Taj Mahal

On the way to Agra

View from the train to Agra

In front of the Taj Mahal

Mrs. Davila holding up the Taj

Mrs. Muscarello in front of the reflecting pool

We awoke at 4:00 for a 5:00 a.m. pick up. Our driver was waiting in the lobby and drove use to the Delhi train station to board the Shotabdi Express to Agra. The train arrived on time and we were off for the two hour ride. The train was fairly clean, and they served a small breakfast. We were seated next to a woman from Agra, who helped us by letting us know that the station was approaching. When we got off the train in Agra, our guide was waiting and walked us to our car. We then drove to the Taj gate and proceeded to buy our entrance tickets. The Indian government has an interesting system for admission to the site: 20 rupees for Indian citizens and 750 rupees for "foreigners". Yikes! After making our way through security, including a wanding and pat-down, we entered the gate.

I was hot, very hot, but apparently the monsoon rains had cooled down the temperatures. Unfortunately, those same rains sent the humidity through the roof. We thought Houston was humid, but this was a "whole 'nother level" of humid. Despite the heat and oppressive humidity, we continued on and were blessed with a stunning view of the Taj. In fact, the heat, coupled with free admission in the afternoon, kept the crowd level low and we were able to enjoy the beauty of the monument somewhat unspoiled by hoards of tourists.

We happened to be visiting on the celebration of the 90th anniversary of the death of Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor who ordered the monument erected in loving memory of his wife. Because of the celebration, the tombs under the Taj were open to visitors. After visiting the tombs, our guide showed us the semi-precious inlay work that adorned the surface of the monument. The detail was astounding! The memory of adoring the monument will stay with us forever.

Tomorrow we are heading to Gurgaon to visit a middle school and observe mathematics teaching. We will then meet with a University of Delhi professor to discuss teacher education in India.

Culture Shock - Indian Style

Mrs. Davila in front the Sikh Temple

Humayun's Tomb

Flash Mob with Women at Qutab Minar

Qutab Minar

We arrived to the hotel in Delhi, India about 2am and quickly hit the sack. Our guide Aki picked us up about 9am and took us to see the Qutab Minar. As we entered the site we were greeted by every Indian woman we saw with a warm “Hello”. The ruins were breathtaking and we received schooling on Islam vs. Hindu architecture. While there a women asked us if we would take a picture with her. What started with one ended up with fifteen women surrounding us smiling! Everyone in the place had cameras out snapping photos. I had to wonder if they had mistaken us for someone famous. It was a photo flash mob that had us laughing for hours!

We then headed to Humayan’s tomb. This amazing display of a wife’s love for her husband and the sheer magnitude and intricacy of the architecture was a sight to behold. The Red Fort was next on our list. When we got there the line was too long to get in so we opted for a Mac attack and headed for the closest McDonald’s. Finding it was an education in Indian culture. The streets are crowded with cars and people and lots of shops, but we eventually made it to the golden arches. There are no hamburgers in India because beef is not part of their diet. We opted for some good ol’ chicken McNuggets and fries.

From there we asked the driver to take us to a place we could shop for souvenirs. After winding down several crowded streets we pulled up to a door. We walked down a staircase into a basement filled with beautiful Indian garments. The women wanted to show us everything. They were very kind and we were able to pick-up some beautiful items.

On our way back to the hotel our driver decided we needed to see the Sikh temple. We thought we would be passing by to look at it, but he had other ideas! Before we knew it we were inside, feet washed, head’s covered, walking around. It was a quick visit, but we were able to see another part of Indian culture.

And now….we are back to rest up for tomorrow’s trek to Agra!

Out and About

Mrs. Davila in front of the square

Mrs. Muscarello with Chairman Mao

Monument being erected for celebration

We headed out to Tiananmen Square to experience the grandeur of the space. The square was undergoing renovation in preparation for the celebration of the 90th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Communist Party. There were breathtaking displays of red at every turn.

Despite an action packed day, we had a flight at 9:00 p.m. to New Delhi. We made it to the airport in record time, thanks to a cab driver who was heavy on the horn and weaving in and out of traffic! Yikes! Our flight landed in New Delhi at 2:00 a.m. local time. We are now happily checked in to our hotel and heading off for some much needed rest. Tomorrow, we have a private guide showing us Old and New Delhi. We are ready to get out there and experience it all!

Beijing Hutongs

Today started with a bicycle tour of the hutongs of Beijing. According to the guide, there were once 6000 hutongs (narrow alleyways where the common people live) and there are now only around 2000. The living areas have been squeezed out by development over time. Each hutong had a different flavor: elderly playing Mahjong in the square, food stalls lined with delicacies, local markets teaming with life. For lunch, we went to a courtyard home and had a meal prepared by Mrs. Wu, a local resident elected to the task by her hutong counsel. Her hospitality was a welcomed break from the bicycle.

Sheer Travel Exhaustion

Today we rested. After so much activity, we were both utterly wiped out. By late afternoon, we finally had our energy back and we decided to head out to a Chinese Acrobat Show. It was surreal to be experiencing the acrobats, who can be seen at street fairs and circuses across the U.S., performing in their own home country. The performance was breathtaking and will be a cherished memory for both of us. Tomorrow, we are heading out to Bicycle Beijing. It should be an interesting adventure to see the city like a local, from atop a bicycle.

Flying Down the Wall!

The Great Wall

The Bird's Nest

Mrs. Davila on the toboggan slide

On the Great Wall of China

View from The Great Wall

Our day began early this morning with a quick breakfast and then we met our tour guide, Judy, in the lobby of our hotel. We drove for about an hour and a half and made it to The Great Wall at Mutianyu at around 10 a.m. We rode the cable car to the top and then began our walk. We toured 8 watchtowers and traversed up and down the wall, snaking through the beautiful scenery. After about an hour, we made it to the toboggan slides. The ride down the mountain felt great after the workout walking the wall!

After our tour of the wall, our guide took us to a local restaurant for a lunch of fresh trout. The food was fantastic! When lunch was finished, we drove for about an hour back to the city of Beijing and stopped at the Summer Palace. By this time, we were utterly exhausted, but pressed on in order to experience the beauty of the palace. Our guide shared her wealth of knowledge about the Chinese Emperors who traveled to the Summer Palace to escape the overcrowding at the Forbidden City. The grounds were lush and full of shade, a welcome break after the heat we experienced on the wall. At the close of our visit, we took a Dragon Boat across the lake.

Our final stop was a quick viewing of the Olympic venues before heading back to the hotel for a welcomed nap. Tomorrow, we plan on visiting the Forbidden City and possibly taking in a Chinese Acrobat Show. This trip continues to bless us with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the history of China. We are excited to see what tomorrow has in store!