June 13:Around the World in 42 Days-Delhi, India

Today was a crazy day!It started at 5:30 when Aleisha woke me up because we needed to catch our train at 8:00.We were going to Agra to see the Taj Mahal. We got dressed, and grabbed everything we needed for the rest the day.We ate breakfast in the buffet, it was good. Then we had a taxi take us to the train station, once again another roller coaster! Cars drive so crazy in India! Also, along the roads, all I saw was homeless people sleeping on the ground or in tents, and a bunch of poor kids begging for money. I felt so bad!Plus everywhere I looked, I saw pollution, gross! At the train station, everyone stared at us right away, we definitely drew attention to ourselves. We were not only the only white people, yet also we were the only people dressed in clothes other than sari’s. So yeah! We had to walk through security, then when we eventually got down to where the trains were, we were stared to death by everyone around us. They all moved out of the way and it was awkward, we were isolated in this circle in the middle, everyone too timid to interact with us.It was awkward. We asked, tons of people around us if our train was the next train because we were confused because not a lot of people were out on that platform; nevertheless, did the few people appear to be waiting for the nicest train in India. Anyway,the people were so nervous by our presence, they all nodded and said “yes” not even understanding our question.Though even then, the only train at our terminal definitely appeared not to be the nicest train in India, it looked more like a jail cell to me.So yeah, the jail on tracks ended up to be our train! What's even better is we were told this by this nice, kind family after our train already left the station! So yeah!Even better is our phones can’t call Indian numbers, so we couldn't call a nice car to pick us up #Stranded. We walked all around the gross, dirty train station trying to find tickets for another train, even though if the only nice train in the whole station already left, and wouldn't be returning anytime soon.So I pretty much couldn't imagine what kind of train I would be forced to stay on. We went up, down, left, right all over the disgusting train station. I’m not joking, there was poop on the top floor stairs, as well as we saw plus there was poop on the train tracks! Talk about gross! We finally found a booth to get tickets, yet it was the wrong booth, no clue why, but they sent us back upstairs to a supposable other correct booth.I swear, that whole place smelled like one big trash can!We walked over families sleeping on blankets to get upstairs.There were at least 4 blankets blocking our path. After 3 up and downs, going back to the first booth 3 times, confused as to where this fantasy booth was.Finally we walked through this random, ruined door to a couple of more booths, where we got the only tickets available on a local train.They told us we could upgrade to AC down near the train, so once again we through our self through the crowded station, in the 101 degree heat, once again lost and unable to find where we could get an upgrade, we wandered back and down the terminal. Then a train arrived, our supposal train. It was tattered, paint faded, bars as windows, and when my dad peeked inside, he said it smelled so bad, and the only seating was a tattered, stained bed/chair.After running up and down, trying to find where to get an upgrade, we were cut off by crowds of people entering the train.With the heat, dirt, and crowded area it was a nightmare. Trying to think how we could possibly survive on that death train for 3 hours to Agra, we finally huddled for a game plan. We knew Ansley, above all, would be completely miserable, so we decided to escape and try and find a taxi to the nearest nice hotel. Though getting out of that station was an issue, I was crammed into one small staircase along with 500 other passengers getting off the train next to us.After the struggle of getting out of the train station, came the struggle of finding a taxi. We were bombarded with taxi drivers begging us to come with them. We had 3 guys surrounding us, fighting over who would get to take us, though honestly none of those people's cars looked even close to acceptable.Seeing our little options, we settled on a taxi that actually said taxi on it.Though as we were leaving, our driver nodded at the other guy and they exchanged this mischievous smile. Then our guy got out and got on the phone before coming back in the car. We noticed quickly the guy was up to no good, he kept trying to take us off the correct path onto these random roads claiming it was the right way, yet my dad set up google maps to the nice hotel we chose, and was screaming and cussing at the guy when he tried to take us down random roads. Then this one point he took this complete deserted road, total wrong way, my dad was about to grab the wheel and throw the car  into a wall. He screamed at the guy and forcibly made him turn around, going the wrong way at the oncoming traffic. The hotel we were looking for proved to be nonexistent, so my dad made the guy go the hour back to our hotel. Watching his every move because it was obvious he had plans of his own. His driving was insane, I felt sick the whole way, it was bad!When we finally got back to our hotel, my dad told us there was a good chance that guy was looking to take us to the middle of nowhere, meet up his friends, and force us to pay a large sum to be let free.It happened to my dad once, surprisingly.Anyway, beat and tired we collapsed in the chairs of the cafe. Where we all re-grouped. I was not giving up, at no cost was I not going to see the Taj Mahal, we were leaving tomorrow, so today was our only option.My sister,on the other hand, was the complete opposite, she wanted to remain back at the hotel, dramatised by our experience. My dad knew I would stop at nothing to do this lifetime experience, so he began brainstorming options. After my dad decided on taking a nice car out to Agra, Aleisha wanted to go as well, like me unwilling to take this experience for granted. Therefore, Ansley, unwilling to be left behind, decided to go. It was a 4 hour drive there! Most the time I spent talking with my dad about Indian culture, the new prime minister of India, and asking for all kinds of information, I know I'm a complete nerd. Half way through the trip Ansley had to pee so bad,  and there was nowhere for her to go, but the side the road. So my dad opened two doors blocking her, our driver removed himself, and my dad blocked her with a scarf. Aleisha and I were dying of laughter.We kept passing by cows, fun fact in India they worship cows, and it was awesome. Later once we finally arrived, we were dropped off to a tour guide who escorted us to get tickets, then we rode in a gulf court like thing to the entrance of the Taj Mahal where our tour guide gave us a history lesson. The Taj Mahal was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite  wife Mumtaz Mahal, to serve in remembrance of her after her death. She died giving birth to the same son who killed all his 3 brothers, and imprisoned his father, in his greedy desire for power. There was going to be a black version of the Taj Mahal for the emperor, yet was never built because the Emperor was put in jail before he could have it built. The Taj Mahal was cool, and looked like one giant piece of jewelry was so carefully created after 35 years of construction. Anyway, at the Taj  people kept asking us for photos as if we were famous. After we took a photo with one person, a whole crowd joined in. We took at least 100 photos,having 10 cameras faced at us at once, people begging for photos. It was cool. There was a whole crowd around us, and when we walked away the crowd followed. It got to the point a police man had to come over, blowing his whistle to resolve the chaos.  Anyway, we took a bunch of photos with both other, random people, as well as the Taj Mahal.After concluding our tour, we were brought back to our car and driver for another 4 hour car ride, which I slept for most of. Upon returning, we went to dinner at our hotel buffet restaurant, then tried to go swimming, yet the pool was closed. So instead, Aleisha and I went down to the gym, where I ran 5km and Aleisha did her military workouts, of some sort where she had guys watching her every second, impressed. I saved her a few times, one guy was trying to flirt with her, and I purposefully almost fell off the treadmill, causing her an excuse to escape. Another time, I screamed “Good work, Mom” causing every guy to leave her alone.She and her boyfriend were both glad I saved her.Anyway, then I got ready for bed and that was my day. Gotta say I’m living the dream:)