RIO FRIO

 What could be better than to arrive in Rio de Janeiro in an afternoon. The excitement was in the air and the idea was to throw the bags in the dormitory and leave for a good warm day. 

But soon there was a thin cold breathe.  Frio in Portuguese mean cold. So Rio frio is an expression to claim the fear of tourist in the city of Rio.

No it was not cold in Rio de Janeiro. Just that the fear I developed in my mind. My friend warned me to be extra careful, not look in the eyes of people. Not to speak to strangers. Although the people were so cool and smiling. But Rio is a big city in South America. Like any big city there would be touts , thiefs, cheats. One has to be very careful with bags and belongings. As a tourist even more.

In couple of hours I realised it.Some people would shout from behind while you were walking to scare you. We went to withdraw cash from an ATM and had to pay some money to the guy waiting outside the door. I protested for this as why we have to give money when we do not wish to. But my friend insisted for safety. Eventhough we gave him 2 euros, which is a big amount to give a begger in India he shouted this is not good enough. 

But this feeling faded sooner or later as it is like this in any big city. People could cheat us if we give them a scope!! One has to be alert and pretend lost at the same time to ignore the crime.

The beautiful Rio de Janeiro was right ahead to be explored !!

After all its not my first time, its same in Cape town or in Mumbai. There is a fear surving in people between every thing else.

So I ignored the cold air of the city and started to gather the best of the city.

MY FIRST TIME # 1

The year 2012 was great with travel and lots of first time experiences while traveling.

So , I decided to share my first time experiences here during my travel, especially now that am in South America which is other side of the world for Indians. 

Here is my first time no 1. This is the first time I checked into a dormitory as I arrived in Rio de Janeiro. 

It was the first day and Rio is an extremely expensive city. So dormitory Accomodation was a resort to cut on the expenses. 

In India or Asia the hotels rooms are already so much below the expectation that it is difficult to even think of staying in Hostels. Unclean bed sheets, dirty toilets and safety of our luggage is a big concern. I was hoping that may be I have to carry around all valuables when am out of the dorm. 

But it was not like that in our hostel called Leblon spot. The sheets were very clean and so were the toilets. The shower was shared and was cleaned every now and then. The entire place has wifi.There were safety cupboards to keep your valuables. The breakfast was included in the tariff.

All in all it was a cool experience :)

RIO = Oi

What a welcome word - "Oi"

The moment I landed at the airport of Rio de Janeiro, I had to pass the immigration.

So at the gates, I was welcomed by the custom officer with Oi !! I knew it means hello and I said Oi. Then the custom officer directed me to the gate for Brazilian Passport holders as he mistook me as Brazilian.

It could be a strange coincidence but feels great. Thats not the only time when I was considered to be from Brazil.

My friend Jorge welcomed me at the airport with a big smile as it was proved by then that its more than winning a battle to travel. Again at the hotel reception Oi!! This time for my passport, the receptionist says, Oh you are Indian. Hello!!

Time and again, in the streets people would say Oi and ask for directions and in restaurants, people start talking to me in Portuguese and then I had to say Eu não falo Portugues!! They would say "No Brazil" and smile.

Brazil is such a big fusion of people from everywhere that there is many faces of Brazil.

Oi Oi Oi!!

HARD DAYS OF AN INDIAN TRAVELER # 7

There was a Volcano, a tornado, an earthquake, a Tsunami in my travel world. Some moment it felt yes I am going for my three months in South America and some felt no its not gonna happen.  To be honest, till I stepped out of the airport in Rio, I was not sure If am traveling.There has been so many ups n downs in my life in last 4 months. So many moments of sorrows and happiness.

But now that am traveling finally, I take everything with a smile. A big one :)

HARD DAYS OF AN INDIAN TRAVELLER # 6

Airport shelter: 

Post dramas of Visa rejection, the first wise thing is to fly to South America. Of course with 7 visas in my passport, I had to go. 

So bought a ticket to Rio de Janeiro via Frankfurt. Shopping, Good byes, grabbed the bags which were packed for 20 days and here I was at the Delhi airport. Long queue at the check in counter and finally my turn. Checked in my bags. All tickets ready and at the immigration counter. The officer says, sorry you can not board this flight as Germany ask for transit visa even if you have to connecting flight and do not step out. What does it even sound logical. Visa is required for the exit at immigration counter.  But I had checked with the airlines before i buy the ticket.

Yes we understand but Germany has this rule. You should always check with the embassy. 

Also out of the immigration gates, I still did not give up. After numerous calls I have a ticket from Emirates to fly only next day via Dubai.

Stranded at the airport, it was airport food and airport sleep. 

Finally the next with all prayers I was in the flight to Dubai. 

At Dubai airport was a transit of 12 hours and then 14 hours of flying to reach Rio. I lived in airports for 3 days, ate all airport food and slept on benches.

The struggle is all worth when I reached Rio de Janeiro :)

HARD DAYS OF AN INDIAN TRAVELER # 5

After all what it takes finally I receive a call from agent that the visa has been rejected for no proper proof of stay and the duration of stay is longer.

