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So our trip was a good one. After flying ontime to Dehli on Air Deccan, which notoriously cancels flights without notice, we headed to my client's house in Dehli. We were treated to a sumptuous Indian meal.
The next morning, there was confusion as our car was supposed to show up at 6:30 am. Unfortunately our car booking wasn't recorded, so we had to get another car which ultimately showed up at 8 am. We made sure it was an A/C car, because we weren't going to travel three and a half hours in 100 degree heat in a non-A/C car!
After we drove for an hour and a half, our driver looked nervous and started to slow down. He pulled over to the side of the road and he pointed out to me that the temperature gauge on the car was in the red. You know, that gauge with the temp and it has H - L, and near the H it has this red shading. Well, ours was beyond the red shading and hit the little plastic thing that stops it from going too far. So there we were, in the middle of nowhere, and our driver called for another car. So, we had to wait another hour for the car. It turned out to be an hour and a half, and so about 11:15 am, we were off again speeding, this time in a smaller car.
Lo and behold, we travel another 15-20 minutes, and the temperature gauge on this car does the SAME THING. So, our driver looks nervous again (and by this time I'm scared the car will blow up and our Taj trip will end prematurely). Our driver calls his HQ and they tell him to try turning off the A/C for a bit. So, to our dismay, we turn off the A/C and roll down the windows, which doesn't really help. The temperature gauge gets off the plastic pointy thing, but still hovers around in the red. So we had to keep it off for three hours, in 100 degree heat, dying of thirst.
So then after traveling three hours, we ask the driver to stop at the mythical McDonalds that he said was on the way. Although we kept asking him where it was, and he kept saying 10 more km. Finally, at about 2 pm, we see it and jump for joy. To our severe disappointment, the menu is somewhat different. There is no meat served. They main items are:
But I settled for a McChicken and Filet-O-Fish and some fries. I ate two adult meals, because their large size isn't even a medium in the states. I polished those two meals off and then headed for a strawberry sundae. Delicious I say!
After refilling at McDonalds, we were back on our way, our spirits lifted, and since we were so close to Agra, we decided to just turn on the A/C, temperature be damned!
We arrive in Agra, and then start to get closer to the Taj. They don't let cars near the Taj because pollution has started to stain the pure white marble, so we had to go to a parking lot and then take a cycle rickshaw to the actual Taj site. Let me tell you, I thought people in Kolkata were aggressive. These touts were so in yo face, trying to bargain. It's amazing how they started with 500 rupee, then quickly went down to 10 rupee for the ride. haha. Once we get to the ticket line, there are even more guides offering their services for outrageous prices as well. After being pestered for 15 minutes, we finally made it inside without a guide.
The Taj is AMAZING. I love symmetry, and the Taj is definitely that. Perfectly symmetrical on all four sides, and it does look like it floats in the air. Inside, the craftmanship on the walls was so ornate and detailed, it was amazing. We didn't stay inside too long, as there is nothing really to see in there except for the walls. Inside there are the tombs of the king and queen. The story is that the king built the Taj out of mourning for his wife, who died after giving birth to his FOURTEENTH child! (You hear that Janice?! 14!!) That's more than a full basketball team roster. The Taj is coupled with two mosques that are amazing as well. They made us wear these booties over our shoes in order not to stain the marble (see left). Weird. After walking around the four sides and clowning around, it was time to go. It was too hot to stay. The side that the sun was on was vacant, so I was able to klown around a bit there (see right). It was funny, three separate groups of Indian people asked to take a picture with me. I obliged them, but I forgot to have them take a pic with my camera! Doh!
 
We headed to the Red Fort (aka Agra Fort aka Taj Fort). By then we were tired of getting hassled for buying things and hiring guides, and from the trip and the five hours of sleep I got, so we didn't do too much in the Red Fort. The Red Fort was where the king was imprisoned by his son, and so the king spent the rest of his life just in his cell staring at the Taj (view from the red fort of the Taj on left). Red Fort view on the right.
 
