Getting a Travel Visa ...

To get a travel visa in Russia you first need to get an invitation to go to Russia. (I imagine, but can't prove, that this is a historic tradition going back to the days when people traveled with letters of introductions). Invitations can be requested for a fee from hotels, travel / tour companies etc. for a small fee. If your invitation comes from a hotel it will only be for the period of your stay in the hotel and your visa will also be limited to that period. You can't string 5 hotel invitations together into 1 visa (not that you would want to since you pay a fee for each invitation). This forces the traveler to use some type of travel planner. I'm not sure how I feel about that. While it would be nice to have everything done for me, I don't tend travelling in a group, being dependent and paying for the privilege. On the other hand, India was hard.

Title Change

When I was reading and planning my trip to India I took too long and read too much. It was hard in the end to pull it all together because I couldn't remember where I found it all. So now I'm turning this travel blog into   the travel and planning blog. Yeah for me being selfish and lazy!

India Return

Before going to India a read a lot of travel writing. The writers were primarily women who were going to India either leave their current lives, or to look for spiritual guidance. If you know me at all you know I find this kind of stuff a bit sickening. I always have felt that you take yourself everywhere you go; travelling to a foreign country won't change who you are.

Now I have to eat my words a little bit. I'm different. Having gone through India alone and being constantly forced to deal with everyone I've lost all my shyness. Imagine walking into a job interview with no fear, worry or anxiety in your head. Imagine attending a family party & wedding where you know 2 people and neither of them are the couple being married (in a dress no less) and not giving it a thought. I feel like I can do anything. I've been through India, alone. I can do anything; and that's amazing! But I know that if I stop moving forward I'll lose that feeling. I'm not changed. 


People have asked me if I would go back to India. At first I said not very likely; I want to go to Egypt and Russia and Italy. It's such a big world to see. Now I don't know. I'm starting to miss it and it gave me such a great present.