Taj Mahal

Shahjahan Hotel, Agra

Woke at the crack of dawn today to get to the Taj for sunrise. Sadly a few hundred others had the same idea but we still got a great sighting as morning broke. It is a spectacular building upon which I don't need to expound. I would have expected a plethora of tourist attractions to have grown up on the back of the Taj, but aside from a very pleasant 'nature park' there isn't a huge amount else in Agra.

Partly for this reason, and partly because Alex's friend recommended it, when we arrived yesterday morning (on an exceedingly comfortable train) we got straight onto a one-hour bus (bearing little resemblance to anything on which I've ever swiped an Oyster card) to nearby Fatehpur Sikri, where a new capital city was built in the 16th century but almost immediately abandoned due to water shortage. It remains well-preserved and was an unexpected treat to walk around, although part of its appeal was the escape it offered from the seemingly ubiquitous touts. All part of the fun.

Before Agra we spent a further day exploring Delhi, seeing the Red Fort and a 25,000 capacity mosque as well as our first encounter with real real poverty. Alex cried. I couldn't blame her.

Watched my first cricket in India this morning, the first session of the India-Sotuh Africa test match in a cafe. The only people watching, in the only place showing it in the town, were me, Alex and another English bloke. The waiter said Indians think five days is too long for a cricket match. I disagreed.

Over.