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?

I 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:

In 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.


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