Taj and around

yesterday we had a long night. by the time we came back from the wedding venue, it was well past midnight...we reached the groom's home before the couple and quickly put things together for the couple's welcome...a night filled with traditions, fun and frolic...didnt sleep the whole night and then left at 4:30 am to catch the train to Agra.

this is my first visit to Agra and the Taj. the city and people seemed quite friendly. our cab driver - an aged muslim gentleman offered to take us to some hotels and later, around the city. as we stepped into the taxi, I was greeted by some lovely old time greats playing on the radio. he switched it off. I almost screamed - "let it play...just turn the volume down a bit, please" he gladly obliged.

we went to the Taj in the afternoon...the sun was hardly visible due to all the mist (and pollution?) the skies were grey and from a distance, the monument and the sky seemed one...no direct light made it all the more difficult in getting a decent picture of one of the wonders of the world. today being a holiday, the place was pretty crowded. we walked around it, walked into it, sat there for a while before out.

in the evening we hit the streets of the local market...the scenes and conversations on the streets and streetside shopes were typical of UP (state of India where Taj is situated)...there were electric poles from which scores of loosely connected wires were hanging, transporting illegal electricity to an equal number of shops in that small alley. walking through the main sadar bazaar, we heard Indian classical instrumental music from some speakers hanging from wooden poles along the length of the street. I checked with a local store where the concert was running to which he said - not a concert, such music is played on this street everyday...who plays it? the Sadar bazaar association. some shopes puts the music on every evening. I was pleasantly surprised. all the activity on the street seemed to be swaying to the tune of the music.

dinner comprised of I and Mrs Adda standing at one or the other stall and munching on street food...I would remember this street more than the Taj.