Taj Mahal, Love and Monkeys

Saturday I went to the Taj Mahal for the third time--and the second time this year. It is a long drive from Gurgaon a little over four hours on India roads. The journey is as much of the adventure as the destination.

This trip I went with my colleague, David, and our intent was to work on the way down. We were going to proof a program. Ha. The bumpiness of the roads, along with getting up at 5:00AM after only four hours of sleep made working an impossible task. We did get some done, most on the way home when we had a little more energy and alertness.

The driver picked us up at 5:30 AM just as the light was coming up, and he took the back road to Faridabad, which is an experience in trucks, cows, cars and motorcycles. This is really a shortcut to the highway that leads to the Taj. Under normal circumstances it is basically a left turn, then another left turn, and then a right turn from the apartment. The driver got creative and we had the chance to experience some of the rural villages of India. It took forever to dodge the potholes, livestock, people and not sure what. Definetly the long way to the Taj Highway.

Finally made it out and down the highway. The first stop was at the Uttar Pradesh border and the driver paid the toll charge. This is a spot where the touts converge on the tourists sitting in cars...and they have monkeys, cobras, fans, necklaces and open palms.

This slayed me--the mamma monkey with her babe. What pierced my heart in a single shot was when the baby murmured she would put her paw/hand around its head and pull the babe close to her, in a clear message of comfort. She did it several times so it was no mistake. It was so tender and caring and the love of a mother for child. It was so simple, and sweet, and just what she did for her baby out of nature and nurture. Just a small, simple bit of love.

And then the Taj. The Taj was magnificent again. Like the mama with her baby, it is about love.