October 16:  Ate dinner in Jaipur tonight.  We seem to be going to a lot of tourist type places to eat.  In retrospect is appears that they are the “nice” places for Indians to eat also.  Tonight the food was not so great but there was live dancing and music in the restaurant.  It was a short meal and I was afraid I might regret it later.  Luckily all seems to be okay.  For now.

     We got back to the hotel and remembered that we had beer left over from our drive!!  That got me a little excited to say the least.  On the rooftop of our hotel was an amazing view of Amer Fort.  Add a beer and whiskey buzz and you have pure bliss.  We meet a couple from Austria and drank with them until about 2am or so.  Their driver had some whiskey I never had before.  It burned my eyes when I smelled it so I knew I would like it immediately.  Their driver drank at least half the bottle.  I was impressed.  We discussed swine flu, health care and beer.  You know, the usual. 

     Oh yeah.  We also saw around 50 elephants.  Can’t say that every day.  I also forgot to mention that we went to a place with the largest sun dial and oldest from what we were told.  That was cool but they best part was when one of my brother put a cobra around his neck and attempted to play the flute.  I was asked to also join in but I decided to sit that one out.

October 17: Ouch my head hurt this morning.  We had a five hour drive from Jaipur to Agra.  The road was in a good condition.  I was very happy for that.  It is still hard to compute how the people live here.  I now understand why there are so many vegetarians in India.  It would take FOREVER to prepare meat every night let alone keep it good.  Refrigeration is a luxury and in some places so is electricity.

   Arrived in Agra around 1pm.  Hungover and tired.  The drive was smooth but nothing to out of ordinary happened (at least for here).  At 5pm we went to the Agra Fort.  The fort is extremely large and only 25 percent is available to see.  The Indian army occupies the rest and store their munitions there.  To give you and idea of how spectacular the fort is the same emperors that built the Taj Mahal built this fort.  We sat on the kings thrown.  It was very comfortable for stone.  Each room was open air and they collected rain water for the gardens.  Very Very Elaborate.  I could see the Taj Mahal from the Fort and it gave me goose bumps.  Goose bumps I say!  Tomorrow we go there before our drive back to New Delhi.

     Side Note:  The guide we hired was very shady.  He knew nothing of the Agra Fort but did think that he was God’s gift to women.  we still tipped him out of more convenience than service.  Here it is sometimes better to pay than discuss why something was bad.

October 18: Woke up at 5:30am and I was wide awake.  Today we saw the Taj Mahal!  The pictures do not do it justice.  From what I can gather the King built it as a heaven on earth.  His wife died and also became her burial place.  It is a labor of Love.  I will never forget this place.  The guide was not very spectacular to me.  But when you walk up to it you get the feeling of something very special going on.  Even though it was a place for Muslim worship it felt as if all were welcome.  We sat down for about an hour just to take in the awesomeness and energy this place gives you.  Our guide was much better today.  I cannot wait to share some photos.

     We left for Delhi around 12pm.  Most of the drive we talked to the driver and napped.  I think we are all on sensory overload.  I know I am.  I am now sitting in Delhi once again.  Our hotel is the nicest it has been so far.  Tomorrow we leave for Nepal and I am looking forward to a good nights rest.  Let’s hope Nepal has electricity.  There is so much that I know I am forgetting that has gone on.  If more comes to me I will post it later.

PS.  I forgot how much I enjoy performing and playing guitar.  I really miss not being able to express myself that way.  I hope to find something to play in Nepal.