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Ladakh - Part 1 - dream comes true

 "But with these I cannot let you go to the plane. It is not the right format of the visa," points the woman at the check-in to our printed e-mails.

"Really? But they wrote we need to just print the e-mail," I look at her desperate and resignated. It is not the first thing that happened to us. This trip seems to be cursed. I don't really believe we get to Ladakh (the Little Tibet) after all. I just wanted to go there too much. Maybe that is why I make so many mistakes.

"Yes, they are very strict about the right format of the visa in India, with these I cannot let you pass."

I feel like running away, going home and crying in a bed, pitying myself and not seeing anyone anymore so I don't have to feel embarrassed for our stupidity. But I was not born as a give up person. Even when I am stressed and desperate, I give it another shot.

"And what could we do about it?"

"There is a computer and printer at counter 700, try to ask there, maybe they can help you there," tells us the woman and proceeds to another customer. 

Really? I cannot believe our luck. We have 15 minutes to get our visa and check in our baggage. My fingers are shaking when writing on the computer so I have to reenter several times our application numbers in the visa website. The woman there is very helpful and points us to the right button to print our final visa. After all, we are sitting in the right plane towards Istanbul, then to New Delhi and finally to Srinagar. When I see Himalaya range from the plane window I cannot believe it. The view is magnificent.

Three days ago, it seemed highly probable that we will spend our summer in Prague. First, we remembered to apply for the Visa too late. Half a year ago, I checked it and found out that we have to wait just before departure as the validity of the visa is only for a month. In a meantime, I forgot that we need to apply at least 72 hours before departure. When the form didn't allow me to enter anymore our day of arrival to India, my heart started beating like crazy. You know, those who really want something make the stupidist mistakes. Hope is what was left. Then in the morning came a message about cancellation of our flight from Delhi to Leh thanks to bancrupcy of the flying company. If I wouldn't be the main character, I would think it is quite a good story graduation. Being a main player is not really that pleasant after all. It gives a bit creapy feeling of surrealism.

Long story short. We got the visa within a day. My heart calmed down a bit. We bought a new flight to Srinagar which was so much cheaper than trying to fly to Leh next day. We went to airport and you already heard what happened. I wonder how many more shocks my heart can survive.

However, this was a bad luck prelude to a wonderful vacations full of good luck. Maybe it was just necessary to really enjoy our time in the end? We missed the floods in Tso Mori, in Nubra, in Leh...and had a great time. After several years of thinking about going to Ladakh and persuading Jan, kids and covid to go, I am finally here...and it is at least as great as I hoped for...

TO BE CONTINUED....

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Read more: 

Ladakh - part 2 - Srinagar: gate to Ladakh

 

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