“quote of the day” – 4
Wednesday, April 16th, 2008“Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” ~ Miriam Beard
Archive for April, 2008
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visa requirements
Tuesday, April 15th, 2008A night of googling didn’t reveal everything…….but I’ve sent off emails to consulates and embassies……..we’ll wait and see what happens. This plan-your-own-trip-lark takes a bit of Getting Your Head Around. I don’t expect anybody in the whole wide world to read this post…..it’s just here so we don’t have to research it all again!
Singapore: 4 days transit visa free, require proof of onward travel
Malaysia: 1 month visa free, require proof of onward travel
Thailand: 30 days visa-free, up to 90 days within six months, require 20,000 baht per family
Laos: visa for 30 days with one extension possible, require onward ticket, confirmed hotel reservation in Laos, contact organisation, photograph. Available from Bangkok (US$30) or NZ (actually from Embassy in Canberra A$45 each – allow ten working days – more expensive this way). Business visa may be more flexible – would need to contact company in Laos to get authorized first. Trying to find out if they are avaiblable at Chiang Khong.
Cambodia: Business or tourist (cheaper) visa can be obtained or arrival, valid for 30 days, can be extended. Children are free. YAY! Alternatively, visas can be obtained prior to travel and must be used within three months.
Royal Embassy of Cambodia, 185 Rajdamri Road, Lumpini, Bangkok 10330, Phone: +66 2 253 7967, Email: recbkk@cscoms.com (have emailed for details)
Vietnam: Must be purchased beforehand, valid for 30 days, probably from Phnom Penh for us, definite dates required.
Embassy of Vietnam in Cambodia, 436 Monivong, Phnom Penh, (855) 2372 6273
(855) 2372 6274 OR Consulate General of Vietnam in Sihanouk Ville, Sihanouk Ville, (855) 3493 3669
China: visa valid for three months, require proof of onward travel
Consul General: Mr. Gao Deke, 39 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam,Tel: +84-8-8292457 Email: chinaconsul_hcm_vn@mfa.gov.cn
Contacted nzembassy for details
HongKong: 90 days visa free
Mongolia: if travelling by train (yep, that’s us) you’ve got to have your visa before arriving at the border, valid for three months from issuing date, duration of 30 days, US$30 Excellent details here:http://www.mongolianconsulate.com.au/visas/bejing.shtml
have emailed kiwi contact
Russia: possible problem – may have to apply for visa in own country – have emailed embassy here, NZ$60 bank cheque…..need authorised tour voucher and tour confirmation, plus NZ travel agent’s cover letter….how do we get them when we’re making our own arrangements? have contacted http://www.russianembassy.co.nz/
Estonia: no visa required….proof of health insurance required *SCHENGEN COUNTRY so start counting days*
Sweden: SCHENGEN
Denmark: SCHENGEN spouses and children of EU passport holders receive their visa free of charge….might be useful information if it turns out the Schengen thing is not as paperless as some on Boots-n-All make it out to be 😉 (http://www.learn4good.com/travel/denmark_visa.htm)
England: no visa required for up to six months
Wales: no visa required for up to six months
Scotland: no visa required for up to six months
Schengen Countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden
“Please note that New Zealand passport holders do not need a visa for visits of up to 90 days for the Schengen states for tourist or business purposes.” from http://www.netherlandsembassy.co.nz/wa.asp?idWebPage=24561&idDetails=164
And Wikipedia backs that up: “The European Commission has dealt with the question of mutuality of the abolishment of visa requirements towards third countries on the highest political level. With regard to Mexico and New Zealand, it already has achieved complete mutuality.”
Romania: visa free for up to 90 days
Turkey: visa free for up to 90 days
Liechtenstein: visa free for up to 90 days
Switzerland: visa free for up to 90 days
Cyprus: visa free for up to 90 days
Bulgaria: visa free for up to 90 days
Albania: visa free, but minimal fee
Asia border crossings: http://www.travelfish.org/board/post/visabordercrossings/172_Visa-and-border-crossing-news—please-read-this-before-pos-ting-/0
If only I’d found this at the beginning of my searches: http://projectvisa.com/
say cheese!
Monday, April 14th, 2008
We've just updated/added photos to almost every page of the blog (except the Enduring Traditions pages, which will need to wait until we have some on-the-road pictures to use). World Travellers, Part IV
Sunday, April 13th, 2008
52 weeks, 28 countries this time......I cannot imagine such a fast-paced trip.....every two weeks you're in a new country........and these guys didn't fly everywhere - some of the time they were riding two tandems - another time they travelled by elephant ... [Continue reading this entry]
World Travellers, Part III
Wednesday, April 9th, 2008
3 years * 60,000 miles * 24 countries * 4 continents * 122 border crossings in a VW van.
But that's not all. In fact that's history. They then went on a ReCycle Journey on - what else? ... [Continue reading this entry]
eights kids eight kms two ticks
Tuesday, April 8th, 2008
Ticked off the To Do List......make sure everyone can walk ?????km. We don't actually have a set amount, but we did eight kilometres today and everyone down to T3 managed it without a murmur, so we're a few steps closer. ... [Continue reading this entry]
“quote of the day” – 3
Saturday, April 5th, 2008
what does the Lord require of you? to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God ~ Micah 6:8
rayres