All too often, as a travel writer and photographer, I get home, edit my photos, write any print assignment articles, post the photos on social media and write blog posts before heading to my next adventure forgetting to look back once in a while. Recently though, I started taking time to look at photo files to relive the joy of discovering yet another amazing place.
In Agra, India, I arrived late afternoon at the beautiful Oberoi Amarvilas Hotel. I knew that every room had a perfect view of the Taj Mahal and I was anxious for the view.
From my balcony, in the distance framed by lush foliage, I could see the symbol of love and one of the Seven Wonders of the World. That moment is forever etched in my memory.
The next day my friend Norma and I were transported to the gates by an electric vehicle. After passing through security our guide began to tell us the love story behind the monument.
The ivory-white marble mausoleum on the south bank of the Yamuna River was commissioned in 1632 for $827 million (2015 equivalent) by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to house his favorite wife Mumtaz Mahal.
We wandered through the gardens taking photos before going inside with hundreds of Indian residents to view the final resting place of the emperor and his beloved wife. We admired the inlaid semiprecious stones and took in the view of the river.
Certainly a once in a lifetime experience worth looking back on.
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