India in two days. It was not so much a trip as it was a feverish dream. I was the one that insisted on including India in our four-country Asian trek, I only wanted to see the Taj Mahal. And so to India we went, from Nepal we did an Amazing Race style dash through the airport to catch the flight to New Delhi. Outside the airport, I talked to a voice on the phone to arrange for a car to take us to Agra, about 4 hours away.
Agra is where the Taj Mahal is, and when your rental car breaks down at past two in the morning and your driver attempts to con you into paying more, the appetite for adventure diminishes considerably. I dismissed the greedy driver after a few choice words, got a local guide, and the next day’s schedule was devoted entirely to the Taj viewing. On the way to that beautiful monument we passed by food carts and stalls that held the highly saturated colors of India’s street food.
I regret that we did not have the time to sample them. We did not have time for much Indian food, as our stay was too short — we just ogled the Taj Mahal and then sped on to the next destination.
We had pomegranate iced tea though, that was very refreshing, at — of all places — a Pizza Hut.
Driving back to the airport, we paused for a snack at a refreshment stop where I had the best lamb samosa ever. No photo of that one, unfortunately, just the vivid memory of fragrant spices and tender bits of lamb in a savory mix of potatoes, peas, carrots, and herbs in a crispy crust. No other samosa has topped that one yet.
Despite the aggravation and the hassle that beset us in India, I think I am going to give the place another chance, perhaps visit Bangalore or Jaipur next time. And that next time, I’ll make sure I sample the food and not just take pictures. I have a samosa in mind that needs further exploring.