October 21, 2003 SPECIAL JOURNAL SUM UP #1
October 21st...Tuesday
Well, I'm going to try and sum up the last few days since Saturday morning and hope I can get it all down properly on paper...
After finding my room empty, and getting over the initial shock, and having all the wonderful people around to help...I started getting things put together...first I called Thomas Cook, the traveler's checks company in Delhi and they told me to immediately call the UK office and give them my phone number and they will call be back and all will be taken care of. Well, actually first Ashish took me down to the police station. IT was explained to me that if I file a theft report, it takes 3 months to get a written report until the case is investigated and closed, but tourists need immediate reports so they can get their documents replaced so you have to file a "lost" report which you get right away. I was not convinced that this was the way and thought he was just playing around with me to save himself work, but then he pulled out an enormous file and let me read through some of the affidavits to show that this was what everyone did!...
OK...so we came back to the guesthouse and then I began with the TC thing. NO, actually I first went down to the internet and had all my documents printed out from the scanned copies I had sent to my own Yahoo account while still at home...This was the greatest thing I've ever done and really made everything so much simpler.
I immediately called the UK and they DID call me back and kept me on the phone for over 1/2 hour taking a sworn, recorded, and written by hand as well statement as to what happened and I could not lie and told them the whole story about the break-in, name of the owner's etc., and luckily, as the paper with my notes was in with my passport (which is obviously ALWAYS with me) I was able to remember by heart the number I was up to so I could tell them which ones were already used. They believed my statement, approved the cancellation, told me that anyone trying to cash these would be arrested and told me to pick up new ones in Delhi on Wednesday once I have the official police report. I told them the police report would be different and explained why and they said it was no problem...they know this is what is done...
I was quite pleasantly surprised with all of this and then just decided that the next day, Sunday, I would take care of everything else with help from home (my poor mother-she had to be the go-between since she has e-mail and checks it regularly-she really had a difficult few days but I couldn't have gotten through them without her)...I spent many hours on internet, faxing, (after getting good advice about my indian visa replacement from Ravin-although my mother said the embassy in tel aviv was very impolite and unhelpful and I am lucky I didn't need them in the end), telephones etc....but by the evening had completely come to terms with everything and fell alseep exhausted knowing the next day I would go to the courthouse and then to the police and finish that up and Tuesday night take the bus to Delhi. I had already made hotel reservations at my regular hotel and when they heard my story offered me a room at 1/2 price...250 rupees but made me swear not to tell anyone...so I won't tell you which hotel it was but they are very sweet....I've discovered that people are just wonderful with all the help they are giving me. Many people have give me clothing and other things I need and I basically do not have to buy anything unless I choose to go "re" shopping and replace the things taken...I even found a guy today who says he can bring me a bag with wheels (much bigger than I need actually ) from his delhi shop if I have 2 weeks to wait for about 600 rupees, so whatever the quality, it will at least get me home without killing my back and neck.
Well, I will end this and continue the saga tomorrow...I am tired now and must go eat lunch...
More to come...thanks for all your kind letters...and good wishes...
Well, I'm going to try and sum up the last few days since Saturday morning and hope I can get it all down properly on paper...
After finding my room empty, and getting over the initial shock, and having all the wonderful people around to help...I started getting things put together...first I called Thomas Cook, the traveler's checks company in Delhi and they told me to immediately call the UK office and give them my phone number and they will call be back and all will be taken care of. Well, actually first Ashish took me down to the police station. IT was explained to me that if I file a theft report, it takes 3 months to get a written report until the case is investigated and closed, but tourists need immediate reports so they can get their documents replaced so you have to file a "lost" report which you get right away. I was not convinced that this was the way and thought he was just playing around with me to save himself work, but then he pulled out an enormous file and let me read through some of the affidavits to show that this was what everyone did!...
OK...so we came back to the guesthouse and then I began with the TC thing. NO, actually I first went down to the internet and had all my documents printed out from the scanned copies I had sent to my own Yahoo account while still at home...This was the greatest thing I've ever done and really made everything so much simpler.
I immediately called the UK and they DID call me back and kept me on the phone for over 1/2 hour taking a sworn, recorded, and written by hand as well statement as to what happened and I could not lie and told them the whole story about the break-in, name of the owner's etc., and luckily, as the paper with my notes was in with my passport (which is obviously ALWAYS with me) I was able to remember by heart the number I was up to so I could tell them which ones were already used. They believed my statement, approved the cancellation, told me that anyone trying to cash these would be arrested and told me to pick up new ones in Delhi on Wednesday once I have the official police report. I told them the police report would be different and explained why and they said it was no problem...they know this is what is done...
I was quite pleasantly surprised with all of this and then just decided that the next day, Sunday, I would take care of everything else with help from home (my poor mother-she had to be the go-between since she has e-mail and checks it regularly-she really had a difficult few days but I couldn't have gotten through them without her)...I spent many hours on internet, faxing, (after getting good advice about my indian visa replacement from Ravin-although my mother said the embassy in tel aviv was very impolite and unhelpful and I am lucky I didn't need them in the end), telephones etc....but by the evening had completely come to terms with everything and fell alseep exhausted knowing the next day I would go to the courthouse and then to the police and finish that up and Tuesday night take the bus to Delhi. I had already made hotel reservations at my regular hotel and when they heard my story offered me a room at 1/2 price...250 rupees but made me swear not to tell anyone...so I won't tell you which hotel it was but they are very sweet....I've discovered that people are just wonderful with all the help they are giving me. Many people have give me clothing and other things I need and I basically do not have to buy anything unless I choose to go "re" shopping and replace the things taken...I even found a guy today who says he can bring me a bag with wheels (much bigger than I need actually ) from his delhi shop if I have 2 weeks to wait for about 600 rupees, so whatever the quality, it will at least get me home without killing my back and neck.
Well, I will end this and continue the saga tomorrow...I am tired now and must go eat lunch...
More to come...thanks for all your kind letters...and good wishes...
posted by Jane @ 8:33 PM
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