That's the way Jeremy (another future Boston med student who, along with Bharat, is my traveling companion) described our first few days here... we've been roughing it and really getting the "India experience." As we've travelled the golden triangle of New Delhi, Agra (home of the Taj Mahal) and Jaipur (home of the pink city) this has meant riding in the lowest class sleeper cars with 8 people to a compartment, showering with a bucket full of hot water, taking rickshaws everywhere and generally having an amazing time.
The Taj Mahal absolutely blew me away. Every expectation I had of what it might be like to see the tomb in person fell so short it's almost embarrassing. The architecture is flawless, the history of its design and construction are awe-inspiring and its magnitude is beyond description.
Internet cafes are few and far between and after returning to Delhi by overnight train in a few hours, Bharat, Jeremy and I are heading north to the snow-capped mountains of the Himalayas on Monday. The tentative plan then is to stay with one of Bharat's before continuing on to the famous Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve for an elephant safari and the chance to see tigers (as well as crocs, barking deer, monkeys and peacocks) in their natural jungle habitat. I'm off now to coat myself in another layer of Ben's 100 (98.2% DEET) mosquito repellent before grabbing a hot cup of Chai (milk based tea) and fighting my way to my berth on the train.)