Its a pity when you are honest and still they can not trust .with proof of bookings, substantial money to travel, confirmed air tickets, income tax statements and investments, good travel history it failed

The process of procuring the visas have becomes so difficult that one looses the interest to travel. 

 But life has to go on.. Shined a light of hope again i.e to re apply schengen visa from embassy from Portugal, which means arranging more work, more running, more process. Although the Embassy was very patient and kind. They again refused on the remarks from Spanish Embassy. 

Last three months has been documents, documents and documents. Its probably easier to buy a piece of land than getting Schengen Visa ;)

HARD DAYS OF AN INDIAN TRAVELER # 4

Am just a regular traveler, I dont have a brand or a label. 

So what!!! I have friends like Saini n Sujay that designs leather who can hook me on to one of such parties. As I got down the car my friend mentioned... Hey here strangers are friends. Just smile for every thing. But I had to even smile for people brushing my back. ... ;)

The strangers wink n smile. I sniffed to gucci versace n what not. Witnessed legs cupids n mermaids dancing to geeks n chics. 

There were about 20 chickens; girls who were just jumping on coke n 15 boys . Everything on the house. So we did lot of red wine. Hello hello my boy would be home says Saini. lets rush as he doesnot know am here. Then Paras's taxi guy droves like a jet and we were home and changed to bed clothes. But the boyfriend was spying and knows all. Before he say anything .Sujay starts another drama, I dont like this...really  I dont like this. I was upset and took all for the party. 

Then was a dearest friend Mandy who picked us for drive to Gurgoan only to mix more drinks for us. It was a crazy drive back home all high on music n speed. . The pretty Saini cooking to all and the chit chat. I went to bed at 6 am. Next thing, 7:30 am was an alarm to run to Argentinean embassy for my passport...The Embassy of Argentina did not have parking but gave visa in two hours. Huhhh what a hard life ;)

HARD DAYS OF AN INDIAN TRAVELER # 3

7 AM, New Delhi

The language interpreter at the Embassy of Spain, advised me, since you know the list of documents required. You should go to VFS to submit them so that it reaches us soon.

So here I am outside the house at 7 am, driven by a rickshaw in the streets of Delhi full of fog. As I brakes near the VFS Spain at Nehru Place, I see there are more cases, more people being troubled, more people crying for the same flight that they have to go through this to submit the documents.

Standing in queue, I made it to the counter to submit my documents and the staff says that they can receive as they do not have any intimation from Embassy to collect documents from me. I tried to convince them that I have my flight in three days and I need to send them the documents today.

Sorry Sir, May be we receive an email after the embassy open and you have to come again tomorrow. With lot of persuasion they finally received the documents but to send the documents only the next day even though the dispatch for the day to the embassy was not sent by the VFS Spain.

They have a rule that they always send the documents only the next day, even if its urgent.

 

HARD DAYS OF AN INDIAN TRAVELER # 2

5 AM ,New Delhi.

So foggy that I believed am in the clouds untill the flight banged the runway. It was very early and I was sigh to wake up my friend. While making time and checking out the beautiful airport of New Delhi, I suddenly realized that Delhi is going to be too cold. As cold as 12 degree Celsius.

Never mind, reached my friend's where a dozen of old known faces were waiting to welcome me. Rounds of coffee and shower, then I was ready for the Interview.

Here I am at Prithiviraj Road, which is lined up with chic villas housing embassies, Politicians & billionaires. The guard at the gate 1 of Embasy of Spain sends me to gate 2 and then finally to a secret little door almost behind the embassy to wait for the interview. Neither I am a terrorist nor am going to rob then why this little gate like Central Jail of India.

But, the moment I stepped inside and climb down the steps, the building looking so mordern from outside turns out to be a hidden palace of Europe in the basement. The furniture, the doors and the conference hall, almost every thing has an European feel. I was so thrilled with everything until the lady questions me, " Is it normal for an Indian to go for such long vacation".

End of the interview, we would need some more documents. They are .. .. .. . !Wow I have them all at the moment, here they are.. .. .. ! Sorry we can not accept from you directly. You have to spend more money and stand in queue at VFS Spain for two hours and then the document comes to us only in two days.

That was my day at Embassy of Spain.

HARD DAYS OF AN INDIAN TRAVELER # 1

In the theater, while I was enjoying the freshly released movie - SPECIAL 26, my phone goes Tring Tring.

The number was 011 4129 3000. 011 is Delhi code. I start to panic as this is a call I can not avoid.

Ran out of the theater to answer and says Miss Neetu Singh : Hello , this is a call from Embassy of Spain for you to be present at the interview scheduled at the embassy in New Delhi at 3 PM. Be there in time.

Sure .. sure , Mam I would be there.
Right after , Damn I have to be there, but how all flights are full.
The only Bhubaneswar - New Delhi direct flight available is as expensive as flying to Europe.

So I took a flight from Bhubaneswar - Mumbai. It was not so bad as I was on one chair and Surfing Internet at the airport for 5  long hours and then a connecting flight to New Delhi.

Normally the 2 hours Bhubaneswar - New Delhi flight became 9 hours via Mumbai.