GoT My ViSa !!

Today I am very happy to receive my visa to Taiwan ! The visa is valid for 14 days. With the trip in next 13 days, I am getting very excited ! Cant really wait now :)

First Contact with my host(s) !!!!

Embassy Asks for Additional Documents

Today my visa application form for Taiwan has been reviewed by the embassy people. It is told by my travel agent that the embassy needs more support papers like NOC from NGO / Employer. I would prepare the same tomorrow and send them by mail. I hope I should get it approved by tomorrow evening or first hour on Wednesday !

Applied for visa !

Yesterday morning I had filled up all the visa application forms and sent them along with my passport to my travel agent in Chennai. This travel agent has been assisting me almost since my first trip abroad. Today evening the agent has received the documents and forwarded them to Delhi . If my guess is right , I should get the passport along with visa by 3 August !

Got E - Tickets, Host Details and Tentative Schedule !

More 24 days left and today afternoon I was relaxed to see that finally I got my E-Ticket, the host family details and more interestingly a tentative schedule.

My host name is Pao - Hsi Hsu, and lives at Keelung County. The mail from the organizers define keelung as "a major port city situated in the northeastern part of Taiwan that there are approximately 385,000 people living in this area. It is nicknamed the Rainy Port for its frequent rain. Since its abundant marine resources, Keelung is known for its splendid scenic spots along the coastal line and fresh seafood. Therefore, enjoy your days with a variety of snacks and breathtaking scenery! ". Wow isn't exciting ?

The flight to Taiwan is by Malaysian Airlines via Kaula Lampur ! Departure is on 11 August, 2011 at 00:25 hours and arrival on 25 August 23:55 Hours. However I might extend my return ticket with some more time for transit at Kaula Lumpur airport.

The tentitive schedule for the Taiwan trip is as following

12 August	Arrival in Taipei volunteers/some host families will be waiting at the airport. Participants are to go straight to the homes of their host families.
12-21 August	Participants are recommended to spend their time evenly between traveling and staying with their host families
22 August	Trip to Kinmen (mandatory) Some participants* will leave their host families’ homes definitively. ‚Flights will be booked for each participant departing from their respective cities. ƒParticipants will stay in a guest house in Kinmen for the night. „Rooms will be shared between participants due to limited accommodation on the island. *to be determined at a later stage
23 August	Return to Taipei/host family Participants will leave Kinmen to go back to their host families or Taipei. Shared hotel accommodation will be arranged for certain participants* in Taipei. Others will return to their host families. *to be determined at a later stage
24 August	Last event in Taipei Morning – Meet the President (mandatory activity- to be confirmed) Afternoon – Participants are free to explore Taipei Evening – Farewell Banquet (mandatory) Participants are to wear their traditional clothing/accessories ‚Shared hotel accommodation is provided for all participants in Taipei
25 August	End of Centennial Homestay Shuttle bus services will be provided for all participants from the hotel to the airport

Yess now with all the above information the trip looks well ! And now I have to start my Visa Process, mostly I would send my application form tomorrow morning.

Finally Hard Copy Received !

After a very loooooooooooong wait, finally today I received the hard copy of the Invitation letter. Now the wait for E-ticket so I could apply for Visa. Although the visa process takes just 10 days maximum, due to the ongoing agitations in my region, it is quite possible that most of the government offices, including the postal services, might join the strike. So I just hope my visa process wont be affected by this one. And thats the reason I was anxiously waiting for hard copy and e-ticket. And finally I am relived today that I got my invitation letter hard copy.

Started Preparing for Taiwan !

With just 35 days left for the Taiwan trip I am very excited and getting ready for the trip. I borrowed a book "Travel writing" from the local library and have been spending good time reading it along with the lonely planet book, all to ensure, my Taiwan trip is documented well :)

And am still waiting for both the E Ticket and the hard copy of the Invitation from Taiwan Government. Once these documents are ready, I will be able to apply for visa. So really really desperate o have them ready !

Lonely Planet Say Taiwan !

Today I bought the Lonely Planet exclusive book on Taiwan. I look forward to learn about Taiwan as much as I can and get prepared for the Trip !