The Trek to the Taj Mahal!

Since Katie is going to be with us for three weeks we decided to take a little trip...or should I say a BIG trip!?!?  THE TAJ MAHAL!  Some people may not realize that the Taj Mahal in and of itself is a journey.  It isn't close to anything so the trip to get there is quite the adventure!  I had never been before but people have all sorts of stories about getting "Delhi Belly" and the horrid heat, the long drive etc.  Well, I can with great happiness report that none of us got a case of Delhi Belly, we did however have to endure the excruciating temps & the long car drive but it is what it is.  Do you want to see the Taj or don't ya?!  ;0)

We had two other people join us on our trip.  Jack & his cousin, Cara.  Jack just graduated high school, has lived in India for two years & has already been to the Taj Mahal...TWICE!  We was like having along a walking wikipedia and I'm sooo glad he was with us.  Cara, like Katie, is in India visiting.

We started our morning with a flight out of Bangalore into Delhi.  Not too bad.  Just shy of 3 hours.  As soon as we stepped foot off of the plane the intense heat grabs ahold of your throat by the juggler & the top of your head starts to feel like it's bacon sizzling in a frying pan!  Instantly, I could also tell by the "looks" that we weren't in an expat infested area anymore and that some of these people truly could not look at us long enough.  We were a unique lookin' breed of folks.  Literally, I've never been on an airplane where you look at all the heads in front of you and all you see is a sea of black hair!  Katie & I with our blonde hair definitely made for a lot of head turning. 

Just in case I wasn't 100% certain that we "weren't in Kansas" anymore, my suspicion was confirmed when we climbed onto the bus that would transport us from the airplane to the terminal & an elderly woman was holding a small baby in her arms & I had a very unique encounter.  We were close.  I mean REALLY close.  Tummy to tummy.  Although she was a solid foot and half shorter than me!  I shot a friendly smile at her and it was not returned.  She just blankly looked at me.  Then, in the extremely tight and crowded bus, I thought that the baby on her hip had hooked her little footsie on the hem of my shirt b/c it was slowly lifting up.  I quickly reached for the seam to yank it back down bc SERIOUSLY!  Nobody wants to be seein' my belly fall out from under my shirt & that's when I looked down and realized that it wasn't the baby at all....it was the OLD WOMAN!  And instead of allowing me to finish adjusting my shirt so that my momma flab wasn't flappin' in the breeze she continued to pull my shirt UP!!!!  WHAT IN THE WORLD!?  Thank God - I caught Katie's eye (who was already laughing at me) and she had seen the whole thing happen b/c no one would have believed me and I'm not sure I would have been entirely sure what had just happened either!  It just continued to get weirder. 

So, although I'm not quite sure what happened, as best as I can figure, she was just so curious about what my belly looked like (I mean here you can see most women's tummies b/c they are wearing saris & mine was clearly tucked away nice & modest like).  SO!  When her curiosity got the best of her, what did she do!?  She just pulled up my shirt & had a nice close and personal experience with the tall, white woman!?  THEN!  About another 30 seconds later, she grabbed ahold of my arm and she never let go.  Again, at first I was confused and thought she probably just needed to hold onto something on the busy bus to keep her balance.  Nope.  I'm pretty sure she just wanted to touch the white woman.  Again she never made eye contact, she just pulled up my shirt and latched onto my limb?!  It was all SoooOOOoooo odd & goofy!?  And with that we exited the bus & I began re-hashing the story with Jack, Katie & Cara.  Quite frankly, I'm still stumped by it all but with that.....WELCOME TO DELHI!  ;0)

No tint on our car windows-It was like riding around India

in a fish bowl!

First stop on our journey....A public Bathroom...

Definitely a reason they bring tourists here...

You had toilet paper & everything!

Phew!  Feeling much better but SWEATIN' my buns off!

LOOK!  The Train!  Just like in the movie, right?!

 Happily took a picture with me but then did not want the rupees I offered her...She wanted US dollars?!  Not too sure where she'd be spending them?

Saw these circles EVERYWHERE along the roadside to Agra.
Our driver didn't speak very good English & so it took us a LONG time to figure out what they were....

 Looks like they made houses out of them?!...

Maybe even whole villages?!...

And such pretty designs too...

Soooo!  We finally got to the bottom of this mystery.  Made of poo!  Oh, yes, they are!  Isn't that the prettiest little poo-hut you've ever seen!?  The circles are "patties" that are being dried in the sun.  Once they are dried they are placed into the poo-hut for storage.  People do not live there.  Patties do.  The flap-jacks are used for fertilizer, and fuel.  They burn them for baking/cooking & also for heat.  Now, is that resourceful or what?!  You've got A LOT of cows in India....might as well use all that dookie for something worthwhile!

To say that the heat is "oppressive" is the understatement of the year.  114 degree heat!  Here's a local form of "sunscreen"

SPF...30?!  Hmm...maybe more like 15 because
his face is not covered!?

Unfortunately, there are trash troubles all over India.  Agra was especially bad.

SPF or Bandit?!

Recycling

Wheat

When we asked our driver about this his answer was simply, "Progress."  We told him, "Progress is good!" and he was very happy with our response!

"Use Dipper At Night"...interpretation....Flash your lights so I know you are back there!

