Don"t Judge a Book by Its Cover

I seems that when I arrive to a new town, I am very unsettled. I am not sure of my surroundings and it kind of freaks me out:) (sorry mom!) But then I spend some time, meet some people and truly find the unique gift of life in each are. In Agra, on the first day that I was here I went for a walk out side the hostel and made it about 20 minutes down the road and came back. The people I found are more aggressive than in Mumbai. Not in an unsafe way but in a 'sales guy/rip of the tourist way). I was very closed in the opportunities to meet people and judged every bit of honest.

My hostel room is interesting (yes I use that word in many connotations...good bad and the unexplainable...haha!) For the first time I felt that I had to wear my sandals in the shower, the walls are crumbling and you can hear everything from depths and heights of the building. But it does have the second rated most beautiful view of the Taj Mahal. To which I chilled with a beer and my pen and paper for some time over my stay here.

I woke up at 5am to get in line to see the sunrise over the Taj Mahal. It was an 'interesting' process. First I should start the day with seeing camels walk down the street outside my hostel! Yeah very cool...they emerged from the smoky mist and just walked on down the streets passing the cows, goats, and dogs everywhere! So in line to get my ticket, there was a mens line and a womens line...yepper...and they still use it! The most interesting thing here is that they didn't even acknowledge the women...I had o give my money to a guy in the other line. Even going into the Taj there was separate lines with pat down security...that was in-ter-esting! they used the full meaning of the term pat...and it was hard and all over the bod, no inch untouched! As you can imagine the Taj Mahal was amazing and differently lives up to "one of the seven wonders of the world"! Pictures to come.

I met with the Indian Dreams Foundation yesterday and they submerged me into Indian culture with lunch in a off the track in the basement kind of 'interesting" kind of place. But the most Delicious food ever! I have a very great connection with this NGO. Their main focus is education for all. He is a young guy - 33 - with a lot of passion and dreams. We have a lot in common in our social agenda but also personally. He also has an advertising agency here in Agra! I am heading out to the slum areas today with him to see his existing schools, meet some government officials and talk to some locals. I can't believe the opportunities that I have been given. Those all aboard L.I.B. Internationals train - it is going to be a bumpy ride but exciting and hopeful!

I have to run at the moment...but will post some pictures and tell you all the other stuff I learn today.

Oh yeh...but before I forget...the best day ever yesterday...I went to a local shop with my new best friend and was given lessons on the Tabala! yeah it was so amazing! then he took me to his families workshop of marble masterpices...amazing...where I learnt all about the process and have gained a whole new respect! Then I went to a late night movie with him and say the bollywood hit PAAA...i was mostly in Hindi..but the odd word in English...but it was great to have a translator with me:) haha...this all wrapped up at 1am...

cheers:) xoxoxo...miss you all!