Home
What's New?
Free Gifts
Walkabout Introduction
Strategies
Daily Cycle
Buy the Book
Rate Yourself
Culture Culture Corner
Language Lore
Culture Shock
Culture Stories
Learn More Speaker
Book Leslie
Language Fun Funny Kids
Bilingual Celebs
Miscellaneous Meet Us
Contact Us
Español
Study Abroad

A Unique Way to Explore the Taj Mahal
Pull a Rickshaw

To: Family and Friends

Date: Sunday 9/7/2003 6:46:28 AM

Subject: Explore the Taj Mahal: Excuse me sir, but could I pull your rickshaw?

Taj MahalI finally made it to see the Taj Mahal. It is amazing in a way that can hardly be described in words. Few things that I've seen have been spectacularly more amazing in person than in photos, but the Taj Mahal is just that. As I came through the gate and saw it, my heart jumped and I gasped slightly because it is so amazing.

But I can't run on and on about its beauty because you will quickly grow tired of my ravings, so let me tell you the best sight of the trip.

Cars cannot drive to the Taj, so we parked in a nearby lot and took an electric bus. (The bus incidentally is free for tourists, but costs 4 rupees for Indians. Which you might think unfair, until you find out that it costs 750 rupees ~ $17 USD for foreigners to enter the gate in the surrounding the Taj Mahal and only 20 rupees ~ $0.05 USD for Indians.) You can also take a cycle rickshaw, a camel or a horse and cart to get there. (These cost.)

As we were driving, we looked out the window and saw a white guy on the bicycle seat of a rickshaw and his wife/girlfriend on the seat behind him. He was straining his heart out to barely move the thing along while the rick driver ran along side. Oh, it was a thing amazing and humorous to see: a one-of-a-kind way to explore the Taj Mahal. I can only imagine the story the rick driver told his family that night:

Bicycle rickshawIn the family home that night with his extended family that lives together, the uncles, cousins, brothers and their wives gathered around:

"Oh, family, you will never believe the thing that happened to me today. Those crazy American tourists.”

An uncle: "Tell us; surely, it cannot be as crazy as when Uncle Rao drove his rick into the river.”

Rick driver: "Oh uncle, it beats even that story. Today when I am pulling my rick, the tourist-ji, he is asking to me for him to pulling my rickshaw. So I saying him, no I will pulling it. But he will not listening, and so I am letting him pull.”

Uncle: "No, it cannot be so. These Americans truly are crazy.”

Rick driver: "Yes, it was so. He is paying me the money to pull the rickshaw and I am simply running along side while he pull...."

It was quite a sight to see.




Related Stories


Introduction to India blog
India's Culture: Welcome to Delhi
Holy Cow, What Happens When One Dies?
More Cow Tales
Good Clean Bathroom Humor
Paint a Picture of Road Traffic Safety in India
Call Centers in India: Am I Talking to … Myself?
No water? India’s Dilemma. Power out? No biggie.
Indian Clothing Here and There
Indian Music: Singing Songs and Swimming Swamp
Favorite India blogs: Whatever You Do, Don’t Spoil Your Car
Explore the Taj Mahal in a Unique Way
Poverty in India: A little TV tonight? Your tarp or mine?
Sweet Shops






Return from Explore Taj Mahal to Language Lore

Return to Your Language Guide home



New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.

Language Lore ezine

Subscribe to Language Lore, a free language learning email newsletter.
See back issues.

Email

Name

Then


After you click "Subscribe" we will send you an email with a link to confirm your subscription. If you don't see the email shortly (check your junk mail folder), contact us.

We respect your privacy and never share our subscriber lists.
If you want to get off this list later, one click unsubscribes you.