A fairy tale

Once upon a time there was a man in India (the Great Mogul Shah Jahan) who was very much dedicated to his wife (Mumtaz Mahal). Mumtaz was Shah Jahan's second most important wife, but because of her grace and sense of humour she soon became his favorite. In 1631, after nineteen years of marriage, Mumtaz died while giving birth to her fourteenth child. The Shah was inconsolable and could not do anything but succumb to his dead wife's three last wishes: to treat her children well, never to remarry and to have a unique grave monument built for her. This was all done and he gave orders for the Taj Mahal to be built.

I am in Agra and quite impressed with this monument in marmor. Neither effort nor expense has been spared and it is magnificent. To see it with my own eyes is the most wonderful thing about it, as all descriptions would fail. I find the story behind it even more beautiful. I am not really demanding, but where can you still find them, these men who would do anything for you? I admit I'd rather have this during my lifetime, I'd rather be the one and only woman and fourteen children is a bit much, but I can relate to Mumtaz's sense of humour. It wouldn't really be that impossible to get, would it? For the time being I'd better stick to the fairy tale...

French kissing in India

At nine o'clock in the morning I was walking towards the Fort of Agra, full of energy and fresh curiosity. I wasn't exactly sure if I was walking into the right direction. So, I asked a boy of around twenty who was walking some metres in front of me for directions. He gave them and then came up with the standard questions. After a few minutes he had finished his questioning. Just when I wanted to cross the road, he asked,

'Yoo want aye kiss?'
-'Excuse me? No, I don't!'
'Aye mouf kiss?'
-'NO!!!'
'Vye not?'
-'Because I say so!'
'Aye Frensh kiss?'
-'No, definitely not!'
'Vye not?'
-'F*** off!!!'

In this country one shouldn't think; nine o'clock in the morning, and a stranger asks me if I want to give him a French kiss; the bloody limit!!!