"Horn Please"...interpretation....Honk all you want I will not get upset with you!  That's what we do in India!

When traffic came to a grinding hault - We literally backed up on the highway and drove on the WRONG side of the rode! 

Once we got close enough we were able to see that the source of the traffic jam was that this truck had lost its load!  All of the steel rebar had fallen off his truck!  We would have sat on the freeway for HOURS in the Boston waiting for them to clean up the mess.  In India, we just joined the people on the other side of the road and made a two lane highway into one lane going North and the other going South.  Voila!  Problem-o solved! 

The toll-booth attendants all came to wave & look at the wacky white people traveling through India!  ;0)

Nap Time!

 Daddy, I think your phone is ringing?!

Roadside Barber

Shoe Delivery

I wonder if they've heard of Zumba®!?!?!  Sign me up!!!

FINALLY!  We have arrived at the Oberoi in Agra!

View of the pool & the TAJ MAHAL in the background! 
SHUT UP!  Someone pinch me already!

Gorgeous!!

Four Fab Foreigners!  ;0)
(and the TAJ is behind us!! ACK!)

We were BIG FANS of the pool!

Drinking our "Rana Specials"

The View from the Oberoi. 
Tomorrow our view will be up close and personal! 
WOOoooOOoOoo  HooOOooOooo!

K-K-K-Katie....Beautiful Katie!

Today was a VERY happy India day as the children have been counting down the days for MONTHS of when our dear friend, Katie would be arriving!

Waiting for Our Katie!

How much longer?!

I really hope she gets here soon!

YAY!  She made it!!

Just in time to walk with us to the bus stop!

They love to climb the tree while they wait for the school bus.

We started out Katie's visit by hitting some of our favorite restaurants!!  Dinner at the Blue Ginger Restaurant & brunch at the Leela Palace!

Us BIG people went out to dinner at the Blue Ginger restaurant at the Taj West End. 

Amazing, untouched, landscaping at the TWE.

Temple

We arrived at the restaurant early so we spent some time walking around & we found a temple that we never knew was there before!?

Hmmm...interesting little fun facts about the temple we found

All locked up but the forehead powder was still available.

Towering trees over our heads

Welcome to India!

Can't get enough of Katie :0)

The Adorable Doorman at the Leela Palace

Katie!  We are so glad you made it! You fought off your jet lag like a Champ & now let our Indian traveling adventures begin!!! :0)

"Leadership Comes in Many Colors"

Leadership is a quality that is highly stressed at Indus International School.  In as early as the 2nd grade the students start to go away on overnight camping excursions with their classmates where they hone in on their leadership skills.  The play games & take part in activities that are specifically designed with the intent of building leadership abilities.

The children recently had a whole day dedicated to the topic of "Leadership."  The children have been working on determining what makes them and other individuals around them good leaders.  Their studies and findings over the course of the last few weeks were showcased in a "Leadership Summit" where all of the students came together to tell us what they had learned. 

The stage is all set & ready to go!

Various children got up & spoke on different aspects of "Leadership"....here the topic was, "Even a Child can be a Leader!

The narrators for the production

One of Erica's BFF's from Germany, Lara, with some words to live by!

Confidence goes a LONG way, doesn't it?!

Rachel was one of the actors in the skit they did.

Even the youngest children at Indus (David's class) came up with their own personal mission statement about how they can be a leader as they grow-up.

No need to wait until you are a "grown up" Son!  Let's start this one TODAY!!!  :0)

Seriously!?  Who couldn't use an extra set of hands to help open things?!  Pickle jars are the worst!  Well, that or the salsa jars?!  They are pretty neck 'n neck!

Happens to me all the time! 
Glad Axel will be around to help me out!

I can tell - He's an environmentalist in the making!!

Renee.  Sweety.  You can practice on me ANY ole time you want!  K!?

Just call him DOCTOR Jack!!

 Stop it!  Are these kids sooo cute or what!?!?!

Rachy's Mission Statement

"Leadership Comes in Many Colors"

Meanwhile, back in the classroom, all of the kids took "post" and were assigned to some aspect of the topic of leadership.  In the video, although you can't hear him well, David was being asked various questions about leadership & then he had to answer.  He is a little nervous as the head of the WHOLE school, General Ray, has stopped at his station and is asking him questions. 

I don't know if David will lead hundreds of soldiers like General Ray did BUT I do think David will make a
fine leader someday!!

"Show them all the beauty they possess inside....Give them a sense of pride to make it easier....Let the children's laughter remind us how it used to be!"

Everybody's searching for a hero...

After walking around the hallways and visiting all of the kids classrooms, we headed outdoors where some of the kids led us parents in games that helped foster leadership skills!

Mikey (Running out front...) to show us parents how to play the "Plank Game"....does that mean he's a good leader or that he's selfish?!  Hehe!

Mom's & Dad's following directions from their kids to play the various games.

It was a fun day spent with all four of our kids.  I am glad that they are learning the qualities of what makes someone a good leader.  Lots of people lead but that doesn't mean they are good at it or what they are standing up for is right.  I pray that my children will grow up to stand up for what is good & what is right, that they will help those in need & they will stay grounded. 

Everyone is searching for a hero - Whitney Houston 

"I believe the Children are our Future...Teach them well & let them lead the way..."

Lotsa nations represented at Indus!