Travel Preparations

Busy schedule ahead

Srila Gurudev is sending Goswami Maharaj and me to South Africa next week. After South Africa, in July, Paramahamsa Maharaj and I will go to Turkey for at least a week, and then we will either join Srila Gurudev's tour in Italy, or go on ahead to Russia.

So there are lots of travel arrangements to take care of: plane tickets, invitation letters, visas, inoculations, etc.

I got my one-year multiple-entry visa for Russia today. I had so much trouble with my earlier single-entry visa in March, so I was pleasantly surprised to get my visa within ten minutes of handing in my papers and paying the fee at the Russian Consulate here in Kolkata.

I guess it was easier this time around because I obtained the Russian invitation letter before I applied for the visa. After September 11th, most countries now require invitation letters with all visa applications. I am waiting for an invitation letter from the devotees at the Sri Govinda Math Yoga Center in Ankara so that I can apply for a visa for Turkey.