To Travel or Not To Travel: That is THE Question

Traveling, by its very nature, is inconvenient. Yanking up those settling roots from home - even if just for a weekend - often requires fierce determination and unparalleled stamina. At least that seems to be the case in India.

By holing up at home, one wouldn’t have to deal with:
• Fellow train riders who pass the hours by listening to potential new cell phone rings tones at full volume.
• The man sitting next to you who is either clearing his throat by coughing up his left lung or practicing his best Gollum impersonation – every 2 minutes.
• Hotel owners who won't let you check in to your reserved room yet because they haven’t quite finished their game of pinochle ON YOUR BED.
• Veggie cutlets . . . cutlets of what exactly?
• Adults running like school children to the front of the line to board a train car they already have reserved tickets for.
• The bombardment of shop keepers who keep offering a “special discount just for you" even after you've said no for the 50th time.
• The high travel-to-sight see ratio of about 8 hours to 1.
• Being approached by random men who want a picture with you because you’re American. Well, actually, just with your beautiful American wife.

Even with these reasons to stay home, there are far more reasons why you SHOULD travel. Here are just a few . . .



Agra fort - built in 1565, remodeled and served as both a palace for Shah Jahan (who built the Taj Mahal) as well as his prison when he was overthrown in 1658. At least he could gaze upon his wife's tomb from his cell window.


Beautiful American tourist - I was lucky to get a picture of her.


Pretty flowers - 400 year old inlay in white marble walls.


The Taj Mahal - Symbol of India built by Shah Jahan for his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth in 1631. Taking 22 years and over 20,000 laborers, it's made entirely of white marble, semi-precious stones, and cost the equivalent of $60 million (today) to build. Some laborers had their thumbs amputated to ensure the perfection of the Taj could never be repeated. All for a wife's grave.


The opportunity to kick off your shoes and relax - Done out of reverence for the Islamic tomb and cleanliness for the place, we all got to go barefootin' for a while.


Romantic sunsets - Although we shared it with about 2000 people, the setting sun and the rising full moon were remarkable sights to behold.


Togetherness - Although watching that Scooby Doo episode with Sonny and Cher as special guest stars dubbed in Hindi may seem like quality time, the best moments come when you get to share a new experience with that special someone you'd consider building a monument like the Taj for - though maybe without the tourists.



Jimmy