Delhi, Agra, Jaipur

Maria Zaman – Delhi, Agra, Jaipur

Coming to the end of our trip, I can only say that so many of my wishes came true during the last leg of our stay. Not only did we experience the magnificent Taj Mahal, I got to ride an elephant and camel, see some of my most favorite songs performed live, and personally interact with villagers as well as the students of EMPI.
Taj Mahal was surreal; it was just so hard to grasp the fact that we were present to witness the monument which represented the grandeur of committed love. As for the animal rides, let’s just say it’s one scary experience riding a camel! The waiters at the restaurant were lovely, more than willing to stuff us with about 15-20 dishes, including three desserts! When traveling around Amber Fort, I got the opportunity to enjoy some Sufi style, spiritual songs performed by two men, one with the accordion and the other with the dhol. I became so entranced with the music and the entire experience that my lip singing was most definitely noticeable by the small crowd that had gathered to see me make a fool of myself! Feeling right at home when we went to one of the villages where men and women create rugs for Jaipur Rugs, I was again astounded by the love showered upon us by others. EMPI was a blast, since not only did we show some of our vulnerabilities through song and dance, the EMPI students did just the same for us!