The best laid plans (Often go awry)

Our adventure continues now in India. Our itinerary has us in this country until May 5th, beginning in the bustling city of Cochin, then on to a very brief stop in the coast city of Goa, and ending in the massive port city of Mumbai (which was previously Bombay). India itself is a vast, unfathomable country stretching from the Himalyas to the coast. It's the birthplace of at least three of the world's great religions and countless civilizations have risen and fallen among its lush paddy fields, expansive deserts, towering mountains and dense jungles. At present, it is the most populated country in the world, recently surpassing China, with 1.4 billion people (18% of the world) and a growth rate of .92%. A mind-blowing statistic is that one child is born every 5 seconds in this nation!
Here's some additional information I recently found about the population of the world after learning more about India during our visit.

In contrast to India, China's population growth has slowed down significantly in recent decades, largely due to the government's strict one-child policy, which was in place from 1980 to 2015. As a result, the country is now facing an aging population and a shrinking workforce. It's worth noting that both India and China face challenges related to their large populations, including stress on resources, environmental issues, and the need for adequate healthcare and education. One striking difference we've observed during our travels is the stark contrast between the cleanliness of China's environment and the widespread litter found throughout India. China's cities and countryside often appear pristine, almost immaculate, while in India, trash seems to be scattered everywhere, from streets to fields and beyond.

Our arrival in our first Indian port, Cochin, was relatively late in the day and we did not linger long before departing the ship for our three day journey to visit the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. The travel plans included a bus ride to the airport, then to fly from Cochin to New Dehli, and to spend the night there. The following morning we would go via a chartered train to Agra, to see this Wonder of the World.

Perhaps you've heard the saying from a famous Scottish poet - "The best-laid plans of mice and men / Often go awry." The saying essentially means that no matter how carefully you plan something, there are always factors outside of your control that can cause your plans to fail or change unexpectedly. It highlights the unpredictability of life and the idea that even the most well-thought-out plans can be disrupted by unforeseen circumstances. A such was the case with this adventure, which Royal Carribean planned as part of our Ultimate World cruise.

As we headed to the airport, the best-laid plans began to unravel. Suddenly, our bus came to a grinding halt, its air brakes locking up and leaving us stranded in the middle of heavy traffic in a city of 3.5 million. Our stationary vehicle quickly became the cause of a massive traffic jam, adding to the chaos. The sweltering heat and oppressive humidity made our predicament even more unbearable, but we counted our blessings that the air conditioning remained functional while we awaited a replacement bus. When we finally arrived at the airport, significantly behind schedule, we were met with heightened security measures. We soon learned that the prime minister was traveling that day and there had been terrorist threats, leading to our carry-on luggage being subjected to an extraordinarily thorough examination during the screening process. Additionally, all female passengers were required to undergo a separate metal detector screening within an enclosed booth, further prolonging the already lengthy process.

As we arrived at the airport in Dehli, we were disappointed to discover that our only shared suitcase had not been loaded onto the flight. However, our spirits were lifted when we reached our accommodations for the night - a stunning 5-star Luxury Collection hotel in New Delhi. Upon entering the hotel, we were warmly welcomed with the traditional greeting of "Namaste" by bowing staff members who clasped their hands together. They draped beatiful silk scarves around each of us as a gesture of hospitality. Here you can witness for yourself:
https://youtu.be/3v6jr7SUA5E?feature=shared
Jeff captured a few photos (the lobby ceiling, a sculpture, and the view to outdoors) -

After a delightful banquet dinner featuring an array of traditional Indian dishes, shall we say "Spicy", we retired to our room for a brief night's sleep. Before dozing off, we made certain to arrange for a wake-up call at 4:30 AM, ensuring that we would be ready to embark on the day's adventures despite the all-too-short night ahead. More to follow ...