After the Red Fort, we stopped at a Cottage Industries to buy some souvenirs, although I didn't get anything. They had this really cool marble minature version of the Taj (see below). Outside the shop were these really cute stray puppies which I wanted to take home...
 
After the Red Fort, we returned to my favorite place on the trip... that's right, ANOTHER trip on the same day. I even ordered from the same guy, and he recognized me! haha.
 
We got back to Dehli around 10 pm, after stopping to top up my coworker's prepaid mobile phone. We almost died crossing a highway. I do not recommend doing that.
The next day, we woke up late and lounged around for a bit. Then it was off to the Swaminarayan Akshardham Hindu temple, which was indescribable. I actually thought it's interior was more beautiful than the Taj. It's just so ornately sculpted and so decadent. It was just amazing. I wouldn't do it justice if I tried to describe it. It's something you have to see for yourself. I think it rivals the Sistine Chapel for interior beauty, although it's built in the modern day, and it could be perceived as a little gawdy and over-the-top, but ultimately beautiful. Unfortunately they don't allow pics inside (like the Taj). I wish I could show you guys the beauty and detail. It's really breathtaking.
Unfortunately I didn't get to see the Lotus Temple since we had to go to the airport, but here is a pic of what it looks like!
It was a great trip, very sleep deprived, and I got sick towards the end. I think it was the over THIRTY mosquito bites I received over the course of two days. There were mosquitos on the planes, in the house I stayed at, and in the car we drove in. I'm still recovering, and I hope I don't have malaria.
Ok, next up... I don't know, I'm running out of things to write about... | | |
| So I figured out how to share all my pics through yahoo. They include most pics from the last five months of my life, more detail than I could post on xanga. Enjoy!
Please click on the link: http://photos.yahoo.com/andyyangstar
Please pray for me, I'm quite nervous about taking flights in India, both for safety and also ontime arrivals and departures! | | |
| Rickshaw Pulling!
Today our Indian coworkers took us out for lunch (we usually have it homemade by an Indian woman. So we had a good treat. While we were waiting for our food, we saw a rickshaw stand. Kolkata is the last bastion of human rickshaws, and so we decided to give it a go. No rickshaw wallas were there, so I decided to pull it for a bit! They are a little lighter than they look, it was good fun!
Grrrrr, like Rocky Balboa! Eye of the Tiger!
Roti Making!
So yesterday, my coworker and I were walking home, and there is a hole in the wall restaurant where we usually buy rotis. Rotis are like tortillas, and the restaurant makes them fresh. The very first time we tried to buy rotis, they looked at us like we're crazy. They kept trying to offer us other dishes, but we just wanted roti to go. (We don't really trust their other food). We have eaten there once, and it kind of made me a little nauscious.
The restaurant is really weird. I swear it's a front for like prostitution or something, because there are like usually 20-25 men just sitting in there with nothing to do. Yet, they have stacks and stacks of cash.
So the roti man, who is like an expert roti thrower, is always there making our rotis. You first start with a lump of dough, then moosh it down into a circular shape, use the roller to flatten it even more, then moosh it down some more, and use the roller again. Then, you toss it up in the air like pizza, and finally toss it onto the upside-down wok thingie and cook it. Then you flip it over, and ta-da! A roti.
So we get there and we are waiting for our roti as usual, which I eat with boil in a bag chicken tikki masala (yum). I have always wanted to make roti, because it just looks so fun. My coworkers were telling me how I could volunteer at some places where I could prepare meals for others, kinda like a cooperative. They said I could make roti there, but alas, I never had a chance to go. So I mustered up the courage and asked if I could give it a go.
Let me tell you, it's MUCH harder that it looks. I was able to get one in somewhat of a circular shape, and then throw it on. Which subsequently burned. Take a look at the roti man behind me laughing at me!! hahaha
My coworker gave it a go, she didn't do any better than I did. She didn't even get to throw hers on the cooker! hahaha. Let me tell you though, there were no less than 25 people gathered around us. It was quite a lot of pressure. But in the end, it was great for a laugh and was fun. I'll definitely miss the roti man and his rotis, they were quite tasty, and at 2 Rupee (3 cents) each, you can't beat that deal!!
Next up: Taj!! | | |
| So two days ago, we were just kicking around after lunch. Our office is really close to the Alipore Zoo, so, I suggested that we take a short trip there since we weren't able to see any tigers when we went to the Sunderban camp.
Lucky for me, my coworkers bit on the bait and off we were!!
The zoo was organized into sections with a reptile house, tiger cages, monkey cages, and bird cages. I haven't been to an American zoo in quite awhile, except nearly two years ago when I volunteered at the SF Zoo where I had to shovel dirt for four hours in the wind and rain! I don't remember being able to be so close to the animals.
The tigers were really really close, only two fences separated us from certain death! It was sad how the Indian people just taunted them, trying to act all tough and yelling at them. It was really hot, so a lot of the animals were just sitting and resting. My favorites were the big cats of course!! There was this YOOGE bengal tiger just pacing. I have a great video clip of him. There was also a really cute white tiger cub there. Man, it was unbelievable how close we could get. Like literally about one or two feet from them.
There was one Rhino there, unfortunately they cut his horn off. So sad. But we could have touched him if we really stretched our hand to him. Crazy! Then the peacocks, shaking their tailfeathers. haha. Oh, the reptile house was pretty cool. Saw some Indian cobras and some pythons, and the crocs.
Here are some of the pics, unfortunately the cages blurred a lot of the pics. (oh, and it was quite annoying how my camera attracted more attention than the animals, and we had a loyal following wherever we went). The cats get the bigger pics because cats are the best and I am a cat person. 
 
