Obstacle Overcome

Ganapati Bappa Morya!

The last and the biggest hurdle for the Bangkok Tour in November has been cleared with the first batch of 12 passports bearing Thai visas arriving this morning. The second batch is expected tomorrow. Should all go well (as is expected)*, it would establish an astounding 100% success rate for our visa applicants.
What remains now is the mere formality of obtaining travel insurance before the 20-member group takes wing for the first 'international tour' from the Club.
The significance of this breakthrough is immense. It could not have been more opportune as today happens to be Ganesh Chaturthi – an auspicious day marking the beginning of the ten-day Ganapati festival.

Bangkok bound: (from left) Kajal Babani, Bhaswati Bose,
Nahid Siddiqui and Bihari Milwani

The elephant-headed deity is also known as ‘Vignaharata’-- the remover of all obstacles.
Evidently, a good deal of effort and meticulous planning have gone into procuring the visas and ensuring that we do not incur a single rejection. It involved the updating of travel documents (some even applying for fresh passports), grabbing the best airfare deals, booking hotel accommodation in the most 'convenient localities', organizing local transport in advance, getting all bank documents in order... the gamut of paperwork, etc. More importantly, the prime objective was to arrive at an unbeatable budget offering maximum value for money during the peak tourism season in Bangkok and Pattaya (when it does not rain).
Were it not for the easy camaraderie we share in the Club and the support and cooperation of fellow members, none of this would have been as smooth sailing as it has turned out to be. That Lord Ganesha presided over our efforts was evident from the fact that the standard visa fee of Rs2,400 was waived off (under a special scheme) for all of us. But for a nominal processing fee, the visas have come through absolutely free. Little wonder, Lord Ganesh is regarded as the harbinger of happy tidings. Ganapati Bappa, Morya!

Dilip Babani:
Ganapti removes all problems in life. Now everybody wants to go on Thai tour.

Kiran Prakash:
No doubt this is with the blessings of Lord Ganesha. But the credit for meticulous planning and organising the entire trip right from word go -- with so much to offer at a very competitive price -- goes entirely to our trip coordinator, Bhaswati Bose. Organising an overseas trip is another feather in her cap. I am sure we will be making more of such overseas trips.

Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
This is a good omen. I wish the whole group enjoys the trip to Bangkok and returns with happy memories to be told and retold for a long time... till their next trip abroad. My best wishes for their happy and safe return.

* All the visas have since come in for the group.