Taj Mahal

My friends, I have just discovered that the Taj Mahal may not have been built by Shah Jehan as a mausoleum for his deceased wif Mumtaz. According to the thoery (and there seems to be quite a lot of evidence pointing to the facts), it was in fact a Hindu Temple built some years before and taken of by Shah Jehan. He improved the temple before arranging for his wife to be buried there. There is more-it was not just her burial place, there are apparently more graves at the site. I wonder if you would be interested in finding out more about this theory? Perhaps you know of other evidence which supports this or disputes it? I am certainly hoping some of you will add your comments here-after doing your own research of course.

It does not stop me wanting to go and see it for myself though-no way.

India

My trip to India is getting closer, leaving on 26th December for 18 days. Got the shopping list worked out. The first thing I bought was Deet lotion (for the mosquitos),and anti-malarial tablets (£17.50...what)!Enough for 7 weeks, have to get a couple more for those extra couple of days, wonder if its worth it?
Got the ticket, passport/visa. Had the vaccinations (ouch), asked about Dengue Fever outbreak-the nurse said 'just stay away from monkeys'!Aha, but will they stay away from me? Got the camera/batteries,charger etc.

Its a nine hour flight, the last time I went on such a long haul flight (well for me anyway), it was to California a couple of years ago. Talk about stir crazy, once you had seen the movie and had something to eat, listened for a while on the headphones and tried to have a one way converstation with the guy sitting next to you, there is not much left to do. This time I am going to bring a book to read, get my MDA filled up with my own favorite songs, get a sleep mask and one of those things you put around your neck for when you do drop off. I don't want to be asleep, with my head on one side and dribble running down my chin to the amusement of my fellow passengers.

I am always absolutely terrified on take off waiting for the plane to either blow up or crash. Then when my stomach has settled in a little, I still get the heeby-jeebies wondering if I will make it at all. After about an hour, I am ok. Thinking about being up in the blue yonder encased in a mass of steel/aluminium/wires and bolts surrounded by people I dont know stresses me out. So I dont think of it at all, just pretend I am inside one of those mock-up cabins they make movies in. As long as Arnold Schwartseneger doesn't burst through the cabin festooned with armoury, its fine.
These days they say its safer to fly than to walk along the pavement, or to drive your car, right? RIGHT?

Friday, 1st December 2006

Its getting closer and closer, Christmas. Lights have been put up and switched on in the West End of London. Reports of this year's display are not encouraging, it seems there is a very sad one full of advertising. Sign of the times now, its all about making money. The lights used to be much admired by locals and visitors from abroad, shame.One good thing though is that traffic has been banned from using Oxford Street on a Saturday, so shoppers can do their shopping in safety, their money will not be so safe though as there are plenty of pick-pockets in that area.
Police have been going round lifting bags and other valuables from unsuspecting shoppers. A lesson that they find hard to get through to people who have become mesmerised by the vast amounts of goods for sale and never bother to take care of their valuables.

What is Chrstmas going to be like in Baghdad this year? Mournful I am sure, there is very little 'brotherly love' to be had in that part of the world. I came across a few figures on my journey around cyberspace, thought you might be interested.



Iraq People:

Population:
26,074,906 (July 2005 est.)

Iraqi Policemen killed

Total June 2003 through November 29, 2006: 5,805
1,300 Iraqi military and police were killed between June 2003 and January 4, 2005 according to Iraqi Minister of Interior Falah Hasan
Al-Naqib. “Iraqi Officers, Police Members Killed so Far Total 1,300,” Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) January 4, 2005.

Maj. Gen. Joseph Peterson, the top American police trainer in Iraq, noted through his spokesperson that 1,497 Iraqi police officers were
killed and 3,256 wounded in 2005. Eric Schmitt, “2,000 More MPs Will Help Train the Iraqi Police,” New York Times, January 16, 2006.

Train them for what? Better skills at kidnapping & torture?



If you would like to read more please follow this link:

http://www.brookings.edu/fp/saban/iraq/index.pdf

Lots to read there, quite informative. I was actually wondering, with all the people leaving Iraq/being kidnapped & murdered, how long it would take to empty the country of Iraqis?

Then, the USA could just colonise it for all time-nobody to resist. They have it all mapped out anyway.



The Phillipines have seen another disaster this time in the form of a typhoon which has claimed 200+ lives.Typhoon Durian may have killed up to 400 people in the central Philippines after heavy rains and winds sent tonnes of mud and boulders the size of cars crashing onto villages, the head of the local Red Cross said on Friday.

The naked body of a newborn baby was found on the M25 motorway here in good old United Kingdom a couple of days ago when a lorry driver pulled onto the hard shoulder.Life is cheap.

Dutch media are reporting as I speak, the stabbing to death of a 5 year old child at a primary school in Hoogerheide, 150km (90 miles) south of Amsterdam.

It seems most of the news stories are just one tragedy after another, thats life these days.