January 4.

I mostly survived this nonsense cold and my goodness am I happy that I did. I made it guys, I somehow took some of the most repulsive medicine they found and I am in a lot better shape than I was a couple hours ago.

We made our way to Agra and we were just so excited. I mean excluding the fact that the smog was almost unbearable with the barely functional breathing and gross cough I managed to develop, but I couldn’t really find it in me to care all that much. The amount of excitement between the group of us was anything but subtle once we got on the golf cart type thing that drove us from the gate to the security check point before we got to the wonder of the world.

We were all practically bouncing with anticipation that we couldn’t even find it in ourselves to mind with the still constant stares from locals. Our tour guide was efficient as ever and got us through relatively quickly. Soon enough, we got past the check point and our tour guide was going on about various fun facts about the Taj. But once it came into our line of sight, we were all practically done for.

The world is full of miserable things and sometimes the stupidity of humanity can’t be ignored. But then one finds themself in front of a wonder of the world and everything just seems to take a backseat. There is no time or reason to consider the horrors that already exist when one magnificent token of love stands in front of them.

The Taj Mahal is something more magnificent that I could ever truly comprehend. The pictures and descriptions could never do it enough justice, I suppose that why it’s one of the world wonders. There were just so many moments that my breath was gone and it wasn’t because of any air pollution or because I’m so out of shape I can barely handle the stairs in most places. Just laying my eyes on it in person reduced me to a state that I could barely form words or function properly. I just couldn’t believe my eyes. Everything in my life just seemed to be on the back burner, just for a brief moment, so that I could take everything in properly.

It was fascinating to see how one person’s love was just immortalized forever. Sometimes words aren’t enough. It’s the actions that can prove just how much someone means to another. Although, yes it’s a glorified tomb, it’s still something that he kept his word about. Things can be accomplished for all the wrong reasons, but this was done in a way that I can barely comprehend.

When we got the chance to be up close, I just couldn’t even take enough pictures, videos or audio. There are a few magical things in the world, and I definitely can say experiencing a world wonder is one of them. Just being able to rest my hand on the outer walls of the Taj was an experience. Finding out that they still use old methods of cleaning it too made me happy. Seeing that the idea of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” still existed was completely heartwarming. They don’t use power washers or anything to clean the Taj, but the old methods that would eventually restore the building to it’s original state. We even got the chance to meet a long descendant of the family who had the privilege to enhance the beauty of the Taj, by intricately inlaying the gems into the designs that decorate the building.

I was just this blown away from being able to see the Taj when I was still recovering from being sick. That’s absolutely baffling. But if there’s anything else I realized from this one moment, it’s that I want to keep traveling.

I want to see every single world wonder. I want to see the stars in different places in the world. I want to find different stories of the cultures that inhabit different parts of the world. I want to keep being amazed by what secrets and stories this world has to offer. I just can’t settle at seeing one world wonder. (I don’t count standing outside the Colosseum, it’s totally not the same thing I realize.)

One down, six to go.

The rest of this Indian Adventure has so much to go, til the next time! ~KA