-shirts, although the guidebooks recommend that women travelers here dress very modestly in loose fitting clothing. There are also lots of people of all ages in more traditional dress.
Many older men and women hide their grey hair with henna hair dye. To us, an orange head is not an attractive look but it seems to be popular here.
We traveled on a 6 lane toll highway that is just as good or better than any major highway in Ontario, all the way from Delhi to Agra. We saw the remains of several recent accidents, including a burned out bus. Our driver was very aggressive but we got here.
Along the way there were miles of lush grain fields and in one area where the clay must be right, dozens of small brick pits and kilns. We've seen carts pulled by horses, bullocks and camels.
Our hotel is adequate but not great. We're only 1 km from the east gate of the Taj Mahal so it's well located. We moved from the first room we were given because of the mold and smell of strong cleanser used to mask it. Our new room is fine. The restaurant is very disorganized but the food tasted good. Service is very friendly. We're paying about $42 Canadian per night, not including breakfast.
Unfortunately, I was up most of the night with a stomach ache and have only managed to eat 2 bananas and a piece of naan bread today. Anita of the cast iron stomach is fine. Hopefully tomorrow I'll feel better.




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