33rd

The next day we woke late, bathed and got ready for a big day. Sabya had said we were going to the Taj but it is shut on Friday as there is a mosque on the site and Friday is the Islamic Holy day. Instead we went to three sites including Agra Fort and a site called the mini-Taj which is just down the river. I can't remember the name of the other one, but all of them were amazing. The trouble with seeing so many sites in one day is that you become a bit numb to the amazing aesthetics. Next time I'll do one a day I think.

The running of the donkey. Not a tradition unfortunately.

So many tombs, so many beautiful arches

Deer living in the gardens

Indian squirrel

400 year old lamp and frescoes

Ornate lattice work and Annu

"Take a picture of the jilted lover!" "How do you know she's a jilted lover?" "There where two people there before and now she's crying!" Obvious really.

Fully kipping.

Mini Taj

A brave sleeping manoeuvre

First sight of the Taj from Agra fort

Akbar's imprisonment quarters - in full view of his wife's tomb (I think it's Akbar)

Inlaid semi-precious stones in marble

Marble maintenance squad 

Celeb Annu (the first of many people who wanted a random pretty white girl in their holiday snaps)

Fountain at Agra fort

Annu and Sabya

We left Agra Fort feeling thoroughly tired so had a short rest until Sabya came to pick us up for a party at his house. His wife was there and we had drinks and saw his paintings and he got his hookah out. His work is very good, he's got this technique for painting the most realistic bubbles I've ever seen. He showed me a recipe for a simple yet lovely Bengali fish recipe. Oil, cumin seeds, yoghurt, chillies, fish, pressure cooker. Done. We had lychee juice and vodka cocktails and then moved on to the Hennessey. Too much.

A man proud of his zoom

Sabya and Richa (?)

Mind over match trick