60 Day Indonesian Visa Has Been Approved! ‘ Terima Kasih! ‘ Mr. Ambassador
Great news. I went along to the Indonesian embassy this morning and submitted my application for the all important 60 day visa which is renewable four times for up to 30 days a time. I also gave them a letter detailing the expedition with my proposed route etc.
The lovely lady at the first desk whom I spoke to yesterday seemed to be crossing her fingers and wishing this for me. She sent me over to two guys behind a counter to pay my $45 visa fee. They seemed to be a bit mystified asking for proof of the world run, so I asked them to check out the website. They did and still mystified sent me into the ‘ big boss ‘ for an interview! Not sure if this man was the Ambassador. He asked many questions mostly starting with ‘ But ‘ I felt this was not sounding good till he eventually asked….
” How many pairs of shoes have you used? ” 
” 35 and I may use 20 more! ”
Then all the usual stuff before telling me to go back and pick it up tomorrow, which is a next day service special favour as normal processing time is three working days. As mentioned before I was going to run Timor-Leste and then return to pick up the visa when it was ready. Now its a lot easier for me to just wait, have the extra rest day, run this country and cross into Indonesia next week.
Before I left his office the Ambassador took my photo!!
Terima kasih Mr Duta! Maju ilook menjalankan indah Indonesia
Well thats one visa hurdle overcome in the visa nightmare that is Asia! I plan to travel to the south of Timor-Leste on Friday to a place called Betano and start running Asia from there more than likely on Saturday. I figured Betano to be a decent place to start as it’s the most realistic and closest place to Darwin, about 670km. It is part of my dream to match my route up as best as possible on a world map. From here I could easily have saved some days and gone straight from Dili to Indonesia or even from here north through north Indonesia to the Philippines and onto Hong Kong entering China 4 months earlier. That would have meant running China in the summer instead of a bitter winter, with 5,000km less meant a really easy last year. Instead, I got a tough time to the finish and an Asian winter. Already I am 5,000km beyond the 26,000km minimum distance required for a true ‘ world circumnavigation.’ And now this extra distance through South East Asia. Why? Because on a journey like this the dream is more important than any record. That’s what I meant before when I said that in many ways this run is in a way ‘ logically self ratifying ‘ In other words.. Because if I give myself all this what may seem unnecessary distance and bad weather it would defy logic that I would cheat by taking a 5km lift and not returning to the route to run it! I choose this route because it’s the dream route.
Timor-Leste route from A to B on this map From B to C is the start of my Indonesian run. 4,000km through 6 islands. Press HERE to view
Terima kasih!
May 30th, 2013 at 7:53 am
Good man Tony, This is a great start to the Asia leg of the most daring expedition of the millennium. You are very thorough in everything you do – long may it continue.
May 30th, 2013 at 2:01 pm
tony, congrats on the visa. fair play to the ambassador!!! kevin
May 30th, 2013 at 8:05 pm
Tony—just read your final blog from Aussie—I think you are really gonna miss Michael–what a great asset he has been—–Tell him if he ever fronts up in Oregon that we have a place for him to rest his bones!!!—Now it is on to Asia—sounds like a good start with the 60 day visa—I guess you will be pushing Nirvana again, or doing the back pack routine? not sure which—best of luck my friend and good running–Greg
May 31st, 2013 at 3:49 am
Thanks Greg and all. Yes will miss Michael A great guy! Back to the backpack as far as Bangkok about 6,000km away! I sent Nirvana on there from Auckland, NZ. It,s going to be fun. Been told not to drink water in Indonesia or here and I sent on my Steripen UV water sterilization device to Bangkok from Darwin by accident, so an expensive mistake as I have to buy all my water now instead of treating it! Looking forward to the restart if not a bit nervous! Tony
June 1st, 2013 at 12:52 am
Great news about the 60 day visa Tony. When did you ever take the easy way out???? Good running and enjoy the new continent. Great achievement to date with many more happy kms ahead Ann
June 1st, 2013 at 8:14 am
good to see the spot tracker on the move again this morning. keep it going tony.
June 1st, 2013 at 7:59 pm
Great to see you are back on the road in a new continent Tony. Safe running
June 3rd, 2013 at 11:54 am
Very quiet here in Darwin – first night in ten without a few crazies around! Take care! Your shoes are hanging – reminding me to check your blog each night! Terry