incredible India!

India was incredible! On Thanksgiving Day, we had our team day at the Konark Sun Temple and then dipped our feet in the Bay of Bengal before dinner. I took this picture after writing India 2012 three different times, the tide kept erasing my work! 

Loving the water!

The team decided to spell out "Op Smile" on the beach! I love this photo!

I couldn't help myself, but I prayed no Indian would take offense and get mad at me. I was ok, I think it's an old enough temple that not even they know the meaning of this awesome sculpture!

Qutab Minar, an amazing minaret originally began construction in 1199!

Jama Masjid, built in 1650 in Old Delhi, it is the largest and most well known mosque in India. I patiently waited for people to move and caught this man praying.

I love the peace this guy portrays as he's enjoying his friday at the mosque.

Haha, oh this guy was great! My friend Donna tried to take his picture without paying him and he got upset and put the basket back over the snake. But I wanted a picture so I paid him 50 rupees ($1) and got my picture! It was cool to see a snake charmer.

Donna and I took a rickshaw through Old Delhi, what an experience!

The Taj Mahal, or crown of palaces! Beautiful is the one word to describe it! The Taj is a white marble mausoleum located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal is widely recognized as "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage".

I almost had to keep pinching myself that I was at the Taj Mahal!

The white marble is exquisite and the inlaid precious stones were the perfect touch. It just amazes me that even back then (1632), they built such fine buildings.

We saw monkeys at the Taj Mahal! I caught this guy in the sun rays as we were leaving the grounds of the Taj. It was awesome to see them just climbing around everywhere, exactly what I pictured India like.

I was excited to photograph these women carrying huge baskets on their heads. I love their bright colorful clothing. I loved the sites of India!