Monday October 22nd.
We checked out of Fawlty Towers this morning having spent two nights there. We have enjoyed excellent accommodation on this trip but I'm afraid this one didn't quite hit the spot. Although they appeared to be trying hard, they really didn't have a clue. Initially we had WiFi connection problems as most did but ours was quickly resolved. Others had ongoing connection issues which make it frustrating as hotel time is the only opportunity you get to log in. None of the midway stops or restaurants during the day provide access.
Basic services like towels in our room were missing until we asked for them and the room cleaning left a fair bit to be desired. At least we could get a laugh out of it. The restaurant had a guy cooking omelettes while standing next to the 50kg LPG cylinder. I told him " one flash and you're ash" but he just wobbled his head in recognition that he didn't have a clue what I was on about. If you're ever passing through Jaipur you could probably do yourself a favour and give the Fern Hotel a miss!
So far this morning we've been travelling on a reasonable highway with two lanes each way and a planted dividing strip down the middle. Some of the towns we've gone through have been interesting. The main part of the road narrows to a single lane each way through them but there is a service lane on each side of the road which certainly makes it safer for traders and shoppers. I'm not sure if it is unique to this area but it makes good sense.
Occasionally we see someone with a death wish travelling towards us on a motor bike on the wrong side of the road driving on the road shoulder. It seems to work out though despite the fact that they also have motorbikes heading towards them using the road shoulder.
Here's one final observation regarding motor bikes. For whatever reason, the women pillion passengers sit side saddle. It has me buggered how they don't slide off the seat especially considering that they're usually hanging on to goods, bags and even a child or two as they zig zag their way through the traffic.
We are visiting the ruins of the city of Abheneri on the way to Agra and will be there shortly. I'm particularly interested in seeing the 8th century step well that I've done a bit of reading up on since seeing Joanna Lumley covering it on TV a while back.
We're back on the bus and India's biggest step
well didn't disappoint. Unfortunately, the camera doesn't capture the true
perspective of depth at all. This is a ripper example of stone masonry and it is
such a shame that so much of the temple that stands along side it was
destroyed. We walked around the four sides of the well to take in every bit of
this marvel.
We've now crossed the border and are no longer in Rajasthan but in Uttar Pradesh
(U P) State with an incredible population of 200 million!! All of the cars are displaying different number plates from those we've become familiar with over the last couple of weeks. We've already noticed how much busier it is and the tuk tuk congestion as we enter the outskirts of Agra has to be seen to be believed.
By some strange miracle we arrived at Agra Fort in one piece. We couldn't mistake where we were as the bright red stone that this landmark is constructed from is much deeper in colour than anything else we've seen. The Red Fort was built in the 1560's and is of Mughal architecture.
Agra Fort
From within the fort we got some great views of
the Taj Mahal that we will visit tomorrow. Even from a couple of kilometres
away it is easy to see why the Taj Mahal is considered a wonder of the modern
world.
A monkey took umbrage it me taking his photo and took one giant snarling
leap at me. Fortunately, a guard was quickly on hand with a big stick to
frighten it away. A clean pair of jocks and I should be right again!
We spent a night in luxury at the Clarks Shiraz
Hotel. Only a couple of kilometres from the Taj Mahal, this hotel has a couple
of hundred rooms and four restaurants. Our stay was brief though as we were up
at 5:00am to get to the Taj Mahal in time for some sunrise photos.
The queues
were long. All three of them. There is a male foreigner, a female foreigner and
a local queue. Security is strict and you can basically only get in with a
camera and a water bottle. It was absolutely stunning and I can understand why
people actually tear up when they enter. It is an enormous marble structure
that seemed to change colour as the sun slowly but surely shines light on it as
it rises above the trees. We donned shoe covers to walk through the interior on
the patterned marble floor. Inside felt much smaller than you would expect from
a building with such enormous external dimensions.
We had over an hour of roaming and taking photos
before we headed back to the hotel for breakfast.
By 10:00am we were on the move. We had one
business visit to make before departing Agra and that was at a marble carving
and painting facility. We were given a demonstration of traditional carving and
painting techniques that were employed on the Taj Mahal. Following a lap of the
shop we were on our way east to Orchha where hopefully this blog will be
posted. So you can understand just how badly the road conditions have
deteriorated since we crossed into U P state, the trip took us just over eight hours with only two 20 minute breaks, to travel the 190
kilometres from Agra. (Mind you, there's always something interesting to see
out the window) Anyone who thinks it is easy to travel from point to point
without a plane in India needs to get over here and experience it pronto!
Day 13 has been a ripper, that's for sure. Just like Machu Picchu and the Pyramids of Giza, we've managed to cross another one off the bucket list.
We checked out of Fawlty Towers this morning having spent two nights there. We have enjoyed excellent accommodation on this trip but I'm afraid this one didn't quite hit the spot. Although they appeared to be trying hard, they really didn't have a clue. Initially we had WiFi connection problems as most did but ours was quickly resolved. Others had ongoing connection issues which make it frustrating as hotel time is the only opportunity you get to log in. None of the midway stops or restaurants during the day provide access.
Basic services like towels in our room were missing until we asked for them and the room cleaning left a fair bit to be desired. At least we could get a laugh out of it. The restaurant had a guy cooking omelettes while standing next to the 50kg LPG cylinder. I told him " one flash and you're ash" but he just wobbled his head in recognition that he didn't have a clue what I was on about. If you're ever passing through Jaipur you could probably do yourself a favour and give the Fern Hotel a miss!
So far this morning we've been travelling on a reasonable highway with two lanes each way and a planted dividing strip down the middle. Some of the towns we've gone through have been interesting. The main part of the road narrows to a single lane each way through them but there is a service lane on each side of the road which certainly makes it safer for traders and shoppers. I'm not sure if it is unique to this area but it makes good sense.
Occasionally we see someone with a death wish travelling towards us on a motor bike on the wrong side of the road driving on the road shoulder. It seems to work out though despite the fact that they also have motorbikes heading towards them using the road shoulder.
Here's one final observation regarding motor bikes. For whatever reason, the women pillion passengers sit side saddle. It has me buggered how they don't slide off the seat especially considering that they're usually hanging on to goods, bags and even a child or two as they zig zag their way through the traffic.
We are visiting the ruins of the city of Abheneri on the way to Agra and will be there shortly. I'm particularly interested in seeing the 8th century step well that I've done a bit of reading up on since seeing Joanna Lumley covering it on TV a while back.
The step well at Abheneri
We've now crossed the border and are no longer in Rajasthan but in Uttar Pradesh
(U P) State with an incredible population of 200 million!! All of the cars are displaying different number plates from those we've become familiar with over the last couple of weeks. We've already noticed how much busier it is and the tuk tuk congestion as we enter the outskirts of Agra has to be seen to be believed.
By some strange miracle we arrived at Agra Fort in one piece. We couldn't mistake where we were as the bright red stone that this landmark is constructed from is much deeper in colour than anything else we've seen. The Red Fort was built in the 1560's and is of Mughal architecture.
Agra Fort (Red Fort)
Zoom lens on for our first sight of the Taj Mahal (About 2 Km's)
This is the mongrel who tried to rip my eyeballs out!
The foyer of Clarks Shiraz Hotel
The Taj Mahal just before dawn
Lady Di?
Bus number 2
Day 13 has been a ripper, that's for sure. Just like Machu Picchu and the Pyramids of Giza, we've managed to cross another one off the bucket list.
Another tick on the bucket list
Beautiful shot of the Taj Mahal at the end of the blog.
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