A guide to India 2007 (Delhi, Allahabad, Varanasi, Agra)

[binbeto]

When I reached Agra, I am totally stoned. No mood to take pics. Just need food.. hee hee

Check-in to hotel sheela and had a good breakfast..

Off we go to Fatehpur Sikri in a car.Reached there in 2 hrs. Paid not too much but we have to "visit" some shops inorder to get that rate.. well..No choice..

I feel more like a tourist here..

This place is very big and grand.. Gave me a very peaceful feeling somehow..

 

[binbeto]

There is 2 main part at the Fatehpur Sikri.

One area consisted of the Diwan-i-Khas, Pachisi and Jodh Bai Palace. You need to pay to access to this area of the site. Which is why it is less crowded.

The other consisted of Salim Chishti, Jami Masjid and Buland Darwaza. This area is free entry and you get all the touts here. So, beware.

Several restoration projects are going on at the site.

 

[LOTUSfairy]

Travel Documentary on TVCENTRAL next Friday @ 9.30pm...!!! :heart:
will watch ...i missed the place leh..:lovegrin:

 

[binbeto]

When you entered the Jami Masjid, you have to remove your shoes.

As soon as I walked into the compound, a very eager young man approached me and wanted to show me around. Telling me he's a student there and learning stone carving. And it is his "duty" to show people around.. Dun believe a single words..I was shown around a bit by him and he leads me to "his" stall. That's the catch. Left quite a bad taste in my mouth after that.

Remember that if you are carrying your shoes, do not put your shoes on the compound of the mosque.

When we are all back at the car, we found that R was missing.. And seeing touts at the Jami Masjid compound myself, I was getting a bit worried. Called him also no answer.. After a long 20 minutes after the meeting time, he appeared carrying 2 big plastic bag. He has bought 2 stone elephants from one of the stall.. They accepted Sing$ too.. haa haa

Later, he banged his head when both Z and myself bought the same thing for a much lesser price at Agra.. hee hee... Must have been the heat gotten to his head then.

 

[LOTUSfairy]

Yah lor...I oso went back to the place/site and search for him...

big place leh, he oso big size,.how come I cannot find him...no wonder, he is hidden in the Shop!!!

:bsmilie:

 

[zoossh]

After a long 20 minutes after the meeting time

45mins to be exact.....

 

[LOTUSfairy]

hehe...the taxi driver face damn black too.. :bsmilie:

 

[Kinano99]

All Those Shots Were Great! Made Me Wanna Go For A Holiday With My Camera Too... HAHA!!!

 

[naikon]

Ah Bin,
the shots are wonderful
i like esp the PP u done to the pics which looks very close to fuji colours

u shd really start an exhibition

 

[binbeto]

Kinano99: Thanks. Hope u can share ur photos after your holiday.

naikon: Haa haa.. Fuji colors? Not so good lah.. Exhibition think I still long way to go man..

Ya.. Th driver face was totally black.. Didn't realised it's 45mins.. R, if you are reading this, U own 3 of us a treat.. haa haa

F-stop cafe to view pic one of these weekend? R will treat us 1st round of drink.. haa haa

Continue..
Agra has a lot more tourist than Allahabad and Varanasi.. There is no shortage of resturant and quite a few signs which declared the best view of Taj Mahal or "Recommended by Lonely Planet!"

I am personally quite excited as we will be seeing the Taj the next day.

We recce to see where is the gate so that we will no be so lost in the morning. Luckily that we asked, only the East and West gate are opened early. The south gate is opened much later. The nearest entrance to Hotel sheela is the East gate.

We woked up very early and made our way to the East gate. There is already a short queue even at this early hour. The security checks was quite strict. No tripod, torch lights, bum bum gum are allowed. We have to leave them with the locker area.

Admission fee is 750 ruppee for foreigner. Not exactly cheap by their standard. Remember to keep the tickets, one of the ticket allowed some discount if you are going to the Red fort and Fatehpur Sikri. I made the mistake of not bringing it when we visited the Red fort .. Arrgh!!

