Agra Memories

Not your usual photo of the iconic Taj Mahal, but hopefully one that evokes the haunting beauty that is the Taj at any hour of the day or night.  For all visitors to India, it never disappoints because pictures cannot fully capture the feeling of awe one feels in the presence of such beauty.

We stayed in Agra for just one night.  Despite the beauty of the Taj,  the air quality is the most polluted of any city we visited.  Still, there is much to enjoy.  Agra Fort is stunning in its beauty as a fort and residence for royal families. Our group saw only the main highlights as the heat was hard for some of us to manage.

I most particularly enjoyed our evening at our hotel where we had a chance to cool off and relax with drinks and each others' company poolside, talking and laughing and getting to be close friends.  Thanks to Millie, who brought a suitcase full of snacks for just such moments.  Later in the garden we met with a remarkable young Muslim who shared with us his journey to Islam.  He is as far as one can get from Islamic jihadis in his openness to sharing God's Creation with his fellow humans.  That same evening we were treated to some Bollywood style dancing that took place in a beautifully lit gazebo overlooking the pool.

Every visit to India should include one to a fabulous jeweler.  Kohinoor is for me that jeweler.  Their building comprises two stories with the first housing a museum of the famous Shams embroideries.  These are incredible works of art depicting scenes from nature using cotton threads as a base to create depth and strands of silk subtly blended to create realistic feathers on peacocks, fur on tigers and flower petals that seem freshly cut.  His most magnificent work and climax of the show is "The Good Shepherd"  which evokes a strong emotional response due to its beauty, and love conveyed in the work.  These masterpieces are maintained by Kohinoor and displayed with sound and light, leaving all in a state of wonder.  Then there is the second floor.  I don't know if you have ever visited Tiffany's.  If not, you are in for a treat.  Kohinoor, however, is far more magnificent  and yet somehow approachable.  Even our group of Presbyterians were swept away by finding treasures they never thought they would actually own.  Delight in their purchases was palpable and continues unabated.  No buyers remorse here!