Selfie Nation June 30 2018

So that whole resetting my internal clock thing, it wasn't happening today.  Along with the previously cancelled food tour I had also booked a day trip down to Agra to see the Taj Mahal.  As this was advertised as a sunrise tour an early departure was required - a 3am early departure. 

As promised the hire car was at the hotel to pick me up at 3am sharp.  And we were off through the calm and quiet streets... ya right, even at 3am there were moments of high insanity on the streets getting out of the city. 

Once out on the motorway though it was smooth sailing the 2-1/2 hours down to Agra.  As we got close to the city on one side of the road was the rising red ball of the rising sun while on the left the pale gray orb of the setting moon.  This peaceful scene accentuated with the hazy dew of the morning air plus a bunch of smoke from the very much active medieval brick ovens dotting the landscape.

Once into the city a quick stop was made to pickup the local guide and then off to the Taj Mahal.  Not having much in the way of expectations here I was fittingly impressed with the scale of the site - it is a lot bigger than what it looks like in pictures. 

In my short time here I've quickly noticed that Indians really like to experience and are very prideful of their history.  And that they really really like photographic proof that they really like to experience their history.  No exaggeration; I observed  a bushful sack full of selfie sticks being fully devored within minutes of the vendor emptying the contents from his back onto the ground.  And at all the historical locations I have visited there are swarms of "professional" photographers who for a price will gladly take your picture dramatically posed in front of that site's feature.  And then an even more dramatic pose, and then another but this time a little to the right, and one more but now look dreamily off into the distance...

After breakfast (included in the price of the tour) and a stop at the obligatory craft market (anyone need an inlayed black marble chess board) the tour ended at the Agra Fort.  Where the Red Fort was dissapointing the Agra Fort exceeded any expectations.  With some small remaments of past neglect the sense of past grandeur was mostly perserved.

Then it was back to the car for the 3-hour ride to the hotel where some of the other riders had begun to arrive.  And we receive word of several substantial incoming travel delays.