After touring the Taj Mahal, and grabbing some lunch, Laura, Dan and I hired a rickshaw for the return ride to Agra Fort. It is a large, sprawling complex, with much of the space still dedicated to India's military.
It is situated along the same river as the Taj Mahal and each can be seen from the other.
Before heading back to the hotel, we agreed to visit some tourist shops as part of our deal with the rickshaw driver. I learned that the drivers can not only earn commissions off what is sold at some places, they can also be given a liter of petrol for simply bringing in new customers. Our first stop was a big store, and we were offered free Pepsi's to enjoy while doing our best to resist the pressure to buy something.
The weather remained clear, and we hung out at the hotel's rooftop restaurant for the evening. As we enjoyed a few Kingfishers, and the beautiful sun slowly set, I was surprised to find kites filling the air all around us. Adults and kids alike were flying them from their rooftops, and it seemed to be a very popular activity. A call to prayer rang out from a local mosque's loudspeaker. I couldn't have asked for a better evening.
Dave is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Go Backpacking and Feastio, a food blog. He's been to 65 countries and lived in Colombia and Peru. Originally from New York, Dave now calls Austin, TX home. Read the complete story of how he became a pro travel blogger.
Planning a trip? Go Backpacking recommends:
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Kango Suz
Monday 23rd of June 2008
What a great evening!
@ curries - do you prefer the yellow ones? I love the thicker ones , also the cheese in curry or spinach.
Dave
Tuesday 24th of June 2008
As long as it has coconut milk, I'm happy!
Kango Suz
Monday 23rd of June 2008
What a great evening!
@ curries - do you prefer the yellow ones? I love the thicker ones , also the cheese in curry or spinach.
Dave
Monday 23rd of June 2008
As long as it has coconut milk, I'm happy!
clair
Tuesday 17th of June 2008
Are you eating lots of curry? Love Indian curry, it's the best :razz: . A friend of mine who recently visited India complained that the food was too spicy for her.
Dave
Tuesday 17th of June 2008
Yep, and the funny thing is I am loving the veggie curries more than the chicken ones. Well, to be honest, I'm getting lots of curries with cottage cheese and potato, not the hardier vegetables! Still, they're authentic and soooo good. I've definitely gained wait lately. I've had some spicy food, but by and large, I must be ordering the tamer stuff because I haven't found it overwhelming. Then again, I've mostly been in the tourist restaurants where they tone things down.
clair
Wednesday 18th of June 2008
Are you eating lots of curry? Love Indian curry, it's the best :razz: . A friend of mine who recently visited India complained that the food was too spicy for her.
Dave
Wednesday 18th of June 2008
Yep, and the funny thing is I am loving the veggie curries more than the chicken ones. Well, to be honest, I'm getting lots of curries with cottage cheese and potato, not the hardier vegetables! Still, they're authentic and soooo good. I've definitely gained wait lately. I've had some spicy food, but by and large, I must be ordering the tamer stuff because I haven't found it overwhelming. Then again, I've mostly been in the tourist restaurants where they tone things down.
Phil
Tuesday 17th of June 2008
That description of sitting at the rooftop restaurant enjoying a drink and a sunset makes me want to be there!