 
 
We only spent about an hour there, but it was great to get out of the office during the day and see some animals.
Ok, next up: not sure, maybe Hazing if I go to the gym tonight! or it could be the Taj after I go there this weekend!! | | |
| My British coworker takes horse riding lessons at the Polo Club. So last Thursday was the last day of horse racing, since it gets too hot for the horses during the summer. So she was able to swing a couple free passes to go watch.
 
Unfortunately, my luck wasn't that great. I kept betting on the longshots, since it was only a couple rupee here and there. I bet like 800 Rupee on one race, and when I lost, a crowd gathered and there was subsequent pity on me. I felt really bad afterwards because everyone was like "why'd he bet on that? we told him to bet on the #2 horse." *everyone collectively shakes their head* Dude, it's only $20! Sheesh! So I felt really bad for "wasting" money. Even the lady taking my bets took one look at me, and she was like, you don't look lucky. I will give you some of my Indian luck. hahahaha. (I did win the race when I bet through her).
My coworker was also being kind of infuriating. We would go look at the horses beforehand, and I suggested that we should bet on one together. She was like, "why, we should be betting AGAINST each other!" ?!?! Dang man, ruthless Brits. She's superstitious too, so she wouldn't tell me who she was betting on even though she would insist on knowing who I bet on. Then one race she didn't even sit next to me! grrrr. 
They parade the horses around before the race, and lots of people would tell us about injuries the horse had, how they are limping, what the jockeys strategy was. It was really interesting, and those people were always right too! I should've just bet what they were betting on too.
This shady guy kept asking for tips, and was really aggressive. I ordered two cokes, and gave him a 50 rupee note. No change. Just kept pumping me for money too!! After every race, asking me if I won, and if I did, he would hold out his hand waiting for his cut. He was funny though, I really dig his hat.
It was fun regardless of losing. It was great weather, albeit super hot. But great to get out on a sunny day in a relatively unpolluted part of Kolkata, and great not to work on a Thursday! It reminded me of my birthday two years ago at the track in Berkeley where we won tons of money! I love horse racing!
Next up: Zoo!! (I'll post my hazing experience later, I don't have any pics of my PM or the gym) | | |
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