Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Nameste India, Konnichiwa Japan

Well yesterday was not a good day for the travel planning.

It was a risk that I would not get my Indian Visa in time. After many phone calls and internet checking, I finally went down the to the consulate again to find out if I would get my visa in the promised 10 days.

Once there I was told they would need another 5 working days at least. What’s the deal? Why so much interest in India? So I was forced to withdraw my application for my Indian Visa as they hold your passport and I need it to leave Australia on Saturday.

After a few tears and calculating the $3000 I has spent on the India leg of the trip I was going to lose, I could only think “perhaps I’m not supposed to go to India”.

Once back in the office I started calling the airlines and tour group. To my surprise I got most of my money back, all but $700. Expensive lesson in 3rd world politics.

Now the question remained, what will I do with my extra time? What country will I visit instead? Interesting enough I posed this question to my hairdresser that night and he told me about the 2 years he lived in Japan. He described it with so much passion I couldn’t turn down the chance to see it. Plus I LOVE sushi.

So I have now booked myself from Beijing to Tokyo and Tokyo home via San Francisco.

Best part! You do not need a visa for Japan. :D

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