Hello!

I'm in Agra today but an writing my blog about Orchha and Agra.

From Varanasi we caught the over night train to a town/city near Orchha. The train would have been reasonably comfortable had I not suddenly developed a dodgy tummy! As you might imagine:

(Train + squat toilet) x 15 hours = not good

Anyway I got through it and am all fine now!

We got a tuk tuk to our "heritage" hotel. A Heritage hotel in India generally means that the hotel used to be a palace of some sort - so it was a vast improvement on our previous accommodation. It even had a swimming pool which was fantastic!

After a nap we went out to a paper making factory. They don't make the paper out of old newspapers as you might expect, but off cuts of cloth that the big factories throw away. It was an NGO set up to provide local women with employment. The women were all very friendly and keen to have their photos taken and see the result.

Next we went to someone's house for a cooking class. The lady led us through her bedroom/dining room into the back room where she had a temporary gas stove set up. She then cooked lots and lots of different dishes which was really interesting. The only problem was that the room was very small and hot, so I had to keep going out for air! Also I couldn't eat much of the food because of my tummy, but everyone else enjoyed it.

I had a rest the next day whilst the others went out to see the temples of Ochhra. There were loads and loads of temples around the town, which was surprising because the town was very small.

After building me up with lots of Sprite Pauline and Lewis (originally from Palastine now lives in Australia, aged approx 47) took me into the town. Getting into the town was fun in itself - we were a little out of town so we went to the main road and thumbed a lift! There were at least 12 of us in this little jeep/car thing!! Ha ha!!

We wandered around the town, which was quite quiet by that time of day (about 4:30). There was a wedding party going on so Lewis started chatting to the group and had his photo taken with the groom with his special hat and garland (Indian people seem very keen to have photos of white people). It was cool to see a little bit of the wedding party and watch the world go by.

Yesterday was an early start to catch the train to Agra. Pauline, Lewis and I were allocated seats together - I was pleased to have Lewis there because when we got on the train there were people in our seats and we (i.e. Lewis) had to have a big row with them to get them to move. They were not happy!

When we were almost at Agra the train manager came and sat down with us for a chat. He wondered why we were in the second class coach and told us to come with him into first class. Had we realised that a) we were almost at Agra and b) first class was about 10 carrages away (the train was about 50 carrages long apparantly) we wouldn't have bothered. Especially as when we got to the first class he had to throw some people out of their seats for us! Also he suggested that we take photos with him - just so that he could grope Pauline and I.........seriously he grabed a boob!! He soon got the message that that wasn't appropriate behaviour!!

Once in Agra I immediately got our rooms upgraded to have air conditioning (which I plan to do for the rest of my trip because in this heat anything else is very sticky!). After a quick shower (I had 5 yesterday!) and lunch (I was able to eat properly again by this point) we went out to see the Red Fort. The Red Fort was built at the same time as the Taj Mahal and is a massive complex of palaces. We had a good guide who showed us around (just as well really because our group leader is not the best) and explained the what the different rooms and palaces were for. The architecture in the Red Fort is the same type as what can be seen at the Taj Mahal - the tour guide gave the impression that the Fort was actually better than the Taj. It was very impressive I have to admit.

We went back to the hotel for a bit ready to go into the Taj. I should say that our hotel is right by the gates to the Taj so as soon as you step outside of the hotel gates you are fair game for the touts either trying to sell you something or get you to go into their shop - its like running a gauntlet!! Ha ha!!

To get into the Taj you have to have a close up and personal body search and you are not allowed to take a bag in with you - only a bottle of water which you are given with your ticket, your money and a camera. The price for a tourist is 750R (about 12 GBP) or 20R (30 pence) for a local!! Anyway!! Once inside the gates you walk through a court yard then under an arch way to get to the Taj area. Walking through the archway you get your first proper glimpse of the spectical which is the Taj Mahal!

The water ways in front of the buiding weren't as long as I had imagined they would be - but were obviously still nice. We took loads of pictures then queued up to go inside the actual buiding which houses the graves of emperor and the emperor's wife (for who the palace was actually built for). There were lots and lots of Indian people in the grounds visiting the palace too, and the queue went around the block!!!

It was funny because once out of the actual palace families kept stopping us to ask us to have photos with their children - ha ha!!

Today Pauline, Lewis, Julie (Taiwanese lady, approx 47, who lives in Japan and is very inquisative) got up early to see the sun rise over the Taj. To be honest it was not great, but it was nice to sit by the river so early to see the activity starting for the day.

Now I'm just waiting to catch the train to Delhi where this tour ends and the next one begins!!

I hope I haven't gone on too long!!

Louise x.

Mum and dad - I am over my stomach upset now (most people have had a dodgy tummy at one point or another on the trip as it settles into the new food/heat). Don't worry I'm being very careful!! Also Pauline looked after me very well!!