The world and beyond - reflections of a dharma nomad

I went to get my Indian visa which was a small taste of things to come..I rounded the corner to India House and joined the long line of mostly Indian folk - very friendly and sharing stories.  But at the window they were only issuing tickets (which give you entry to the visa hall) for Nov 15th.  Seeing as I fly on Nov 8th this was a little worrying, but they reassured me that if I returned the next morning at 7am I would get  a ticket for that day.  So I spoke to some women who already had a ticket and they said they'd been there since 7am but some folk had been queuing since 1am!  So I sighed and imagined a very early start the next morning, but as I was explaining my situation and asking if there was any way they could swap tickets with me the woman in front of them said 'Oh I have a spare ticket for tomorrow at 11.30am - is that any use?'  I could have kissed her - saved me a disgustingly early start and much anxiety.  So then I had my spacious evening with an old friend and set off the next day at a reasonable hour. Got into the visa office with my precious yellow ticket and followed the crowds downstairs, where there was a strong toilet smell and a crush of people pushing for the booths, despite a system of numbers like at the deli.  But my number E5 didn't correspond with their number system: 233.  Oh dear.  I asked someone who said 'oh dear your ticket is the wrong colour'  Went to look for someone to ask and luckily met a man who cheerily waved me upstairs to the calm and relaxed office for yellow ticket holders.  There was no queue and people sitting in chairs drinking coffee.  A nice woman took my fee and passport and said it would take an hour.  Bliss! I got to read my book - a truly harrowing account of immigation to UK and a wild hilarious love story called Two Caravans by Marina Lewycka(also wrote A Brief History of Tractors in Ukrainian).  I sat there laughing aloud from time to time.  Finally my number was called and I received my passport back complete with desired visa! Hurrah!  Went to celebrate with some lunch in Bloomsbury Square and a quick look round the British Museum