Day 3

Namaste! We are writing this in the midst of crazy driving and blaring horns on the journey back from Agra. Today was a jam packed day in which we visited some of the amazing sights which India has to offer.

An early start had us leaving the hotel in a sleepy state at 6:30 am.. But that didn't last long with many games of Odds On (forfeits) with the team from Armagh; these resulted in a public proposal from Johnny and free hugs to strangers from Mr Donnelly at the Taj!

Four hours later our first stop was Agra Fort- a beautifully engraved palace dating back to 1030 AD. The heat was blistering but our spirits remained high as we encountered the sheer mass of people, many of whom were eager to get some not-so-sneaky snaps of the token Irish.

We were treated to a buffet lunch at the Trident hotel which gave us a welcome break from the intense heat. We tasted some local delicacies; the highlight of the meal for David was the super juicy chicken... Which to his horror turned out to be paneer (cheese).

Then, the moment we had all been waiting for, India's answer to Slemish- the Taj Mahal. Instead of taking the bus, we decided to walk alongside those who were celebrating a festival in honour of Durga- the goddess of power. This turned out to be a great decision as it was our first opportunity to witness the joy and welcoming nature of the local people. We danced, laughed and partook in India's take on the Colour Run.

The Taj Mahal itself was truly breathtaking. It left us speechless and we couldn't take our eyes off it as we watched the sun set over one of the seven Wonders of the World. After having the traditional photoshoot in front of the Taj in our Indian clothes, we took a walk in the company of monkeys and chipmunks and tried to take in the beauty that lay before us.

 On a sad note... having brought his beloved rooster Napoleon thousands of miles to see the Taj Mahal, Mr. Donnelly had his bag searched at the entry to the spectacular monument and spent 10 minutes trying to explain why he had a stuffed rooster hidden under his camera. The guard was unsympathetic, and Napoleon was refused entry. Thankfully Napoleon was retrieved and is now happily surveying his kingdom back at the hotel.

We were struck by the sharp contrast between the opulence of the monuments and the poverty of the lanes that surrounded it. We will never forget this once in a lifetime experience, yet we are all looking forward to the real purpose of our trip- meeting the children in Tigri for the first time tomorrow.

Hoping all is well at home, with love from Molly, Lyndsey, Emma and Johnny x