Much of Agra, India is dirty. The buildings are old and many are falling apart or have not been kept up. Many of the shops have dirt floors. For most of us that live in the United States, this world would be a hard world to imagine. There was nothing in the area that could even resemble one of the seven wonders of the world.
We had to park about a kilometer away. They don’t let any vehicles with gasoline within a kilometer of the Taj Mahal. When we got out of the van, immediately there were people trying to sell us merchandise. They see any tourist (especially an foreigner), and they are relentless and do not stop asking you if you would like to buy their product until you are out of their sight.
We boarded the bus to go to the Taj Mahal and when we got off of the bus, the crowd of vendors was even worse. The only way to get them to stop was to tell them to that you would buy something later when you came out because they would definitely ask you again on your way out.
That all changed when I walked through the gate. The Taj Mahal is such a beautifual majestic structure. It is a stark contrast to the world outside of it. Many of you have probably seen pictures of the Taj Mahal. It has a large dome in the middle with four domes, two in the front and two in the back. On each corner are forts. The Taj is known for its symmetry. No matter where you are, it looks the same from each side.
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I went to the Taj Mahal with three of my friends from India. We took many pictures and had lots of fun. It was a great experience that I will never forget. I not only got to see one of the seven wonders of the world, I also made three new friendships that I will cherish for a lifetime.
I arrived back at my home away from home tonight feeling great. I miss my family very badly, but my week here in India has been a wonderful experience from both personal and a professional level.
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