The Taj Mahal and the Cricket World Cup

I decided to take a cycle rickshaw to the train station in Varanasi just as a thunderstorm passed through town. The winds picked up and dust began blowing everywhere. I switched to an auto rickshaw as the rain started coming down harder, but as long as we were going the right direction I was shielded from the water. That said, I arrived at the rail station pretty soaked, and then almost missed my train after bad information from two different men, but off to Agra I went.

I didn't find out until I arrived in Agra that the Taj Mahal is closed Fridays, so I went Thursday for the afternoon and sunset instead of Friday morning for the sunrise. It was crowded the entire time I was there, but I guess it deserves to be. It was strange looking at a building for so long and giving it so much attention, and I found that I was more moved by what the idea of the Taj meant to me and not by just its physical beauty, which was still incredible. My entire life it has been a symbol of an extremely distant place and different culture than anything I'd experience at home, and that somehow on this day my path had taken me here to be able to appreciate it in person. I think the picture below may be a bit crooked.




I arrived in Delhi yesterday, and the Cricket World Cup Final was last night, India vs. Sri Lanka. The match took about eight hours to finish, so the dramatics were a bit drawn out, but the streets were energetic and shopowner's had their tv's on their counters making sure not to miss a pitch. India did win, and I watched the final few minutes in the back of a large crowd gathered behind a projector. As the cheers began, I retreated to the porch of my hotel. Then the hotel owner came and grabbed me by the arm, told me to come inside, and locked the door behind me. At least I felt looked after. Fireworks and explosions and very happy people dancing and singing echoed through the narrow streets as their country won what was to them the most important tournament in the world.