A small hiccup and then, I am good to go finally!!
This is pretty much the penultimate (or possibly the last) post pre-AC 2011. So, here goes.
Well, the first emotion that surges through me as I write this post is RELIEF. It is accompanied by anticipation, apprehension, excitement, nervousness, enthusiasm, among others in varying degree.
Mid last week, I received a bit of a shocker – the Brazilian embassy in New Delhi rejected my application for a transit visa through Sao Paulo – primary grounds being that I did not have sufficient funds to pay for an overnight stay in Brazil. Well, no use wasting time. So I had to act quick and fast.
Summarily, this involved getting my passport back from New Delhi and finding an alternate travel route. All’s well that ends well. I rerouted my booking through Paris late last week and went this morning to the French consulate in Bngalore for a transit visa. The personnel were very helpful and I received a Schengen visa in 6 hours. The earlier tension has now considerably dissipated.
To my fellow runners in the HRC, thanks for a great run yesterday. I very much appreciated the SAG support and the arrangements. One of the best runs I have undertaken in recent times and very special as it was my final taper run. I really am looking forward to running with you folks on my return.
To all the well wishers on tumblr, twitter, the blog, the 4D blog and so forth – thank you all once again for your kindness. Allegorically, I am temporarily a happiness-sucking parasite – so whenever a happy thought or wish for luck from you all comes my way, I am just slurping it up into my brain store in one fell swoop – to release and use if and whenever I feel down during the run. Keep them coming, I need recharge every so often
If I can, I will be writing next once I reach San Pedro de Atacama in Chile.
You can follow me on the official AC2011 blog here. Daily stage updates are available here.
As I keep mentioning, I am supporting the Nethaji Mercy Home in Chennai. Full details here. If you can, please do contribute. Every bit helps. The process is a bit winded [and I apologise, if we could have we would have made it simpler for all. Ah well, next time for sure, I promise].
Thank you and god bless
S