mumbai, taj, and beyond

The last few weeks have been a blur of overnight bus rides, trains, and goodbyes. Knowing that my new found travel bezzies would be leaving me soon, and trying to understand how different it feels knowing that your trip is coming to a close when mine is just starting.
AND...since I have been too vague, I have spent the last five weeks travelling with four wonderful British students from Leeds.
After a few wonderful weeks gallivanting around Southern India we finally made some progress in heading up North a bit.
But first...Mysore, famed for its massive bazaars of spices and perfumes, we had to have a look. We ended up stationed about ten feet from the entrance so the boys could purchase some delicious fragrances for their WAGs at home. Once we finally ventured off to explore the market a bit more, the masses took over and we were stuck in a stand still. After being thoroughly groped at every angle the minute I lost the boys in the crowd, I made a vow never to enter another Indian market alone. Not the best situation. Mysore may have been a slight bust, but the next destination made up for it by far.
Hampi: Ill try to post some pictures, because this place is too wonderful for words. Its a small town in Karnataka surrounded by sprawling boulders, temples, and wandering monkeys. We spent the day under the sun climbing rocks, and another cruising by on mopeds.
Next stop Mumbai.
Although we only had a few days to explore, one of which a few of us were a bit under the weather to brave the mumbai heat, this city might be one of my favorite places we have seen, and I'm already planning ways to make it back here before I head home.
After mumbai we spent a unbelievably quick 24 hours on a train to arrive in the mecca of India, Agra, the home of the Taj Mahal. More unbelievably beautiful and magnificent than you would ever imagine. The other landmarks of Agra, while cannot compare to the Taj, are remarkable just the same. We hit up the Agra fort, Akbar's Mausoleum, and made it just in time for sunset at the baby taj.
It is more difficult than you would think trying to sum up the last five weeks in just enough space to keep you interested, but I'm trying.
The last few days have been some of the most difficult yet. After taking a short train from Agra to Delhi, I am now alone again and not quite ready to fend for myself.
After getting violently ill on the train, and spending the last night with my friends sick on a bed, it has been a rough couple of days. I would not have made it out alive if they had not been there to pick up the pieces...
So now...here I am in Delhi, exactly the place I did not want to end up, and unable to find an honest face to help me along my way. If I can manage to book a flight, I will be making my way up to Leh in the far north for a bit, and then hopefully over the Nepal.