Day 11- May 8
Del and Lin took a taxi to Amrit and Kate's house where we take inventory of the leftover medical supplies to be returned to the pharmaceutical supplier who provided these before we left for the medical mission camp three weeks ago.
Once that's done a fellow arrives who works for Kate at Brighter Future boarding school and knows the in and outs of expired tourists visas. These are the rules: "No foreigner is entitled to enter into and stay in Nepal without valid visa. Tourist entry visa can be obtained from the Nepalese Embassy or Consulate." Luckily, five weeks ago before I left the U.S. Amrit requested we bring extra copies of the required-size-passport photo. With Kate's friends help I completed the official form, listing the number of days I was in the country illegally, and gave the knowledgeable man the equivalent of $75. I offered to pay for his services, or a tip, but he refused. The fine for the extra days of illegal stay cost more than the original visa. I was relieved to no longer be in a foreign country illegally.
Del and Lin took a taxi to Amrit and Kate's house where we take inventory of the leftover medical supplies to be returned to the pharmaceutical supplier who provided these before we left for the medical mission camp three weeks ago.
Once that's done a fellow arrives who works for Kate at Brighter Future boarding school and knows the in and outs of expired tourists visas. These are the rules: "No foreigner is entitled to enter into and stay in Nepal without valid visa. Tourist entry visa can be obtained from the Nepalese Embassy or Consulate." Luckily, five weeks ago before I left the U.S. Amrit requested we bring extra copies of the required-size-passport photo. With Kate's friends help I completed the official form, listing the number of days I was in the country illegally, and gave the knowledgeable man the equivalent of $75. I offered to pay for his services, or a tip, but he refused. The fine for the extra days of illegal stay cost more than the original visa. I was relieved to no longer be in a foreign country illegally.
Kate is happy to see us return. She has just completed a five-day semi-fast in sympathy with the poor (Live Below the Line Campaign) to spend no more then 350 rupees ($3.67 U.S.for each of the five days on food and beverage.) In the U.S. Kate would be called a "biker-chick." Here she is a "scootie-chick." She takes Lin on the back of her motorcycle to go shopping in the district of Tamal. Lin is $75.00 poorer after the visa incident, but shops enough to be satisfied with the experience.