Monday brings a brief conversation with a colleague who visited Vietnam last year. She says she thought visas were essential without which you are not allowed to board the plane to go there. Must have changed. Will check when have a moment. Ok, tuesday morning (two days before departure). Take a quick look on-line. Mild concern turns to deep feeling of dread in guts, turns to rising sense of panic. "Visa essential", "Five Working Days", "Do not book your flights without obtaining visa". Urgently need toilet.
It can be done as an express 2 day service. It can be started by fax. Panic turns to hysterical sobbing (perhaps I do need a holiday). Print forms, trawl together photos to find something suitable, scan passports; scan passports again - lighter; scan passports a third time on lightest setting. Ok visa is for West Indian family Wilson (and nothing wrong with that). Fax it all off. Email a PDF for good measure. Call. Told call unecessary - collect between 9.30 and 12.30.
Passports in hand, set off to collect. Arrive station 10.30 and get last parking spot in station. All trains delayed. A train has broken down at Farringdon. Just a normal morning then.
Can't shake the feeling it is all going to go horribly wrong. Eventually train arrives. Driver announces there will be SEVERE DELAYS as we near London so, this being First Capital Connect, it turns out to be the fastest and most hassle free ride this year. But the earlier delay means time is tight. Vietnamese embassy is on Victioria something so onto the tube to Victoria knocking tourists out the way as is the custom in the Big Smoke. Out at Victoria, remember to get cash to pay for the visas. Time tight but ok, should have 15 minutes to spare. Ask a policeman the way to the Vietnamese embassy. Blank look. "Are you sure it is near here?" Check address "Victoria Road". Check map. Victoria Road is not at Victoria; it is South Kensington. Bad language is inexcuseably used.
Back on to the Tube; more tourists damaged. Off at Gloucester Road - 10 minute till the embassy closes and a 15 minute walk. Break into jog. Minutes pass; strange looks at man in suit jogging; jog becomes run; looks become stares. Ok on Victoria Road, where is it? Other end. Resume running. Through gate and in at 12.28.
Stand at desk and become aware that I am soaking with perspiration and am dripping on Vietnamese soil. Is that a crime? Briefly vision of being jailed before even leaving London. Inscrutable Vietnamese diplomatic official feigns that he does not see the torrent of drips.
It is done. Wet but triumphant and with visas, we are going to Vietnam.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
No comments:
Post a Comment