TAJ MAHAL - WITHIN SIGHT!!



TAJ MAHAL

On March 26, 27, 28 and 29, 2012, we're in India.  Holland America charges $3,999 to $4,399 per person for a 4 day, 3 night visit to see the Taj Mahal.  Yikes!  Being the adventurer that I am, I decided I'd find a way to see it without spending so much . . . oh, and I don't want to miss the sights in Mumbai (fka Bombay), either.  So . . .

We come into port in Mangalore, India at 8 a.m. on Monday, March 26, 2012.  The ship spends a day there, then in Goa on March 27th, and then two days in Mumbai on March 28th and 29th.  So I wondered, where is this Taj Mahal place?  Wouldn't you know it, it's in Agra -- far (1,295 miles) from Mangalore.  We need to travel from the southwest coast to the north central portion of this very large country!  See "DELHI" on the map?  Just below and to the right of it is "AGRA" (Taj Mahal).

MANGALORE IS SOUTH OF GOA, ON THE COAST

Okay, air travel is essential.  But the only airport in Agra is an Air Force Base - no commercial traffic.  We have to fly to Delhi and then meet a guide, who'll take us to Agra.  Thank God for Expedia!  I found a flight that leaves Mangalore at 11:25 a.m. (plenty of time to get to the airport from the ship).  It arrives in Delhi at 3:45 p.m.

I even found a 5-star hotel that has its own bowling alley -- isn't that cool?!

JAYPEE PALACE HOTEL - BOWLING ALLEY

We'll have the whole day on March 27th to visit the Taj Mahal.  We'll fly from Delhi to Mumbai on March 28th, in time to rejoin our group at an evening event, "Mumbai By Night" and to spend the entire day there on March 29th, since we don't leave until 11 p.m.  And it only cost $1,099 ($550 each)) for the airfare, $328 for the hotel and $241 for an English-speaking tour guide and transportation to/from and around Agra!  We saved about $6K!

Am I good or what?

BLOGGING . . . FOR HOURS . . . NO, DAYS!!

This wonderous form of expression, with the funny name ("blog"), has become an exploration of everything from "how to blog" to a crash course in world history and geography.  You cannot see most of the intended pages ("posts") for this blog yet -- because they're scheduled to post at various dates in the future, as our world cruise unfolds.  For example, the first port is Roseau, Dominica (in the Caribbean).  The morning before our arrival, a post will appear about the place.  As we're leaving, another post will describe our experience there.  For most ports (and other interesting places along the way), there will be sections for:

• "Geography 101" (including, e.g., its continent or other land mass, estimated population, distance from "home" here in San Diego, the water that got us there)
• Its place in history/interesting facts
• Its climate
• Highlights/things to see
• What we did/saw/experienced
• Thoughts/impressions

And, of course, there will be some fun and/or interesting photos and images along the way, like this one . . .