{"id":3188,"date":"2011-11-21T08:00:25","date_gmt":"2011-11-21T13:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/?p=3188"},"modified":"2011-11-20T04:47:30","modified_gmt":"2011-11-20T09:47:30","slug":"completing-our-hat-trick-the-taj-mahal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/completing-our-hat-trick-the-taj-mahal\/","title":{"rendered":"Completing our hat trick &#8211; The Taj Mahal"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>As we&#8217;ve mentioned in previous posts, we came to Abu Dhabi with three travel goals.  Three places we wanted to experience that would otherwise be a tiresome journey from back home.  At the time, we didn&#8217;t think we would get to hit all three, but as of August, we were fortunate enough to reach the first two:  the <a href=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/?p=1133\" target=\"_blank\">pyramids<\/a> and  <a href=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/?p=2773\" target=\"_blank\">South African safari<\/a>.  Both were amazing!  <\/p>\n<p>Thanks to a long <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Eid_al-Adha\" target=\"_blank\">Eid Al-Adha<\/a> holiday weekend, we crossed the final place off the list &#8211; the Taj Mahal in Agra, India!<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-3188 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/completing-our-hat-trick-the-taj-mahal\/img_4973\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/IMG_4973-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-3203\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-3203'>\n\t\t\t\tOur trusty driver Viki greeted us and served as a great host in Agra and Delhi\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/completing-our-hat-trick-the-taj-mahal\/img_4526\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/IMG_4526-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-3202\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-3202'>\n\t\t\t\tWe had a little morning entertainment on our walk to the Taj &#8211; monkeys!\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/completing-our-hat-trick-the-taj-mahal\/img_4442\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/IMG_4442-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-3195\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-3195'>\n\t\t\t\tLine to get in took about 30 minutes &#8211; men on one side, women on another\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/completing-our-hat-trick-the-taj-mahal\/img_4511\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"112\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/IMG_4511-e1321094027710-112x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-3199\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-3199'>\n\t\t\t\tWe made it!!!\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/completing-our-hat-trick-the-taj-mahal\/img_4509\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/IMG_4509-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-3198\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-3198'>\n\t\t\t\tOur favorite shot of the day&#8230;\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/completing-our-hat-trick-the-taj-mahal\/img_4515\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/IMG_4515-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-3200\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-3200'>\n\t\t\t\tOur guide for the day urged us to do all the classic Taj poses\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/completing-our-hat-trick-the-taj-mahal\/img_4476\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/IMG_4476-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-3196\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-3196'>\n\t\t\t\tAlthough the grounds are exposed to the elements, we had to wear shoe covers around\/inside the masoleum\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/completing-our-hat-trick-the-taj-mahal\/img_4314\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/IMG_4314-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-3191\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-3191'>\n\t\t\t\tAnother view of the main masoleum\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/completing-our-hat-trick-the-taj-mahal\/img_4321edit\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/IMG_4321edit-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-3193\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-3193'>\n\t\t\t\tAn &#8220;illegal&#8221; photo of the masoleum and replicas&#8230;the real tombs are below ground\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/completing-our-hat-trick-the-taj-mahal\/img_4498\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/IMG_4498-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-3197\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-3197'>\n\t\t\t\tTons of detailed craftsmanship went into each nook of this place\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/completing-our-hat-trick-the-taj-mahal\/img_4320\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/IMG_4320-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-3192\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-3192'>\n\t\t\t\tEverything was hand-carved and inlaid with semi-precious stones\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/completing-our-hat-trick-the-taj-mahal\/carved-from-solid-marble\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/carved-from-solid-marble-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-3189\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-3189'>\n\t\t\t\tThis detail, meant to look like earrings, was painstakenly carved by hand\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/completing-our-hat-trick-the-taj-mahal\/img_4523\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/IMG_4523-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-3201\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-3201'>\n\t\t\t\tSadly, we are still waiting on the endorsement fees from Il Forno&#8217;s\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/completing-our-hat-trick-the-taj-mahal\/img_4635\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/IMG_4635-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-3211\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-3211'>\n\t\t\t\tFrom the site of the Black Taj, the Taj Mahal creator&#8217;s tomb-to-be (too bad his son stopped him to keep more inheritance $$$)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/completing-our-hat-trick-the-taj-mahal\/finishing-the-long-day-like-a-local\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/finishing-the-long-day-like-a-local-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-3213\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-3213'>\n\t\t\t\tFinishing the long day like a local &#8211; with a Kingfisher beer!\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As we&#8217;ve mentioned in previous posts, we came to Abu Dhabi with three travel goals. Three places we wanted to experience that would otherwise be a tiresome journey from back home. At the time, we didn&#8217;t think we would get to hit all three, but as of August, we were fortunate enough to reach the&#8230; <\/p>\n<div class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/completing-our-hat-trick-the-taj-mahal\/\">Read More<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[40,20],"class_list":["post-3188","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-picture","tag-india","tag-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3188","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3188"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3188\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3257,"href":"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3188\/revisions\/3257"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3188"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3188"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tuckers.cc\/brian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3188"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}