Preparations and Planning

Thursday,  June 30, 2002

We got our passports back last night. Iran has issued a paper visa valid for 12 days from the date of entry. Unlike a normal tourist visa wherein one flies in and out of the country, this one is given in specific cases. Ours being one when you travel within the country by your own vehicle and exit by road.

We also got the Carnet de Passage for our car last week and AO plans to ship the vehicles in the second week of July. They will inform us the specifics soon. Now we have to obtain the Schengen and Turkey visas.

Meanwhile preparations are going on for the trip. Ravi is my 'go-to' person for advice and suggestions for anything related to the phones, laptop, tablet etc. that we are likely to use during the journey.

To have more space at the back we have had the third row seats (which fold sideways) of the Fortuner removed. Once we are back from the trip, we will have them re-installed. 

I have started downloading 'Offline Maps' of the route on my mobile. I don't know if they will be of any use but it's fun and as they say, I am covering all bases. I am reminded of a quote by the supreme commander of the Allied forces in Europe during WW II and later the 34th president of the United States, Dwight Eisenhower. He said, 

In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.

Well, we are obviously not going to battle but you get the point !!! 😄😄

We have invited our daughters, Twisha and Shuchi to join us in UK towards the end of the trip and we plan to spend a few days together in London. Actually it's more like we want our children to share our joy of accomplishment of a milestone event.