‘You should always carry your passport with you,’ is the advice that all nationals get while being in a country other than their own. The fear of losing my passport weighed uppermost in my mind throughout my foreign tours. So, I thought, why not carry a photocopy during local outings or short visits to nearby cities.
During one visit, my trip from Los Angeles to San Diego was by road, with my host at the wheel. I asked for his opinion. He said with some hesitation, ‘There may not be a problem as it is a short journey.’ The trip went off without any problem. As I had some work in San Diego, I stayed back.
For the return journey, I decided to travel by Amtrak (railway). As the booking counter was not yet open, my San Diego host dropped me at the station and went to his office. Now the problem started. The booking official would not issue the ticket without checking my original passport. And my local host was not there to verify my bona fides. Not wanting to call my friend from his office, I went to the nearby Greyhound bus terminal to try my luck. The ticket was issued without any insistence on passport. I thought the problem was neatly solved. I got into the bus and relaxed comfortably, enjoying the ride along the Pacific coast.
Midway, the bus stopped, arousing me from my siesta. Who do I see entering the bus in an unscheduled stop, but the immigration officers? My neighbour said it was a random check for illegal immigrants, and I didn’t have to worry. But my stomach turned. I had to think of a valid and convincing excuse or to plead guilty for not carrying the original passport. I chose the latter.
In doing so I was diplomatic. With a disarming smile I addressed him as ‘officer’. He looked at me a little surprised. I continued: “I’m sorry I am not carrying the original passport for fear of losing it during this short journey. I’ve the photocopy.
You may please see.” After checking the purpose of my visit, which was the graduation of my niece, he allowed me to continue the journey. Back in LA, my host was surprised. “It was lucky you could get away easily. He could have booked you and sent you to a jail.” Not for me the experience of an American jail.
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On another trip, our host in Toronto took us to the 553-metre-high CN Tower. We had a 360-degree view of the city from atop the tower. One floor was entirely of glass. As we walk on this floor and look down we can see the pedestrians on the pavements and the traffic on the street. The sight made my stomach churn. My wife and our host casually walked over, whereas I could not. It was a kind of phobia.
Seeing that I was stuck, my wife and our host told me they would hold my hand on either side. “If you like, close your eyes and open them when you feel confident.” But I could not get over the phobia and did not attempt to walk over. Our host asked whether I wanted to try again when we could go there again the next day I said, “I’ll try during my next visit to Toronto.” That visit still hasn’t come about.
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Of the travels to many countries I enjoyed my tour of Japan the most. With a Japan Rail pass, I managed to pack as much as the day and part of the night would permit.
On the day of my return to India, after the packing was over I still had a couple of hours left before taking the Narita airport drop from Tokyo. Window-shopping did not interest me as much as seeing the verdant landscape. So I wanted to have another ride in the Shinkansen, popularly known as the Bullet train.
From Tokyo, I took the train headed for Narita where the airport is situated. Having enjoyed the beautiful landscape all along from the speeding train, I alighted at Narita. Then I had to return to Tokyo to pick up my baggage, taking the same train. But I had not factored in the time to get the voucher signed by the station superintendent.
I told the train attendant about my situation. She took the pass, signalled to the driver, ran up a floor and got the voucher just in time for the return trip by the same train. Japan is inviting. It is more so with Japan Rail pass and Shinkansen.
lakshmibashyam@yahoo.com
