Agra-II

I am sitting on the rooftop restaurant of my hotel with a perfect view of the Taj Mahal. Monkeys are jumping from tree to tree, children are playing stick games on the various rooftops, women are washing clothes and men are smoking cigarettes. I am feeling nostalgic because it is my last night in Agra. I am so happy that I chose to spend so much time in Agra, 8 nights. Most travelers that I met only stayed one or two. Only to see the Taj and then move on to their next destination. I have completely falling in love with India, thanks to Agra.

My rooftop view from Hotel Kamel

My favorite pastime, drinking chai

I feel like a broken record but “I met so many wonderful people in Agra!” When Linda was here, we discovered a restaurant that we really liked. We went to this restaurant many times and I continued to go after she left. I became friends with the owner, Gobinda and he invited me to his home to meet his family. In retrospect, maybe getting on the back of his motorbike at night was not the safest decision but I have a pretty honest “gut” and my gut said it was safe! Gobinda’s family was fabulous! He had two of the sweetest boys and a wonderful wife named Dimple. Dimple welcomed me into her home with the warmest hospitality and stuffed me with delicious home cooked food. She also gifted me with a beautiful henna tattoo. Gobinda and Dimple’s boys were excited to speak to me in English, show me their homework, and coin collection. I watched family videos on smart phones and learned about their family and culture. I was even invited to attend their niece’s wedding which will be held in March

Dimple and her wonderful boys

Dimple giving me a henna tatoo

I often discuss my weight and exercise on this blog! It is really important for me to be honest with myself and with whoever is out there reading what I write! But my weight and body image is an important aspect of my life, therefore, it has been an important component of my travels. I have had to work hard at not gaining too much weight. As much as I love to feel skinny, I love food just as much so I have had to find a balance between the two. I refuse to obsess about what I eat (I have lived like that in the past and it is no fun!). I have learned I can eat what I want in moderation. I have also learned that I feel so much happier, and healthier when I am working out! The struggle has been finding places where I can run. I was so excited to when the hotel that Linda and I were staying at had a gym I could use. I was even more excited when I talked the hotel manager into letting me use the gym after we checked out! I continued to use the gym for multiple days until the very sweet manager asked me out on a date!

Super excited to have a fitness center!

Even though I spent 8 nights in Agra, I only saw two “sights” and it was fabulous. I love visiting historical sights and seeing important buildings but I don’t like to feel rushed. I sometimes feel like people are rushing around and checking sights off their list when they travel. I would rather take my time and go slow. My mom was a good travel companion because we both like to sit in one spot for a while! The two “sights” I saw were the Taj Mahal and the Akbar’s Mausoleum. I went to Akbar’s Mausoleum with Sonny, who was the manager at my hotel. Sonny and I became friends and I learned that this is apparently taboo in India. (men and women being friends). The day we went to Akbar’s Mausoleum we basically had to sneak out of the hotel. I had to leave first and when there was an appropriate amount of time after my departure, Sonny was able to leave. I felt like I was in some Bollywood movie!

Sonny and I made it to the tuk-tuk after sneaking out!

Akbar’s Mausoleum

After Sonny and I went to Akbar’s Mausoleum we went and had drinks at a pretty fancy and expensive restaurant. I ordered a virgin mojito and took a sip only to acknowledge the fact that there was ice in it. I quickly explained to Sonny that I cannot have ice unless it is made from mineral water. Some of the nicer restaurants make their ice with mineral water so after we were reassured that the ice was “safe” I enjoyed my drink. About two hours later I started having stomach pains, about 4 hours later I was having diarrhea and about 6 hours later I was puking. I spent the majority of the night in the bathroom and at about 1:00 am I ran out of toilet paper and water! I had to go and wake up the front desk worker! It was a nightmare but I survived! I had planned to leave Agra the following day and head to Lucknow to visit a friend but the thought of being on a train in my current state was not something I was willing to do!

Feeling well enough to whine to my sister and send her pathetic selfies!

My Agra neighborhood

I spent the next day wandering around neighborhoods (close to my hotel) with toilet paper on hand!

Wonderful and happy people

More great people

While in Thailand, my friend Nao told me that “You get lost in India”. I now understand what she means. There is something really special and Intense about India. I am writing this post from Varanasi and I can’t help but feel a little lost, but in a good way. Agra was magical but what made it so magical was, like I always say, the people.

Jasmine and Shawn are this incredible couple from Arkansas. They spend their lives traveling and are planning on moving to India soon.

Gobinda and his brother, Shankara. Shankara is the father of the bride and planning this huge and elaborate wedding for his daughter. He told me they are planning on having 1500 people!