Mirrogram®

Highlights/Lowlights

• Driving through clouds
• The Taj Mahal
• Money = Power
• 130 plus in a bus

What the fog!

All we could see around us was an impenetrable white sheet. The traffic ahead would appear out of nowhere. We slowed to 20km/h. At this pace we were looking at over 10 hours each way for the 230km trip from Delhi to the Taj Mahal. This was certainly the thickest fog I’ve ever seen, and that’s saying something when you live in Alexandra!

The fog slowly lifted but had already added an hour and a half to our drive.

We grabbed our tickets and headed down the “High value ticket holders” line past the massive queues either side of us and into the complex. Last time it was too hot for me to care about everyone else having to wait but this time I noticed these things. I felt sort of justified as the locals had only paid 20 Rupees for a ticket while we had paid 750. Still, something didn’t feel right about money buying us a pass for us to do something others couldn’t.

I know we have first class on Aeroplanes and different seating for concerts and sporting events based on ticket price but I think because of stark imbalance between power we were seeing triggered my distaste of capitalism. A flawed system where just 85 people have as much wealth as the poorest 3.5 billion and where big business can use their wealth to gain the upper hand, make the rules and take shortcuts nobody else can.

There aren’t many buildings in this world I would consider breathtaking, but the Taj Mahal is one of them. Constructed nearly 400 years ago, the Taj is truly a man made wonder, one I could hardly pass up getting the team to pose in Mirrogram clothing in front of…Why waste such a good opportunity?

The most elaborate tomb ever created deserves some explanation so we hired a guide to point out some of it’s features. Our guide saw the shirts and was very impressed, especially with the “Not just numbers” design and how it relates to the many optical illusions and features of the Taj that require you to “Stop and Reflect”.

As you look up lines that zig-zag appear straight.

From this point on he ended every explanation with a brief pause, followed by the words “Not just numbers”. It was hilarious. I decided I needed to give him Mirrogram shirt as a tip.

The Taj is truly MARBLEous! Inlaid with 28 precious and semi-precious stones this building blows you away both up close and at a distance.

As we spent time admiring the beauty we were constantly asked to pose for photos. Even the tour guide became frustrated at our pace as we completed the tour and sat down for lunch.

Apparently being well paid for your work and given a shirt worth more than the average weeks salary wasn’t a big enough tip. “You can have more, but we’ll take back the shirt” the team angrily replied, sick of being u$ed for fame and fortune.

For those in pursuit of FAME. Be careful what you wish for!

Being treated as celebrities really tainted our day but bought up some great discussion about fame and wealth later that night.

Despite feeling flat, I was glad that our team were able experience the reality of fame. Something to remember coming back to a culture obsessed with fame and celebrity.

With the fog now gone our driver decided to make up for lost time. Our charter bus hit speeds in excess of 130km/h in our charter bus as we flew back to Delhi.

Below are our compulsory cheesy Taj pics.