Leaving (Again)

This year has been great. We stayed above Vasundhara's dance shala, sharing the bathroom with Veena. There was a cosmetology class here for a while (11-1 Mon-Sat), but they got booted out due to the complains by the neighbors. We enjoyed the terrace very much. Next year we are thinking about getting a spring mattress - stiff neck has been a problem this time. I have seen "Curl On" or something similar to it brand of spring mattresses for sale here, they are about $100. This time we bought a cotton mattress, but it was not too comfortable. Maybe I should bring a slab of memory foam next year? We shall see.

This year we were supposed to leave on the 10th, but what happened was that we got denied exit from India due to forgetting to register student visa. Yes, student visa needs to be registered, although last time traveling was not a problem as the border guards did not ask for the certificate. So we got turned around, our luggage got offloaded and our boarding passes got canceled. And we had to go back to Mysore to clear all this with the Police Commissioner. After running around for 2 days, waiting in long lines and not knowing how and when things work out we were able to obtain the certificates. My advice: register when you arrive to avoid the mess later. All you need for registration are 2 passport photos, 3 copies of the study invitation letter from the institution you are at, 3 copies of your passport and 3 copies of your visa. Then you might have to fill out a sheet with personal info. In about a week you will be registered, and will avoid having to pay late fee ($30USD but payable only in rupees), having to write an explanation letter to a commissioner, and wasting lots of nerves and time. I have heard that Indian government has a new "yoga" visa in sights, so all you who go to study yoga on a tourist visa now will have to have a "yoga" visa and that will have to be registered. Be prepared, and good luck!