Yes, let’s give her a break….. A new visa application is IN.
She needs one, who wouldn’t, after being with Stephen for OVER six Years?! yes Six years!
We’ve been overcome with the support, since the news got out about the rejection, from our wonderful friends, many of whom are visitors to us here at Mysore Bed and Breakfast.
Thank you, it means a lot to get that encouragement and emotional support. We’ve also had tons of invites for holidays elsewhere. Top of the list at the moment (from the no. of suggestions) are UK (ha ha thanks for that ), Australia, Canada, Europe (we’re voting to stay IN) and Israel.
So the thing is, the new application is submitted and we think we’re providing firm evidence on the main issue. She just wants a holiday and she really isn’t trying to slip into the country and stay there!!! She doesn’t want to move to the UK
Can you send an Email to Manjula?
Maybe emphasising something on the lines of:
- how she really is Mysore Bed and Breakfast and is critical to its continuing success
- how and what you enjoyed about your stay
- that you’ll be back
- and any other way you can demonstrate your support
Every little might help, who knows?
Manjula@mycycle.co
She has an established life here, a job, she’s critical to the BnB, we have invested in our life here with a dog, a redecorated five bedroom house, a bike, a car, a successful business, a lovely garden that’s taken an age to create, has dependents who rely on her, such as her mother and she doesn’t wish to move to the UK.
So why the photo of the Brahma Kamla flower?
These flowers are very auspices. Each flower only lasts one night. It is at it’s best at midnight and the aroma is beautifully overpowering. They are not at all easy to grow. They are therefore considered very lucky. On the past three nights we’ve had a total of fifteen, yes fifteen of these flowers. So we hope the Brahma is with-us on this next bit of the journey of: ‘The Passage from India!’
Me and MYCycle 
Hi Manjula, Noeleen and I were really disappointed to hear that your application for a visa to visit Britain for a holiday was refused. Whoever made that decision obviously does not know you and the hard work you have done to keep Mysore Bed and Breakfast at the top of the TripAdvisor most popular list of Mysore BnB accommodation over the last six years. Noeleen and I still have very fond memories of our time with you and Steve, the care you took of us and your beautiful meals. Noeleen and I like to think that before too much longer we can make it back and see you and Stephen again. We truly regard you as friends who made every effort to make our stay the great holiday it was. Please let us know if we can do anything to help. Best wishes, Kevin and Noeleen.
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hope ypou’re both well. we’ve now crammed in two trips to the UK without her condition limiting us, lets see, she plans to visit Australia in the next couple of years 🙂
We’ve done had a few questions about the flower. Here’s a couple of perspectives on its Hindu significance. .
The Lotus Of Brahma: The names of this magical flower can be translated to mean, ‘the lotus of Bramha’. Lord Brahma, the creator of the Universe, is always depicted as sitting on a huge lotus and holding one in his hand. Another name for Lord Brahma is Kanja or the one born out of the water. So, schools of thought say that Brahma was born from the navel of Lord Vishnu while others say that he was born from a huge white lotus that we call the Brahma Kamal.
The Life Giving Lotus: The story of the birth of Ganesha is a popular one. On Parvati`s request Brahma created Brahma kamal, with whose help Shiva placed the head of an elephant on to the body of Ganesha. When Shiva attached the head of an elephant on Ganesha’ s body, he was bathed with water that was sprinkled from a Brahma Kamal. That is why this lotus is given the status of a live-restoring flower of the gods. To evaluate it in terms of modern science, this flower has many medicinal properties.
The Golden Lotus: When the Pandavas were in exile in the forests, Draupadi accompanied them. She was constantly tormented by painful memories of her insult in the Kaurava court. The hardships of a forest life also took its toll on her. One evening she saw a beautiful lotus float away in the stream. After she saw this ‘golden’ lotus bloom, she felt a strange happiness that was almost spiritual. But the lotus withered as quickly as it had bloomed. Draupadi sent her most devoted husband Bhima to look for it and on his quest for the flower he met Hanuman (Bhima’s elder brother). As a lotus is usually pink, ‘golden’ may mean a shimmering ‘white’. This story too is a reference to this mysterious flower. Wish Fulfilling: It is long held belief that anybody who sees this rare flower blooming will have all his or her wishes fulfilled. It is not easy to watch it bloom because it blooms in the late evening and stays only for a couple of hours.
Similarly in Ramayan when the Sanjeevani herb was administered to Lakshman, he miraculously revived. In celebration, God showered flowers from heaven, which fell to the earth and took root in the Valley of Flowers. So it is called Brahma kamal.
Dear Manjula
I am sorry to hear of your visa rejection for visiting the UK. I am writing this message to help provide necessary documentation for the immigration office to confirm your intent is only to visit the UK, with no intention to stay illegally.
I stayed with you in February of this year (2016) for three nights. It was the best bed and breakfast I have ever stayed at. You run a very nice little business welcoming travellers from around the world to your home. Your food was delicious and your hospitality was so welcoming. I greatly enjoyed my chats with Stephen and loved spending time with Lucy (your dog).
It’s very clear to me that your life is firmly rooted to Mysore, where you run a profitable and popular business (the B&B), and where your family and friends live. You have a strong 6 year relationship with Stephen who has make a clear commitment to his relocation to India, with his Mysore tour guide business.
