New Technology Ahead

There is a bit of new travel technology in store for me on this trip.  First, to enter the airport terminal in Delhi, travelers must now show a QR code to enter.  In the past, a boarding pass was required to enter.  My airline sent me the QR code that can be printed or downloaded to my phone.

Second, the Delhi airport is now using an expedited biometrics process during the immigration process. A person with an Electronic Travel Authorizations (ETA), which I have, can use an Automated Biometric Kiosk Machine at pre-immigration areas.  This is supposed to reduce the time it takes to go through immigrations.  We'll see!  

ETA / e-VISA

Getting a visa to enter India is not as difficult as it once was.  Several years ago, people had to send their passport in the mail with an application and photos to a consulate. The process now is much easier:  travelers can apply for electronic travel authorization (ETA) online.  The ETA form requires information about a traveler's trip, some personal information and a scan of the traveler's passport and photograph.  And, of course, a fee ($40 for a one-year visa).  The ETA must be presented on entry to India and then a visa is stamped in the passport. 

The whole process was relatively fast too: it took only 48 hours between the time I entered my information on the e-VISA portal and when I received notice that the ETA was granted.  This is much faster than the old days when it would take several weeks to send off a passport through the mail and wait for it to be returned.

Returning Again

I'll return to India (Dharamsala) to teach in the Science for Monks and Nuns program in April, 2025!  In addition to teaching, I will participate in the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the program.

This time I will travel via Germany and then on to Delhi.  After a 10 hour stop in Delhi, I will catch a short flight to Kangra Airport.  Kangra Airport is about a 25 minute drive from Dharamsala.

Society for Neuroscience Meeting

Earlier this month, I attended the 2023 Society for Neuroscience meeting in Washington, DC.  While at this meeting, I participated on a panel with Dr. Gillian Hue.  Dr. Hue has been involved with the Emory Tibet Science Initiative and has led the neuroscience track of the program.

Left:  Dr. Gillian Hue

Science for Monks and Nuns

A nice write up about the recent workshop on the Science for Monks and Nuns website; and some new photos too!

Dharamsala 2023 Photo Album

I finally had time to edit the photographs I took in Dharamsala. 

No Need to Worry

My concerns about being able to stay in touch with people back in the US were unfounded.  During my stay in India, the ability to communicate by chat and make phone calls was fine.  In fact, the speed and clarity of the messages were so good, it seemed like I was just down the street and not sending a message from halfway around the world.

I also used WhatsApp to communicate with people in Dharamsala and in New Delhi.  For example, when my computer power adapter broke, I sent a WhatsApp message to program staff to see if they could help. Also, the driver who waited for me at the Delhi airport contacted me via WhatsApp to ask if my plane had landed.