The Taj Mahal!

The Taj is on the list of New 7 Wonders of the World.  It certainly is a wonder to the naked eye and looks like a backdrop in a photography studio.  It's majestic and grand.
A guest house lies to the east and a Mosque to the west.  The mausoleum was built for the Emperor, Shah Jahan's favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth of their 14th child.  There's a second grave where the Emperor himself, Shah Jahan lies next to his beloved. The tombs we saw are the false sarcophagi of Mumtaz Mahal and the Emperor.  The real graves are on a lower level which we were not allowed to view.  The security there is strict.  Absolutely NO photos to be taken of the sarcophagi.  I saw one man take a photo with his phone and the security tried to punch him, but he got away.  Wow.  Not sure why photos are not allowed, but that's just how it is.

Scaffolding on the entrance to the Taj.....drum roll please!

And here it is!!!  THE TAJ MAHAL!!!  I can't believe it! 

What a glorious sight.  I can now check it off my bucket list.

The Taj Mahal's Mosque at sunset.

As we were leaving, we heard the call to prayer.  

Jumping for joy because we are actually at the Taj Mahal.

We had so much fun!

What a joyous and expressive woman. 

What a wonderful expression of love.  A ridiculously expensive mausoleum built by a man for his favourite wife.  Made of marble with inlays of semi-precious stones like carnelian, black onyx, mother of pearl, turquoise etc.  It's all still perfectly there.

Jenny!

We had the time of our lives.  Can't wait to tour south India.

India

My journey though Rajasthan was amazing.  A very long trip with many hours on a bus through small villages and big cities like Bikaner, Jodhpur, Jaipur and Agra to name a few.  So many interesting sights along the way.  I posted quite a few on Facebook but here are some I saved for my blog.
There was a shrine on the side of the road and when offerings of food are left, the monkeys help themselves.  We stopped to get a closer look at this tribe of troublemakers.  They were perfectly happy to be a safe distance from us till our bus driver got out and opened a packet of cookies.  Their eagle eyes caught sight immediately and they rushed to see who could get the packet first.  They don't seem to like to share.

I was quite happy to use my zoom to capture these critters, but then they started to rush toward me.  Holy shit!!  I didn't know that our bus driver got out and was offering a packet of cookies.  

My Nat Geo moment....capturing a blissful mother nursing her baby.

Waiting for something to happen....like another packet of cookies.  

Best hotel view ever.  We were at The Lalit Laxmi Villas Palace in Udaiper and this is their view.  So beautiful.

My beautiful mother making the sunset more beautiful.  I was so lucky to share this tour with her.  She's a real trooper!

I could have done a lot more damage in this store than I did.  I bought a vintage Kanta blanket. Not sure which side to use!  

Oh, this woman made me laugh.  The gorgeous Jennifer Robinson.

Not sure where this was taken.  It was hot and it was in Jaipur.

Next 2 photos and this one are scenes from our bus.

I don't know, boxes of shoes?