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Iran planning

Friday, February 26th, 2010

After tackling Russia in 2008, I don’t think any country could match the bureaucracy, inefficiency and non-tourist friendly levels the post communist country did. Therefore planning for Iran turns out to be not all that difficult. The key for me lies in my NZ passport, the passport that everyone likes given we are too small to piss anyone off and desperately need immigrants so let people come to our country which in turn allows us cheaper visa fee’s. So while the main issue for most people is the complicated and often failed attempt at obtaining a visa, I am relying on the fact that I can get a visa on arrival at the airport.

Fingers crossed of course. Enough experience with these types of countries has taught me to be slightly wary of such promises despite being made by the Iranian consulate in NZ. I do however have an email from them stating this and a downloaded document from the website confirming it, both of which I will take with me in case of any problems at the border. So with the visa issue aside I have my ticket booked to Dubai and now one onwards to Shiraz, a town in the southern part of Iran. Thankfully with with help of uppersia.com who helped me book a ticket with Iran airways, given that is was all written in Farsi making it slightly difficult to book. This website and the guy who runs it are ridiculously helpful and super friendly.

So visa sort of organised, plane ticket booked. I have a Middle East guide book from my last trip so generally that about as much organising as I do. Although I will attempt to book a train ticket to Istanbul before I go.

6 weeks to go. More importantly is trying to get myself organised to leave NZ hopefully indefinitely this time

the 2010 plan

Sunday, February 21st, 2010

A new year, a new life plan

Back in Christchurch for the summer. Albeit a terrible summer, still today it is nice and on the nice days I wonder why I would want to live anywhere else. However time to move on and after Easter I will be heading to Iran on route to the UK for another season putting up tents.

So in the process of planning my short (2-3 weeks at this stage) trip to Iran, which like Russia comes with a whole new set of visa rules and restrictions, and for the first time, a dress code.  Will post more info as things develop. Problems can always be solved so it will work and and really looking forward to it.

From Iran I will train to Istanbul and fly in London and the in August will hopefully be starting my masters (yes finally) once I confirm all this application stuff which takes up far too much of my time. But Holland is looking hopeful. I will have to give in and suffer through a winter finally but looking forward to 2010 and new fun adventures!

A weekend in London and a side trip to France

Sunday, February 21st, 2010
The beauty of Europe is being able to travel around the continent easily and cheaply, something which is lost on most Europeans but never fails to impress back home. So to finish up my time in the northern hemisphere I headed ... [Continue reading this entry]

Spain!

Sunday, February 7th, 2010
Going to Spain for the last 2 months of work was a sweet way to finish off the season. Warm, cheap and awesome. 5 of us headed down to Spain, driving to Portsmouth then a painful 35 hour ferry to Bilbao ... [Continue reading this entry]

UK circuit

Sunday, February 7th, 2010
After a month in the beautiful Denmark at Roskilde in the sun coming back to England was a bit average. After the 2 days drive/ferry we rocked back to our base and spent the week cleaning tents in the rain. ... [Continue reading this entry]

Roskilde: Best. Festival. Ever

Sunday, February 7th, 2010

Roskilde is one of Europe's biggest festivals, a whole week of fun. We spent around 2 weeks putting up two of the main stages. it was was hot, and ... [Continue reading this entry]

Best job in the world

Monday, February 1st, 2010

Having little to no idea what I was getting myself into when I signed up to work for a UK company putting up giant tents across Europe at music ... [Continue reading this entry]