The Golden Triangle (Agra-Jaipur-Delhi)

So we bit the bullet and went on the five day tourist trap tour that is Delhi-Agra-Jaipur. This is a must if you want to see the Taj Mahal and the pink city (Jaipur), and if you want to get ripped off incessantly. We HAAAAAAAATED Agra. It's filthy and ugly and everyone tries to rip you off at every possible juncture. We found this one restaurant that we liked and went to twice. Jaipur was way better although still very touristy. Jaipur's main redeeming quality was that there were elephants and monkeys everywhere, and the monkeys were this special long-tail variety that moved very quickly up hills. We're now back in Delhi, which is a very nice spot.

Hmm, I'm trying to think of highlights with the cyber cafe clock ticking, so here goes:

1) It's mango season in India, which means that there are vendors everywhere selling these large yellow mangoes that are similar to the ones we have at home. You can also find the green and orange ones that we have at home, as well as a small green variety, and tons of other tropical fruit. When I was in Hyderabad, my friend Krish taught me "the sucking method" of eating a mango, which involves kneading the fruit while the skin is still on until it is very soft, and then removing the little round button at the top and sucking the juice (and remaining fruit) out from there. It is quite delicious and not easily done on a train, as I learned on the way to Agra.

It's interesting because fruit here just looks different than it does at home. It's not as bright in color, it's not and plump and lush, it's just more, how do I say....natural? Pomegranates don't have a deep deep red GMO color, and fruits just generally look deflated and less appealing...until you realize that that's how they naturally look. They mostly taste better, though we've gotten some duds as well.

2)The Delhi metro is very modern and quite impressive. It is clearly modeled after the London Tube since all of the signs use that same logo, and a British female voice comes on to say "mind the gap" before each stop. The train are extremely crowded, and when the doors open at a stop, everyone getting on the train like literally RUSHES onto the train, trampling those poor souls who dare get off. There are cars for only women, where the aforementioned behavior, of course, does not happen. Still, the metro is pretty sweet all in all, and definitely a welcome break from the gas fumes and haggling that is involved in taking a rickshaw.

3)Kathi rolls. Is it just me or is this turning into a food blog? So we went to get Kathi rolls, which I guess is considered street food, but we got it in a more like fast food type restaurant. Basically, it's a deep fried bread, wrapping either chicken or mutton, egg, and grilled red onions, and then it is served with ketchup (no) and the tasty cilantro sauce. Sam like freaked out when we got them and tried to convince me to franchise the restaurant we were at since he thought-quite rightly- that it would make great late night food. Maybe that is how I will put my business degree to use. We shall see.

ok, that's all. I love comments! k bye.