Indian Visa

Good news if you need to travel to India. Just recently they launched e-visa. Check this web https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html

Unfortunately, when I went there, there was no e-visa. I had to make sure that Kochi International Airport would issue Visa on Arrival. My experience with VOA was far from pleasant. I spent 3.5 hours to get out from the airport, while my friend and her family were waiting outside, almost midnight, no seat and raining. 

Visa fee was pretty expensive, $60/person. I prepared the documents needed for VOA like passport and photo. I had to queue for a long time just to find out that I was in the wrong line. I was sent here and there. I needed to fill a form with so many details. Everything was manually done. Not computerized at all. If I had had dollars with me, it will be much easier to pay. I didn't have dollar or rupee, I had brought Indonesian Rupiahs with me. I tried to change the money, they didn't want rupiah. I went up and down, escorted by airport staff. Faris was tired and hungry. Finally they allowed me to go out to the ATM and I cashed out some rupees, with high rate+fee. Usual rate was IDR 191, but I changed with IDR 198 and $2  of fee (I took money 5 times). 

Travel to India?

For Indonesian, we all want to go to Europe and USA. India is not in our bucket list. To our knowledge, India is dirty and a slum area, supported by Slumdog Millionaire movie. We love India for Bollywood. Little do we know that India has so much to offer. They have beautiful beaches, mountain, desert, and even snow. Try to visit India.You will enjoy it there, not to mention the great food, yummy.. :) 

I will visit India again, to see more. I just visited Kochi, Kerala. Would love to visit Agra, Delhi, Kashmir, Mumbai and other places.