June 12, 2008 Agra India Judy Garland didn’t have a clue. Agra India is farther away from Kansas than Oz ever was. Everyone in America needs to visit India once. We are so incredibly blessed that it is scary. These handsome people are very friendly and they have so little. 1.5 million people in Agra, all hustling and bustling around in every sort of vehicle. People powered, horse powered and engine powered. My favorite are the hundreds of little multicolored Timpos. These are three wheeled scooters that seat at least 100 people. There I go again, hyperbole. Really, I think they can only get 10 people in one, but a Vespa is good for a family of four. Up at 05:00 this morning to go see one of the great wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal. We have all seen the pictures. It is truly beautiful and a wonder. I did not realize it but the Taj is a 40 acre site with many, red sandstone buildings and walls surrounding the famous white marble building. All of these are also wonders of architecture and construction. This is all about Muslim symmetry of architecture and philosophy. The white marble building that I always thought was “the” Taj Mahal is actually a mausoleum for a princess and number one wife of a 16th century ruler of India. It is a very interesting story, look it up. But, to my brothers, trust me, I was pretty good to you. It could have been a lot worse. I did not kill you.

The detail and craftsmanship is amazing. The fit of millions of tiny pieces of simi- precious stone could not be done better with today's laser cutters. Three thousand of craftsmen worked 22 years to create this wonder. Back to our wonderful hotel for breakfast. We are spoiled here, the food , service and housekeeping are world class and I am feeling not just a little guilty. The real India is just a hundred yards away but it is a million miles away in every other way. Mercer