I`m moving to Shinjuku......

I know I have been talking mostly about my trip on this blog but I have some good news. Next week I will be moving to Shinjuku located in central Tokyo. My  new apartment is 30 percent smaller than my current place but I know I will enjoy being more centrally located.

I have posted pics of my place.

Now all there is left to do is pack and sort through five years of my life.

Agra Fort and Delhi International Airport

The next morning after enjoying breakfast we were picked up by our driver and our guide and we proceeded to go to Agra Fort. However, unlucky for us there was heavy rain on this day and most of Agra was flooding. Yet, our guide was determined to show us Agra Fort.

Once we reached Agra Fort I was shocked to see how many people actually were out viewing the site. There were loads of people, most of them Indian viewing the site.





Agra fort is beautiful and has a rich history. However, I was not able to enjoy the experience due to the rain.

On our way out of Agra Fort a tree collapsed only a couple of meters from us... According to our guide it was because of termites.

After view Agra Fort we were on our way back to Delhi to board our flight to Shanghai Pudong Airport. For those who have not traveled to India or plan on to. I would recommend you print out your plane ticket before going. Radley had trouble getting into the airport because he forgot to print his eticket before coming to India. 

However, Radley not getting into the airpot was not the biggest problem we faced at the airport. The biggest problem we faced was logistics  of the airport. The airport had a rule that a traveler cannot check in or go into the check in area until 5 hours until departure. However, since our flight left at 3 in the morning we wanted to check in as soon as possible and enjoy the airport. However, this was not the case. Once we were dropped off by our driver we were told we could not check nor enter the airport because we were too early. But we could wait in the waiting room until then. So, we proceeded to go to the waiting room. Once there we were denied entry because Radley did not print his e ticket and they had a hard time reading mine because the date was printed 08/10/2013 instead of 10/08/2013. So the guard told me I was too early and I could not enter the airport. After much talking and arguing with the guard he let me in. 

After entering the waiting room we decided we need to use the restroom and to our understanding the restroom was outside of the waiting area. Thus, we would have to leave and go to the restroom. Before we left we informed the guard that we were going to the restroom and we would be back. He nodded at us and gave us permission. When we came back from the restroom, he gave us a double check and intimated us in front of the other guard. Moreover, he asked us a million questions but when a blond white women came up he let her in without checking her id or eticket. 

After waiting in the room for about four hours, they us check into our airline. We checked in with no problems and we thought immigration and security without any major problems but being tired and exhausted after a long day, I decided to spend the rest of the evening in the first class lounge. 

I think Delhi International Airport is a beautiful airport but they need to learn how to train their employees better and have a better system on how to treat travellers. 

P.S. You have to go through a couple of guard before you board the plane as well... 

Agra and the Taj Mahal

The next morning Radley and I left Rishikesh early in the morning to catch our train back to Delhi. At the train station there were a lot of homeless people and they were sleeping in the train station. Moreover, there were many wild animals on the platform. Quite an experience.

Once we reached Delhi we were picked up by our driver whom took us straight to Agra to view the Taj Mahal.



Agra is about a three hour drive away from Delhi. We reached Agra at around 5pm. Once we reached Agra the first thing we did was head out to view the Taj Mahal.



The Taj Mahal was beautiful. Before we got to the main attraction we had a look at the grounds .

One thing I found interesting about the Taj Mahal was how everything is symmetrical. The gates are symmetrical and so are the buildings.

After viewing the Taj Mahal; I can tell why it is one of the seven wonders of the world. Words and pictures cannot express the beauty of the Taj Mahal. It is a site that one needs to experience in real life.

After viewing the Taj Mahal we went to a nice restaurant called the Taj Mahal and enjoyed a great dinner. 

Then we were off to our hotel to enjoy a good nights rest. 

Wandering around Rishikesh

After viewing the Beatles Ashram Radley and I had a few extra days to walk around Rishikesh.

While walking around the city we found this really interesting restaurant that has a mascot outside the building. 

I found the people in Rishikesh easy going and helpful. 

I also enjoyed looking at all of the wildlife in the area. 

One morning we woke up to find a group of monkeys trying to break into our hotel room. 

  If you ever find yourself in Rishikesh, I highly recommend the restaurant Little Buddha 

The city has a lot of offer and I really enjoyed my three days there in the town of yoga.

Rishikesh Beatles Ashram

The next day we headed out to look for the Beatles Ashram. The Beatles Ashram is a compound located near the woods of Rishikesh. No one has lived in the compound since they left. However, one can view it if you pay the guard of the gate to let you in.

However, we were not lucky enough because of heavy rain. So we decided to cancel and head back to our hotel. Yet, on our way back to the hotel we ran into this homeless guy with one arm who talked to us in Hindu and offered to show us around.

We walked around the company and he showed us a hole in the fence from which we could enter.



The whole experience was a good one. It was a bit eery but I really enjoyed the atmosphere.








The one thing that shocked me most about the Ashram was how fast mother nature took its toll on the whole compound.

Many of the buildings were missing doors and windows. Moreover, many of the buildings were crumbling and becoming dangerous.

Also a majority of the buildings have become canvases for artists. Some of the artwork is good but a majority is just mindless graffiti. 

There is even a facebook page dedicated to the artwork at the Ashram.
https://www.facebook.com/TheBeatlesCathedralGallery

It was a great experience and I really enjoyed wandering around.

I would highly recommend it!!!!