I can also vouch for your honest character and can never imagine you would do anything against the law.
As someone who is from the UK and has visited Mysore a number of times, I cannot really see why you would prefer the UK to beautiful south India. I believe the quality of life you have in Mysore exceeds many aspect of my homeland the UK. I don’t think you would enjoy the freezing winters at all
I travelled to the UK last May with my Chinese partner. She had never visited Europe and also required a tourist visa in order to enter the UK. Fortunately we could demonstrate she had a secure job, was halfway through her university course and was in a long term relationship with me, who now permanently resides outside of the UK. I see a number of similarities between our situation and yours and hope that with sufficient documentation the visa department will reconsider your tourist visa application and will allow you to visit the UK.
I know Stephen will have lots he wants to show you in the UK, including many of his family members.
I hope that your application is approved next time.
I know you will soon be able to see and enjoy the sights and people of the UK.
My thoughts are with you.
Kind regards
Stuart
Dear Stuart,
Manjula asks me to say a bit thank you and she is soooo pleased.
It’s very helpful and we’ll include in the pack of information we will provide to the UK High Commission.
It now includes:
Appointment letter to her job with mycycle
Payslips
Tax returns
Registration documents of business
Photos of life here.
ID documents of mother, brother and his family.
And more…..
Will,keep you informed.
Best wishes,
Stephen
It’s a pleasure to help – best of luck.
Stuart
Hey Stuart,
Well done. We’re so impressed. You must be over the moon. What does candy say? When you’re in the midst of that particular journey it must be exhausting and full of worry, will you succeed? What happens if we don’t? if it’s anything like our much more limited tussle! It’s really stressful.
So that’s a relief and a well deserved celebration. What next? Do pass on our very best wishes.
I’m currently in the UK having just completed a couple of days work and at the weekend we celebrate my granddaughters third birthday. After a quick visit up north it will be time to get back home to Mysore before it gets too cold!
Our next thing is to sort out a wedding. Another long story there!
Good to keep in touch and see how things are developing for you.
Peas and love,
Stephen and Manjula
Hi Stephen and Manjula
Well we have transitioned from a position of worry of the unknown to elation and making plans. You will understand that when you are in the “system” with little communication from the Department you wonder about all the worst possible outcomes. Did we submit sufficient information, will they reject the application, will Candy have to return to China… etc. Now we have security to continue with our plans, like any normal person (which they would naturally take for granted).
Candy informed her potential boss (who offered her a part time job, on condition of her approved visa over a month ago) that her visa had been granted. He immediately responded with a full time offer with a pretty respectable salary. We are waiting for HR to pull together the formal offer. So within an hour Candy had both a visa and a new job.
What this means for us is that we are no longer in desperate saving mode. My job has whittled away with lack of project work , in large part due to my boss (the BD guy) not working for almost a year. I have been on reduced wages for a couple of months and have received nothing this month. We hope that by next month we will be back to one salary between us. And I hope that my job will pick up again, or that one of my job applications will be successful.
We will be able to continue to look for an apartment (Candy calls this our “dream house”) to buy, naturally two salaries would be best for the mortgage application.
And then I can think about popping The Question to beautiful Candy!
I wish you well for your wedding plans…!
Best regards
Stuart
Wonderful, from coldish London!
Stephen
[…] All she wants is a holiday […]
When you meet up with an old friend, maybe after one year of absence, maybe after five years, maybe 10, chances are the conversation will pick up right where it left off, some time ago. Seamless. Timeless. Effortless. Those conversations between old friends are that way. There is no difficulty with restarting the long-held warmth, nor is it necessary to raise your defenses to protect yourself from someone that wishes you ill will.
Old friends are one of the blessings of life.
Steven is an old friend that I just have met. For the first time, but not the last.
If your plans allow to spend time with Steven, you will find that he truly likes people, and from there, his tour by bicycle begins. There will be no canned speeches, no delivery that was practiced to a flat consistency, but a delivery that incorporates the here and now. Be prepared to laugh at yourself, laugh (and contemplate) the “Consistent Inconsistency” of the Indian culture, observed by a sharply witted (and ?proper?) Englishman, that has lived in India for 15 or so years. Expect the wry, dry musings that simultaneously cause you to think.
Although I have been in India three times, Steven’s insight into the life here, starting with a primer of the history of Mysore, to the modern-day living details of the lives of his neighbors, has given me a new appreciation for the real people here. He will tailor your time with him to fit your desires and abilities. (Thanks again, Steven, for allowing a guy with a brand-new titanium hip replacement to get along just fine).
I would not have expected less from a guy from Yorkshire…
Alan Jewell
Alan,
Thank you for such a wonderful message. It was an absolute gas and pleasure spending time together. Thank you for introducing me to the women in your life. We will, there is no doubt, meet again.
As far as the hip is concerned….. “didn’t it do well?” as did the body attached to it. I was so impressed. Yes it’s important to use it and get active but you really pushed it an extra mile. Spot on boss, you’re a Jewell. My slight concern is, you haven’t half raised expectations! Thanks 🙂
I hope you’ve found the videos here https://manjulasmysore.in/resources/photos/
And a link to our tour photos.
As planned I’m now in Thailand. First impressions are good. I’m back on the 8th and hope you’re still in India and we might see you at Moksha Marga.
My very best wishes from your loving Yindian oldish friend
Stephen