Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Licensing in Nepal

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After being informed by my incountry manager that she was unable to help me with obtaining a Nepali mbike license, I decided to embark on a mission to figure out how to get it myself. After trawling the web for any forums/blogs which would detail where I needed to go I found that the transport/licensing office was somewhere in Ekantakuna. After finding a taxi driver who knew where to go, I was promptly dropped off in front of a large two storey building , surrounded by a high gate with many market stalls set up in front. I walked up to the gate entrance and stood on my tip toes to speak through a high window with one of the Nepalis who was working there. I would like to transfer my license over from Australian to Nepali Mbike license. The response I was give was, you need to get a form from over there (pointing over my shoulder to the market stalls). I walked over and asked for a form and was given a stamp, of which I had to pay for both the form and stamp before walking back to the gate house. As I walked back, I looked down at the form. It was entirely in Nepali Devanagari script. Wonderful! Luckily one of the guys felt sorry for me and took me around to the back room where he translated the form for me. I filled out my details, had a blood test to find out my blood type (I'm O Positive), then was taken to a myriad of different windows to speak with variuos officials and get their sign off. Each window had a throng of nepalis also waiting to be seen so I ended up being there for just under 2 hours. My forms got to the final sign off.

This morning I took the test. I practised for about 45minutes before hand and then went to the testing centre. The test takes about 20 seconds (depending on how long you take) and comprises of you weaving in and out of 5 poles in a row, each of which are 2 metres apart. Needless to say I passed and went back to the licensing centre to submit my papers. Now to make my card, you take your card and a small photo and they type it up on a typewriter before it gets given to an array of officials for sign off and lamination. I get to pick up my license on Sunday. Woo hoo! Anouska is also thinking about getting hers soon so we will have a gang pretty soon!

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Comments

[Nikki]

Congrats
Hi lovely - congrats on your license! Freeeedom!!!!!!!!!!

[anonymous]

i hate blood tests!