Harrowing Experience

I wanted to blog about this yesterday but I had some other things to do when I got home hence I wasn’t able to get to it.

Yesterday I had to go to a certain embassy to get visa for my visit to a certain country next month. It’s mainly for work purposes. And since the ruling has changed, I must go in person to get it instead of going through the agent.

Since submission period begins at 9am. I left the office around 10 to 9. I had to do a U turn to get to the side of the embassy. There was suppose to be a parking place next to that Emb. After I did a U-turn and drove for abit, the cars were hardly moving. I could see like something blocking the way infront. When I got closer I noticed that there was a huge crowd outside the Emb. Gosh… But I had no choice rite, coz I need to get this done ASAP. I turned into the car park area next to the emb, the guy waves and say no more parking. DARN!. Have to drive out of the car park and then pass the huge crowd of people - all I believe waiting to get into the Emb.

I parked my car on the opposite side of the Emb and had to walk quite abit to use the overhead bridge to cross over. And walk for a bit more. I was told by a colleague that I am to use the left gate to enter if I am applying for visa. The right gate which had a huge crowd infront was for the national of that country. But the only problem I faced was that the left door is not opened and each time it opened to let a car in, people rushed in and they were chased out. Weird rite??? Anyways.. I tried asking, but the people standing inside the Emb kept saying visa is also at the right gate. Oh my Goodness, I am not going to squeeze thru among those seas of people to get in to get my visa.

In a state of panic, I called my colleague, he insisted that I shouldn’t go to the right gate. And said that it’s the left gate but I told him, they wouldn’t let me in. I was perspiring and panicking. Then I asked one last time to the person inside the left gate and was told once again that I am to use the right gate. At the same time when I was asking there was a gentleman also dressed up in office attire and asked the same question to the man, and the answer was the same. So I called out to him asking him whether he is applying for a visa and he said yes. I told him I said , we should ask one of the guards, we walked to the right gate and started asking but we were ignored and people just kept pushing us. I couldn’t move forward nor say anything and the crowd was like barbarian. At that point, I just felt that I know what its like to be part of a riot. Maybe the feeling is 10 times worse. When the man beside the guard heard this gentleman who kept yelling VISA VISA. The waved us to come forward to go inside.

GOSH I wouldn’t get thru. Everyone didn’t want to make way. They kept pushing me eventho I said excuse to let me thru. The gentleman who was standing behind me.. kept pushing me to move forward and said to me, you have to push your way thru. My goodness… horrible….

Finally got in and another long line begins..

This is the most harrowing experience, scary scary scary…

I still have to revisit the place to collect my passport ….. Please Lord let this be a better experience.