To each man his own thought reverberated in my consciousness as I marveled at the Taj Mahal. The Taj is indeed a world wonder. Learning how the Taj was built incited me to query: Are we ruled by what drives us or we are driven by what rules us? Discovering this monument makes me reflect that the esteemed life is undeniably all about passion. Each step taken moves us closer to our divine plan. Whatever we decide to embark on, we do it with all our heart, mind, and soul. At the end of the day, we will be judged by the way we lived and responded to each call, and how we bounced back from each fall. Much has been written and said about the Taj Mahal Palace in Agra, India. Many films have been shot here, both foreign and local, yet it is a completely gratifying experience to visit it. Over 20,000 skilled craftsmen from India, Persia, the Ottoman Empire, and Europe painstakingly labored day and night for 22 years to build this monument that ought to be experienced at various times of the day to appreciate its magnificence. 

The Taj is all about the love story of a powerful man, Shah Jahan, who was so in love with his wife, the stunningly beautiful Mumtaz Mahal, with whom he had 14 children within their 19 years of marriage from 1612 to 1631. When she died, his only reason to continue living was her memory. He decided to honor this passionate love with the greatest mausoleum of all time. For many years after her death, he sat on a lone bench and wept. A few years before his own demise, he viewed the Taj Mahal, soaring to a height of 73 meters, from the fort where he was imprisoned by his ownson. Though incarcerated, he was always at liberty to love and continue loving in the only way he knew.

Soliven, childhood friend Rita Trinidad, and our creative consultant Mike Mina hied off to celebrate the 46th anniversary of our company, Miladay Jewels, with an eventful trip to the Taj Mahal. We donned our favorite saris and kurtas replete with smoky coal eye makeup for an impromptu photo shoot at the Taj complex. It was a delightful activity for us as we posed and frolicked in front of the camera while catching the attention of locals and tourists who requested for photos with us as well. Our charming guide, Mohsin Khan, and photographer Mr. Musthaq shared that it was a unique experience for them as well to see foreigners who were totally immersed in their beautiful culture. We even shared our knowledge about our favorite Bollywood films while enumerating favorite actors and actresses from Amitabh Bachchan and Hrithik Roshan to Shah Rukh Khan, Aiswarya Rai, Deepika Padukone, and Priyanka Chopra.

A grand tour of the stunning property reveals a deluxe ambience that possesses a distinctly residential quality. There are elegantly appointed guest rooms, many with private terraces, and seven suites that include the B.K. Nehru and Robert Burns luxury suites and the seven-bay Kohinoor or Presidential Suite. We had a delightful dinner at Esphahân, the Indian restaurant in the hotel. Try their succulent lamb biryani, basmati rice with vegetables and meat cooked in a sealed pot over a slow fire; chicken curry cooked in fresh coconut milk that melted in our mouths; and spinach kofta served with fresh yoghurt and tamarind sauce that was simply divine.