I was so excited to see the Taj Mahal that I woke up in the 4am hour and put on the clothes I had layed out the night before and snuck out of the hostel dorm room onto the dark street to walk towards the ticket office, only to find that I still had an hour before it opened. So I wandered back to the hostel and hung out with the incredibly bright full moon on the roof. I did some of the pranayamas and asanas from my TTC to wake me up and pass time, then I scurried back out to the chai stand outside the ticket office, where I inhaled two cups, a biscuit, and butter roll in time to hop in line when the office finally opened. As soon as I purchased my ticket (Rs.750— 700 more than the Indian tourist price) I hopped in a bike rickshaw and made it to the short line at the east gate entrance.

The sky had just to started to get light as I made it into the plaza and saw my first glimpse of the top of the breathtaking Taj Mahal. My jaw dropped into an open and wide-mouthed smile and I had to remind myself to breathe. As I walked through the entrance gate and finally saw it in whole, I was nearly teary-eyes and smiling so big... She's a world wonder indeed.

I slowly made my way closer to her, occasionally asking a stranger to take my picture (oh the woes of traveling alone), while watching the sun slowly illuminate the marble in a hazy red color. It was absolutely peaceful there, the world was waking up but there was still a calmness in the cool morning air. I approached the base and watched the dome slowly disappear from my perspective, then I took my sweet time lapping the entire sandstone terrace and taking in the sunrise, Yamuna River, and this intricate and awe-inspiring marble monument. 

I eventually made my way inside with white shoe covers on to see the replica of the tombs of the late king and his wife in the beautiful mosuleum... I could still hardly believe I was inside the Taj Mahal. Felt like a dream come true. I wandered outside on the marble terrace, let some people take pictures with me, and sat under one of the towers, taking in the beauty for a while. 

Then I did a headstand inspired by my friend Laughton who did one at the Taj this past summer. 

For the next couple hours, I walked peacefully throughout the gardens and in the museum, stopping to just gaze and wonder at its beauty every once in a while. 

I even did a little sketch in my journal. I really felt the presence of love here, and how it can drive people to do massive things. And even though I was alone, I felt all the love in the world and kept it close to heart.

I eventually bid her farewell, and took to the streets of Agra. I bought a couple little gifts and found a delicious little restaurant with a killer banana lassi and malai kofta. 

Then I meandered back to my hotel, and hung out at the rooftop pool 

...just kidding. This was a nearby hotel that was way too nice for me to even consider staying at.

I went back and layed on my bunk in the hostel.

After some researching and relaxing I checked out of Zostel and shared a tuktuk to the railway station with some nice Australians. I got mixed up with which platform my train to Jaipur was on so I almost thought I was going to miss it, but as always, things just happened to work out fine. 

Similarly, some nice Indian folks in the same train bunk area made sure I got off at the right station, and I ran into someone who was looking for a tuktuk to the SAME hostel as me, which at 11:30pm in a new city was like a blessing from the universe. We talked a guy down to Rs.100 for the ride so I only had to pay Rs.50 instead of the original 250 they were asking when I was alone. Win!! And this hostel is soo nice ("Hosteller") and no one else is in the 6-bed dorm so I'm feeling good. Going to get a good nights sleep tonight, then complimentary breakfast and exploring Jaipur tomorrow! :D