9-day dancing festival and the Taj

COUNTRY: India
PROGRAM: GapBreak
PROJECT: Teaching
WRITTEN BY: Sarah Raine & Antips in India

Everything is going well we are all a little sad that our placement in India is coming to an end.

We have 3 new additions to the house from Denmark they are very sweet and will be joining us at the Beehlon ka bedla school teaching Grade 2.

This week we had a day off school on Tuesday because of the 9 day dancing festival dedicated to Goddess Derga and her 9 reincarnations, so we went into town; shopped and enjoyed the tinsel cover roads and colourful dancing sticks for sale at each corner.

On Wednesday was Michael's birthday! We went paddle boating and went to the "cool place" restaurant for dinner.

This weekend we ventured yet again on the sleeper train 12 hour journey to Agra, well worth it to see the amazing Taj Mahal and Agra fort. Our British friend Steph came along too.

We went to the Agra fort which is where the palace was during the time of the maharajas. It was fascinating to learn all about the 3 different wives they had Christian, Muslim and Hindu but how he loved his Muslim wife the most and built the taj mahal a monument to her. We had an awesome guide who was ready to pose us for the best photo opportunities!

We also visited an old town called Fatapur Sikri where a King and Queen once lived - now referred to as the ghost town. It was full of amazing red sandstone monuments, mosques and temples.

All up was a pretty awesome weekend, and our placement so far has been a truly unforgettable experience. We now have 2 more days off school for (yet another) festival and a New member from the UK which we're all excited about.

Until next time!
Sarah