Happy 354th birthday to the Taj Mahal

So today is the Taj 350th bday. Free admission after 1400 hrs today for all, including tourists who normally pay Rs. 750 (USD15.) Woo hoo, I m jumping for joy! The shit side is every living being will be queueing at the entrance but then it will be free. After paying not more than usd6 and most times not more than usd1.50 per night for lodging usd15.00 sure seems like a lot. I have gone cheap. Yep. El Cheapo. The person who once bought Coach bags without thinking too long and hard about it. Interesting how travel changes your outlook on COL (Cost of Living). Definitely traveling in a pair or more gives better economies of scale, singles (traveling solo) get penalized for everything, most times being accommodation or mini travel packages. So tis always great to go searching of others traveling for econ of scale. Ran into the first Thai backpackers today in India, traveling for a month, one of 3 ladies in the group told me: was her 4th time in India, and she's back with 2 friends. Her husband wouldn't come because he doesn't like the toilets and how dirty India is. Interesting. You meet interesting folks every day on the road. I shall miss the way of life when it comes to and end. For now it's time to enjoy the Taj and attend to my ever swollen ankle which still appears like a melon going into week 4.