Where opposite coexist

Yesterday's journey took us to New Dehli, designed by British architects in the early 20th century, it features wide, tree-lined avenues, grand government buildings, and sprawling gardens. Today our travels take us from New Dehli to Agra, India - as shown on the map below:

We were greeted a the local train station by a pair of drummers, flower petals tossed over our heads and a crowd of spectators.

Royal Caribbean worked hard to make this a unforgettable trip to the Wonder of the World - The Taj Mahal. As was the case, however, again some best laid plans included an unplanned flaw. The chartered train that was to take us from Delhli to Agra, originally planned as a 4-hour trip, was slowed due to all the routine traffic on the rails. Although the tour guides were disturbed by this, our train car of fellow travelers made the most of the extended 7-hour journey. We had the added benefit of observing more of the sights "behind the scenes" of India than we would have had we traveled via bus on the highway.

The transition from the opulent comfort of our five-star resort to the city's outskirts was a stark and eye-opening experience. The previous evening and early morning had been spent enveloped in the lap of luxury, but as we ventured beyond the city limits, the disparity between the two worlds became strikingly apparent. The living conditions we encountered were a testament to the pervasive poverty that gripped the area, with the extraordinary hardships faced by the local population. Here's what we observed from our train window:

If seeing such profound hardship doesn't stir a deep sense of gratitude for the blessings in one's own life, then likely hothing ever will. I personally found myself being thankful to have been born in my family in a land that offers so much to so many. It's little wonder that the local inhabitants, their faces etched with the trials of their daily existence, looked upon us with a mixture of curiosity and bewilderment. From the lovely dressed ladies, to the workers, to the children - here's but a glimpse of those who live and toil here:

A significant portion of the population lives below the poverty line. The income distribution is highly skewed, with a small percentage of the population earning significantly more than the average, while a large portion earns much less. It may surprise you to learn the average monthly income ranges from $120 to $215. Yet, as we saw, the general population works hard to exist within this dense population.

As you may already know, India is a country with a Hindu majority, and Hinduism plays a significant role in shaping the nation's culture, traditions, and beliefs. One of the most distinctive aspects of Hinduism in India is the reverence for cows. The respect for cows is so deeply ingrained in their culture that many parts of India laws prohibit the slaughter of cows. It was not uncommon for us to see cows freely roaming the streets or wondering yards. In one instance, a solitary cow stood at the center of the gridlock, seemingly oblivious to the blaring horns and the sea of vehicles that engulfed it. Cars, bicycles, and the ubiquitous tuktuks jostled for position, astounding eight abreast within four lanes, as they maneuvered around this roadblock.

What is a tuktuk you may ask - well, tuktuks are small "vehicles," usually powered by small gasoline or electric engines. They have a covered cabin that can seat up to three passengers. They are known for their maneuverability, which allows them to navigate through crowded city streets and narrow alleys with ease. This makes them a popular choice for short-distance travel within cities, particularly in areas where traffic congestion is a problem, which is certainly here where horns honk constantly during ongoing traffic jams. There are all sorts of modes of transportation to move this sizeable population about.

Our travels exposed us to a side of India that we had never imagined, shedding light on the challenges faced by its population. However, it's important not to overlook the country's incredible beauty. Next, I'll share the reason behind our three-day journey to northern India: the magnificent Taj Mahal, a testament to the breathtaking wonders that India has to offer. Until then .....