I’m probably traveling tomorrow! Probably. It’s now after 5:00 and I’ll go check the train schedule this evening, when traffic slows down.
This morning, I took my copy of the visa for India, copies of my passport, money, extra photo’s and such to the India Visa Center. I had no idea how things worked and assumed I might have to come back in a week to pick up my visa. I was attempting to get a 10-year visa rather than the two month visa. The price difference is unsubstantial.
First, three trains, so packed with people there was no room, went zooming by without stopping. My short wait turned into 30 minutes. I made a new friend waiting.
Walking through business sections of Colombo, I found the center. Fortunately I was late which meant it was just opening. I was sixth in line.
The agent, rather impersonally and seriously, pointed out all the errors in my form and listed all the things I needed to do next. I left debating whether to try. A man below motioned me and another man offered to help. This is where I walked into the commercial “do your Visa for you” for a small fortune scam showed up, all the while looking like official representatives. I did learn from this man what I actually needed to do to get an e-visa for my one visit to India. Cool!
After a bit of struggle, difficulty getting information input, inability to pay, etc. I finally completed the form and was able to send off a $100 non-refundable visa fee. Now, I wait three days to hear back.
No longer feeling tethered here and with Linda my travel playmate gone, I’m ready to get out of the city.
I’m heading South! That’s all I know at this moment. Stay tuned!
Raja Ampat was beautiful. It was also hot and muggy and rather primitive! Snorkeling was awesome. Divers read about their dives! And it was rough around the edged.
All the homesteads seem to be expanding. Understanding an opportunity to make more money is one thing. Having a sense of service is quite another!
The first one I stayed in on Arborek, the homestay was the first on the island, added three new bungalows last year. Mattress on the floor, mosquito netting, fan, comfortable furniture on the front porch overlooking the mangroves and the ocean. They always had fruit or bread or cake or something out for people to eat. The island is laid back, sand walking paths and not a lot of hustle.
Other home stays had raised bed’s. My last one had a diving center which felt like where they centered their attention. The bathroom was nearly always out of toiled paper and, since you can’t flush paper here, the waste basket was full to overflowing. With 12 guest there, the staff often only put out six plates for dinner. It was not unusual to run out of food! Bungalows were very basic. And this is where I got my food poisoning.
Absolutely gorgeous, great house reef, watching White Umbrella Cockatoo’s at sunrise, parrots flying in and out of the trees and hearing the loud sound of Hornbills wings beating through the air over the trees were some of the amazing parts. If I were a diver, I’d probably be beating a path back. As a snorkeler, I am really happy I experienced it but don’t know that I’ll return?
I’m happy I chose my spots the way I did. First one on Arborek with the village life experience. Awesome! Quite and tranquil small island with great snorkeling! I’d head here again.
Second I stayed at Mandarin with a lovely family. It felt more busy. I didn’t have a room with my reservation the first night but they took care of me. Food was awesome. Reef was great but difficult to swim out to at lower tides.
Last one was Corepen. Great reef…amazing! Lots of birds making quite the racket at sunrise. This is where the toilet and food issue happened.
And now, here are a few photo’s from the experience. Something strange happened and some photo’s are showing up really tiny and I don’t have time to edit them now so may post more later.
