Toronto's Pakistani Consulate Office

I would like to share Ralph's positive experience with the Pakistani consulate but can't - I hold a dual citizenship, so I paid $170 for a next day renewal of my Pakistani passport. After careful examination I found my signature upside down, yes upside down under my picture. Could it work? Should I chance it ? That little whisper in my mind says correct it. So four phone calls / messages latter I'm being forced to go down there in person to resolve the matter.

How Do You Get There?

We will travel by plane of course. But do you need travel documents? Yes, only for Pakistan though. A VISA for Pakistan, for a single entry on personal business is good for 6 months and costs C$100.00. The turnaround was fantastic, all done within 3 days.

There is no special requirement for Thailand, just our passports.

But MEDICAL! Yes, we need shots. Fortunately I already had my Hepatitis A&B vaccine last year before going to Mexico. Good thing because the process is rather long. It is given in 3 doses, the first 2 doses a month apart, the third at 6 months.

Azhar and I both received the Typhoid injection which is good for 3 years.

Cholera and Travellers' Diarrhea Vaccine Now isn't that a nice phrase? Travellers' Diarrhea. I didn't even know you could prevent, I thought it was only react after the fact. Well there is a new oral cholera vaccine available that also may prevent diarrhea caused by enterotoxigenic E. Coli, a common cause of severe diarrhea in travellers. The vaccine is taken in 2 doses at least a week apart. It is a small vile, about 1 teaspoon of clear liquid that is mixed with water and bicarbonate-soda and drunk. Rather a painless procedure.

There is a risk of malaria in rural Thailand and Karachi, Pakistan. We have pills for that which we take daily starting 1 day before entering the risk area, while in the malarious area and for 7 days after.

We will also take bug spray of 30% deet to repel the nasty insects.

The Trip

One day at lunch Azhar mentioned that he was planning a trip to Pakistan to investigate using off-shore resources to do software development. I had never been to that area of the world, nor would I venture there on my own, not knowing the language or the culture so this was an opportunity.

I asked Azhar whether I could join him in this adventure. Surprisingly, he was very welcoming. So the trip planning started to unfold.

Hey! Our buddy Joe was going on holiday to Thailand for the month of September returning in early October. Great! We could meet Joe in Bangkok just before his return to Toronto.

What a great trip - a little business and a little holiday adventure.

So here we go....