We are up early as usual. While the 6 hour coach ride is long, for seeing the country side it is much preferred. We see it all from very low tech or skill to very high tech, skill or mechanism. As we leave Agra we observe a rough pile of cow dung and learn that it is collected and made into fuel. Usually young girls or women collect the cow dung from the streets where the cows are generally free to wander. Caring for cows is considered a sacred duty. The d...

We fly from Varanasi to Agra. After lunch we check into our hotel - JP Palace. In the early evening we see a live show - a play and dance depicting the journey of the love and life of the Shah Jahan and his dear wife Mumtaz Mahal. The next morning we are meant to see the Taj Mahal at sunrise, but alas it is so foggy that we cannot see at all. Instead we go to Agra Fort, a UNESCO World heritage site built of red sandstone in 1565-73. In the form of a cres...

This morning we flew from Delhi to Varanasi which is the religious capital of Hinduism. It is one of the worlds oldest living cities in the world. It lies on the banks of the Ganges River. At first we explored Sarnath which is the site where Buddha preached his first sermon. At this site which is part of a large park is a stupa whch holds may Buddhist artifacts. As we arrived, there also arrived a large contingent of Buddist monks and followers who progressed to ...

Our day started with a visit to the Jama Mosque, the royal mosque built by the Mugal Emperor, Shah Jahan in 1656. This is a big and beautiful site in the Old Dehli area. Here the streets are more crowded and we started to see India from the Indian point of view. We climbed to top of one of the towers at the mosque and got a good view of Old Delhi. Near the mosque is the market place called Chandni Chowk. This market is narrow lane ways with shops packed together ...

Yesterday after orientation we started our touring properly. At first we went to Humayun's tomb. The tomb was built by Emporor Humayun's widow 14 years after his death in 1570. We then toured the site of Mahatmah Gandi's assasination. It is a beautifal estate with a small museum. After lunch we toured the large Sikh Temple called Guruwara Bangla Sahib. It was moving experience even though we are not members of that faith. Berny took ill with a sore throat and the...