To tell the story right I have to start from the beginning.
All the way back to when I started the trip planning the waypoint route of
travelling the world. Where should I go and when would I reach there. India was
a possibility but there was hurdles.
I considered very hard how to get to India. With my work
being in construction especially in Singapore, I work with loads of Indian
community of various status. Heck my boss is an Indian from India. 2nd
round travelling and this time friends and family knew that I was serious when I
said I was taking a year off. From all my Indian colleague in work the saying
was unanimous ….
YOU MUST GO INDIA
India was one of the few countries that I had to apply for
Visa. India visa expires six months after approval so I was stuck. Plan to
visit India was at the end of my 1 year trip where I could cruise along on a
low budget if I somehow burn it all along the way. I decided to fly to
Kathmandu instead where they give Visa on arrival for a fee.
Midway
of my journey and I was now within that six months window and I decided to try
and get that Indian visa since the idea has been bugging me for a while now.
Lisbon had an Indian Mission, or consulate where I could get a Visa and the
next nearest place would be London. No harm trying I thought since I was going
to Lisbon anyway.
Prior to arriving in Lisbon a few days earlier I had send in
some enquiry through the email provided online. They told me to just apply and
fill in someone’s name for reference in India and a sponsor in Portugal. They
also told me to print out proof of money that I have to travel India. I filled
out the online application form and actually put NA for the reference people in
India and Portugal and it went in online.
In Lisbon I went to the embassy but have no idea if they
would turn me down for I had no reference in India and definitely no sponsor in
Portugal. Took my queue number and went in for the wait. I was there early, 9
am and numbered within the single digits. Waiting about I saw other attachment
that was held by people around waiting to apply their visa … the application
form specified 2 inch by 2 inch photograph but I only had the 2 inch by 1 inch
photograph …. Paranoia ran through my mind the whole 2 hours that I waited in
line.
Interview for an Indian Visa
Joana the officer did not ask much of proof. I just passed
her the application form and viola it was being processed quietly. Two question
was asked which was expected.
Are you a resident of Portugal?
No ….. and I explained that I was backpacking and hence
could not apply from my home country
When are you going in India
I fly into Kathmandu on 25 July I explained and would take
either a bus or train to India from there
That was all Joana asked of me. The carefully prepared and
printed out proof of finance was held in my hand and never shown to her. Proof
of flight ticket was not shown either. In fact she did not even asked if I have
a plane ticket in and out of India nor did she ask where I would be staying in
India. I guess a backpacker charm was understood that we poor backpackers can
never make up our minds
67 Euro I paid for the Visa and she told me to return 2
weeks later. Shit. ….. after a slight begging I got her to agree to a week
later. Now I am stuck in Lisbon …. Having 8 days to burn before retrieving my
passport and able to leave Portugal. I am in a dilemma to figure out which
country do I skip in Europe while I wait for my passport to be returned.
A week later I got my passport back without any troubles
with the beautiful sticker of an Indian Visa.
I AM GOING TO INDIA AAAAAAAA
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