Literally One Day in India

I've been asked a few times if I've been to India and my answer was not just a simple YES but I did add that I was able to do a trip there for just a day.  So how did I made it possible?  I will tell you in this post so bear with me.  

I've been wanting to see the World Wonders and as we all know, The Taj Mahal is included on that list.  I've been living in Dubai for a few years already, but it was only last year that I was able to make the trip possible.  I, together with my friend just wanted to see the Taj Mahal, as simple as that.

DAY TOUR

As we plan our trip, we came across Nathu Ram of Aveda Tours.  The tour was less than 1000 AED per person if I remember it right and it includes even the airport transfers and our transportation for the day of the tour.  Nathu picked us up at New Delhi airport when we arrived around 3:30 AM (local time), took care of us for the entire duration of our Taj Mahal and Agra Fort trip and drove us back to New Delhi airport.  

We arrived quite early in the morning at Taj Mahal and was able to take plenty of photos with not much people around.  

TAJ MAHAL is located at Agra which is more or less three hours away from New Delhi airport. Taj is a mausoleum (made of Ivory-white marble) built to house the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal.  The mausoleum was commissioned by Shah Jahan.  Taj Mahal is a UNESCO World Heritage site and has been included in the Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.  

It is possible to go inside the site but you have to remove your shoes as you go in and walk around the marbled areas.  

TIPS for visiting Taj Mahal: Go early in the morning and do not bring huge bags as it will not be allowed.

Part of our day tour includes a visit to AGRA FORT (another UNESCO World Heritage site) which used to be the main residence of the emperors during the Mughal Dynasty until 1638.  

Our visit to the sites ended by noon, just in time for lunch before we head back to New Delhi.  

FLIGHTS

DXB-DEL

via Fly Dubai (left DXB at 22:15, arrived at around 2:30 local time in Delhi)

DEL- DXB

via Emirates (left DEL at 21:25, arrived at around midnight, DXB time)

*I've checked Fly Dubai's timing recently and I think they have a new one for the same flight that we took*

VISA

EVISA is required for Philippine Passport Holders.  You can secure it online and pay online as well. The visa will be then sent to the email that you will provide during the application and it costs around 200 AED.  

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For those who've been wanting to see the Taj Mahal but has limited time, I hope my experience can tell you it's doable. We were very clear from the very beginning that we only wanted to see Taj Mahal.  A little research skills helped us to make our trip possible.  

JaFUN..so far

​​I long wanted to see Japan even before I came here in the sandpit.  I find that the country offers so much from sightseeing, to food and never forget the shopping!  I got excited the first time I knew that we were flying to Narita again.  I patiently bid for the flight and of course, it paid off after so many attempts and wishful thinking.  😅

We fly to Narita (one of the two airports that serves the city of Tokyo).  It is farther though but Japan's extensive and effective train system will make your travel easy and stress free.  Let me share with you what I've done in Tokyo in those few times (so far) that I've been.

WORE A YUKATA

I went to Asakusa from Narita Airport via a direct train for the first time.  My goal was to experience wearing the Yukata (a lightweight kimono, cooler to wear during summer) and have my photo taken wearing it.  I booked in advance, online at Tokyo Kimono Rental Wargo's site. The price was around 120++ in dirhams and it included the photo. We were allowed to take photos through our personal cameras and phones too!  You can actually rent the Yukata and go sightseeing while wearing it.

 SENSOJI TEMPLE

Located in Asakusa, Sensoji Temple is Tokyo's oldest temple and also one of the most photographed.

MEETING THE FAMOUS AKITA DOG, HACHIKO

Hachiko, the loyal dog continued to wait for his owner for nine long years in Shibuya train station where they would normally meet after the latter's work.  I've never seen the film about Hachiko but knowing how he became popular was enough to melt my heart.  I love dogs. I grew up having dogs at home and I've seen how they protected and loved us. 

Hachiko's statue was erected at Shibuya Station.  

SHIBUYA CROSSING 

I could not afford to miss the world's busiest intersection on my first visit to the city of Tokyo.  I could not remember how many times I crossed the scramble intersection.  It was raining when I was there but it didn't stop me from having the Shibuya Crossing experience.

TOKYO TOWER AND ZOJOJI TEMPLE

I made my second trip to Narita last August 2017.  I came back to Tokyo to visit their version of the Eiffel Tower.  Tokyo Tower, a communications and observation tower in Japan, is also the second tallest structure in the country. 

I didn't go to the tower itself, I just wanted a view so I went to Shiba park which was built around the temple of Zojoji (a buddhist temple in the neighborhood of Minato).  

MEIJI SHRINE

A Shinto shrine dedicated to the spirits of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. The shrine was great for strolling as there were trees around that you do not really feel the heat of the sun.  A torii gate welcomes all the visitors upon entrance.  

SAKURA SEASON

Only during a short period, I was able to experience spring in Japan even only for a day by seeing the cherry blossom trees blooming at Ueno Park.  It was a sight to behold and really one of the must- see in Japan if you ever get the chance.  It was not only popular for tourists but also for all the Japanese too!  

DONKI

I did a little bit of shopping on the side while on a layover. I went to Don Quijote of course ( as also recommended by my friend).  Known as Japan's largest store of discounted goods, I drooled over every floor of their Shibuya branch. I have a list in hand but it was so hard to resist the items that were not on my list!!!! I think I could spend half a day inside! Donki was my all-in-one store whenever I go to Japan, they literally have everything! 

If you want to ask me how I always find my way to go from one place to another around Tokyo, I can tell you it was just knowing where to go and which train station I need to exit.  All of the places I've been and seen so far were very accessible to the train stops.  I still have a long list to tick for my Japan Bucketlist.  Hopefully, I get more Narita flights to operate soon! I long planned to see the Imperial Palace, experience Ichiran, visit the Narita area and so on.  I never thought of thinking twice about why Japan became one of the top tourist destinations.  You could never run out of things to do and see, not just in Tokyo but in the other cities as well.