This morning left early to hunt out the back streets of Johri bazaar in the old part of Agra. Aways in search for an unusual photo where tourists do not venture.
I took a rickshaw to Agra Fort, and then walked on down into the bazaar area near Jammi Majid. You cannot avoid the pungent stink of stagnent waterlogged rubbish piled 1 and a half metres high. At times you are almost sick with the odour; as the morning temperature rises rapidly. The streets of the bizaar area are equally filthy, as the packs of dogs, monkies, and cows search for their breakfast.
After 30 minutes decided to head into the maze of side streets, seemed a good idea at the time, as that is where the unusual scene awaits to be photographed. All was well for a while, and then within a short period of time 5 youngsters continually tried to snatch my bag. After threatening them with a hard clip round the head continued in the narrow disgusting streets only to have stones hailed at me... great!
So when that happens that is a clear warning........ So as I continued my morning excursion (in the Muslim quatre) I soon came across water buffalo being slaughted with hammers, and the gutters flowing with blood. As I have mentioned before, hygiene, health regulations do not exist here. In one such side street I was waved to, and read the gesture clearly.....You are not welcome here, move on.
So that was my last exciting morning in Agra. Now looking forward to Rajasthan, and hopefully will find a cleaner, and less hassle free part of India than the rest of the places already visited.......One rests in hope, but not confident. Nothing really changes here from town to town, city to city. It's a fight everyday, and truly you just cannot relax................shame, but that's the adventure.
A year of this seems almost impossible to stomach, but it's early days.
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