Tuesday, May 4, 2010

An application form--- Hurrah

Okay, so I have it. A 3-page PNG Visa application form! Oh, to look at it and woner why it is so hard to come across one!

(Had someone told me I could download any of these forms online, I would have saved a few calls to PNG and wouldnt have had to wake up at 3am to speak to an official, 6 hours ahead of UAE time.)

To download a form, click here

The application form is simple and straightforward and they have rightly put in a question.

Have you ever been a patient in a mental home/institution or do you suffer from a disease which may constitue a health risk to PNG?

I wish I had enough space to reply!

No, I havent been in any mental home, but good question. I suppose no person in his/her right mind would consider walking Kokoda, seeing that even a simple application is hard to come by, concerned officials first ask why not try walking in India and why an Indian woman wants to do it...just what is in it for her?

Oh, yes, I do suffer from adrenaline defficiency which can be restored only through walking in rainforests and risk getting cholera and collapsing from exhaustion, being held up by kids with guns on streets etc!

If you can ignore these occasional bouts of insanity, I am a healthy, normal  woman who wants to walk the Kokoda Trail in order to raise funds for an institution doing their best for the special needs children in the UAE.

Thtere, that's my reason to walk this.

Now to see what happens to my application. Fingers crossed!

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Visa for PNG

Okay, this seems to be turning into a nightmare! PNG doesnt have any embassy/consulate in the whole of the Middle East, which makes it very very difficult to seek info on how to get a visa. And visa for all countries except US, UK, Australia, NZ is a must, Indian included.

There are very few options available online. Most sites will direct you to the Australian High Commission and then you are stuck with unreturned phone calls and unanswered mail queries.

The only proper info I have managed to find regarding a visa is to write to the officials is Papua New Guinea who will then send you an application form, that you need to fill out and fax back to them. They will scrutinize it, and approve it. Once approved, the Australian Embassy in Abu Dhabi will gladly issue your visa.

(And two weeks after I have started my seach, I am still waiting for an application form!)

How is that?

The only hitch in this otherwise smooth operation is that it could take anything from a week to two months!

Few helpful links: For entry requirements

People wanting to visit PNG and living in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan may contact

Papua New Guinea High Commission

B-2/19, Vasant Vihar
New Delhi 110 057
India

Contact: Mr A. Rajan, Administration Manager
Telephone: +91 11 26145909
Fax: +91 11 46012812
Email: kundund@yahoo.com