OK, so there are only 7 Wonders of the World (currently they are Petra, Chichen Itza, The Great Wall, Christ the Redeemer, Machu Picchu, The Coloseum, and the Taj Mahal.) Seeing three of them now (Chichen Itza, Great Wall, and the Taj) I really feel the true wonders of the world are the people you meet along the way, or in this case while you are there. Many people would come up to me and ask to take their picture with me in front of the Taj. There was a family, a group of teachers, and others. Talking with them was a lot of fun.
The basic facts of the Taj are well known, so I will share the new one I found interesting. The Taj is built at the bend of a river so the the water does not come too close, but close enough to moisten the wooden beams built into the foundation of the structure that act as rubber like shock absorbers to add cushion in the event of an earthquake. Also, the descendants of the original builders brought from Persia still live in the area and are the only ones who know the secrets of the glue used to keep the panels in place, making them the only ones able to make repairs. Oh yeah, it was also a monument to love or something.
Getting a chance to drive through rural India was also a treat. Considering that over 70% of India is rural (hard to imagine) it is good to get a glimpse of that part of India, even if it was only through the window of a bus. Thinking about the relatively small section of students in India that have access to the type of education available in the Private schools, helps add to the complexity of the picture of India. Only a few percent in India is still about the size of the US, so things can get complicated.
Getting to some words of wisdom as I wind up my travel blog, I guess the main thing I've learned is that buildings and statues are just things, the real treasures are found in the smiles that cross all cultures, the people you meet, and the relationships built along the way.
After spending 2 weeks in India it is impossible to understand much at all, what is possible is to start and develop the questions to ask. The overwhelming sights, sounds, smells, and feelings all add to a real excitement. Everything in India seems to have an opposite right next to it, only adding to the complexity. A lasting image of India for me is a beautifully colored saree blowing in the wind.
The basic facts of the Taj are well known, so I will share the new one I found interesting. The Taj is built at the bend of a river so the the water does not come too close, but close enough to moisten the wooden beams built into the foundation of the structure that act as rubber like shock absorbers to add cushion in the event of an earthquake. Also, the descendants of the original builders brought from Persia still live in the area and are the only ones who know the secrets of the glue used to keep the panels in place, making them the only ones able to make repairs. Oh yeah, it was also a monument to love or something.
Getting a chance to drive through rural India was also a treat. Considering that over 70% of India is rural (hard to imagine) it is good to get a glimpse of that part of India, even if it was only through the window of a bus. Thinking about the relatively small section of students in India that have access to the type of education available in the Private schools, helps add to the complexity of the picture of India. Only a few percent in India is still about the size of the US, so things can get complicated.
Getting to some words of wisdom as I wind up my travel blog, I guess the main thing I've learned is that buildings and statues are just things, the real treasures are found in the smiles that cross all cultures, the people you meet, and the relationships built along the way.
After spending 2 weeks in India it is impossible to understand much at all, what is possible is to start and develop the questions to ask. The overwhelming sights, sounds, smells, and feelings all add to a real excitement. Everything in India seems to have an opposite right next to it, only adding to the complexity. A lasting image of India for me is a beautifully colored saree blowing in the wind.
What a great reflection on your time. I love that last line about the saree blowing in the wind!
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