International
antonio peciccia antonio peciccia antonio peciccia find it virtually impossible to enter the country unless they are part of a larger group. Even then, it remains a challenge.
British journalist Alicia de Haldevang travelled to Riyadh in 2010 to visit her father:“ Everything( visa application) had to be in capital letters and stated exactly as it was in my passport. I also had to fill in a form about my dad living in Riyadh, our relationship- as if fatherdaughter wasn’ t enough- how long I would be there for, where I would stay and what religion I was.”
She says:“ On the form, it doesn’ t give you options to choose which religion, it just says‘ Muslim or Non-Muslim’. I have a friend who used to try go to Saudi for work, but as a single white girl her visa was constantly rejected.”
searching for shangri-la James Hilton’ s Shangri-La portrayed Tibet as a mystery and made the world determined to unlock the secrets of the Land of Snows. Today, visiting Tibet is just as difficult, if not more so than in Hilton’ s day.
Before, the remote locations and harsh trek into the lands beyond the Himalayas were the deterrent. Now, the rigid regulations surrounding Chinese occupied Tibet are the principal issue.
Closed to foreign visitors for many years, permits were once again issued in July 2011, allowing people to explore the former Buddhist kingdom. Initially, only groups of people of the same nationality were given visas. As of 2013, travellers will be allowed to visit solo.
For Rohan Gupta, an Indian tourist, visiting Tibet has been a lifelong dream. He reveals:“ As an Indian, you have to say you are visiting Kailash- Manasarovar in order to be allowed into Tibet.” The Kailash-Manasarovar yatra is a pilgrimage that is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists. Every year adherents to both faiths try to visit the holy sites.
Gupta says:“ There are only two routes you are allowed to take. Either you drive in from Nepal or fly to Lhasa. The moment you reach Tibet, your guide( provided by the Tibetan Tourism Bureau) meets you at the airport and takes your passports. You won’ t get them back until you leave. Each town or village has a check post outside it, so when you enter they note it down and when you leave they note it down.”
It is also worth knowing that travelling within the country is closely monitored. Tourists must not attempt to hitchhike. Tibetans who pick up an unauthorised passenger could be arrested or fined for their good deed.
weird and wacky Before Mexico’ s visa forms were revamped in 2009-2010, visitors were required to describe their facial hair in detail. The unusual question applied to both male and female visitors.
Visitors from certain countries are required to produce chest X-rays before being allowed to enter the United Kingdom. Heathrow airport has its own X-ray machien for those who have neglected to bring one.
Until 2013, Cuban citizens had to apply for an‘ exit visa’ in order to leave the country.
Canada used to offer women the option of entering the country under an‘ exotic dancer’ or‘ stripper’ visa. This option was removed after protests stating women were not sufficiently protected once they arrived. As proof of profession, applicants had to provide pictures and videos of their‘ work’.
// Anjali Alappat
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