Dream Trip 2009

Great Travel Moment

As my friends and I paused under a city gate in Agra, attempting to find our way out to the Yamuna river for a water taxi, a mysterious man appeared from behind the blue door we all thought was for mechanical equipment. Before the man headed off on his own journey, he turned and looked at us with a knowing and determined gaze; he smiled, waved and with cane in hand, disappeared into the busy market street. I couldn't help but feel like I had just stepped in and out of a chapter Paulo Coelho's "Alchemist" story, searching for the signs around me. It wasn't until after I had a chance to go through my pictures later that I noticed the word "Liberty" imprinted on his shoulder bag; for me, the challenge of finding our way through the bustling alleys of Agra was certainly an exercise in liberty and feeling free to engage the world.