Our original plan was to train across to the Desert city of Jaisalmer but full trains meant otherwise. It seems the trains are a lot harder to get onto than we first expected and experienced. We were saddened to miss Jaisalmer but sometimes, when travelling, things don't go as planned but you land on your feet and something special happens.
After an extra night in Jodhpur we trained to Agra, home of the Taj Mahal. This involved a midnight to 6am 'sleep' on bench and floor in a waiting room in Jaipur station regularly disturbed by the ding ding ding ding tada of the Apple computer operated announcement system.
In Agra we were tired and wanted to just get to our hotel. Our Rickshaw Wallah (driver) Waseem introduced himself and from there our three day Agra adventure began. We had nearly dismissed Waseem as just another tout out to make commissions from taking us to hotels etc. Frankly we didn't mind if he made a few extra Rupees on what we paid him for the three days because he was worth it.
He showed us a great time and all of the sites of Agra including the Taj Mahal at sunset from across the river, drinking beers at Green Park restaurant while learning how to count in Hindi (John wasn't so well after three 1l bottles of 8% beer), and Kate DUI the Rickshaw (John was only allowed to drive sober).
What topped the great sites and times was the chance to just trust someone for a few days. All of the time we are told to be on our guard. Understandably many people here are out to make an extra buck from a tourist so any offer of help has one wondering where the catch is and when will you have to pay up. Waseem steered us right (though he did slip up once and took us marble shopping) and showed us a great time for what will probably be the most memorable three days of our holiday.
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