When we entered the Taj compound, it's still very dark but a small group has stationed in the center of the viewing platform.. Ready to take see this memorial to Love under the glow of the morning sun.

Ok.. enuff rumbling... Here's the Taj Mahal....

 

[LOTUSfairy]

yah..one of the locker old man tried stealing my torchlight, right in front of me..!!!
caught him and he is least worried about it. He act blur, pretend dun understand english and easily get away with his act.

chey!

 

[zoossh]

bryan, around what time did you shoot those?

i think i dwell too long waiting with the rest behind the flower pots, didn't get very good shots like the above.

 

[enxinwong]

Seeing your pictures really really made me look forward to my school trip to India in March! Love the colours! Hope to get shots as good as yours though.. Took my breath away! Great shots

 

[asterixsg]

Bin,
I've been waiting so long to see you guys' Taj pictures. These pictures made the wait worthwhile
Very very very happy to see these pics. Fantastic :thumbsup:
We should do a trip together - wherever it maybe. Hard to find fellow photogs who are ready to sacrifice on sleep just to get the right moment to shoot.
All your pictures make me nostalgic. I need to plan my trip soon. can't work anymore

 

[asterixsg]

yah..one of the locker old man tried stealing my torchlight, right in front of me..!!!
caught him and he is least worried about it. He act blur, pretend dun understand english and easily get away with his act.

chey!

Shameless bugger :angry:

 

[binbeto]

zoosh: First pic of the Taj is shot at 9.26am (sing time) haa haa.. About 7am India time, right? Got lucky on this one becos the flower pot there no place for me to stand so no choice.. Walk in and see what to shoot.

enxinwong: Thanks I am sure your India trip will be as lovely too.. Just take care of yourself and your gears..

Srini: Glad we are up to your mark on this.. Not much chance to travel within this year.. I guess.. Maybe tried to squeeze in one near sug/sep.. haa haa Hope my wife is not reading this.. Would love to travel with you if have the chance cos I like your mindset too... Willing to sacrifice sleep just to take pictures.. hee hee We are quite lucky becos our hotel is rather near to the Taj.

 

[asterixsg]

zoosh: First pic of the Taj is shot at 9.26am (sing time) haa haa.. About 7am India time, right? Got lucky on this one becos the flower pot there no place for me to stand so no choice.. Walk in and see what to shoot.

enxinwong: Thanks I am sure your India trip will be as lovely too.. Just take care of yourself and your gears..

Srini: Glad we are up to your mark on this.. Not much chance to travel within this year.. I guess.. Maybe tried to squeeze in one near sug/sep.. haa haa Hope my wife is not reading this.. Would love to travel with you if have the chance cos I like your mindset too... Willing to sacrifice sleep just to take pictures.. hee hee We are quite lucky becos our hotel is rather near to the Taj.

Certainly, we will do a trip together sometime - if not this year, maybe next year. I have some plans for late Sep, let's see how it all works out.
When I travel, I don't care much about food and sleep - can eat anything and can sleep anywhere, anytime.
I need to get some pointers from you about hotels in Delhi and Agra.
Bro, I keep looking at the 2nd pic of Taj - its so serene. Superb :thumbsup:

 

[binbeto]

Very quickly, the Taj Mahal is flooded with tourists. It's a challenge to take a pic without any people.. Well, I gave up and included the tourists into the pic as part of the composition.

Luckily, we made effort to go to the Taj early.

 

[lithium]

The pictures are a great journal. The message it conveys transports me to those places. I grew up in Delhi and my grand parents are from Allahabad, so I know that place too, the pictures brought back those memories, a very good window into another world. Great job!!

The emotions captured are very real and vivid in some of the pictures.

 

[freonx]

Very very beautiful photos. Wish to visit Taj Mahal some day too