behind the scene

preparation is the key of the trip

going for a trip is not as easy as 1 2 3, well at least not for me

for those that know where i actually from, and what kind of passport i'm holding, you will probably know my pain, but for those who doesn't, a word that can perfectly describe the process is '..' well i think one word is not enough to describe my anger and frustration.

for the trips that i've planned, i need 4 visas; English visa, Irish Visa, Schengen visa, and Egypt visa. so far i've got 3 of them and now i am waiting for the last and the most important one Schengen visa. it took me about 2 weeks to get my English visa approved, it took me one week to get my Egypt visa approved, and it took about 2 months for my Irish visa to be approved. I hope i can get the schengen visa in 2 weeks time.

i am applying my schengen visa from Germany Embassy, because i was shut by Italy embassy, they basically told me that i am not eligible to apply the visa from melbourne, because i am not returning here.

it is actually a long story that i can probably publish it as a book, so i will just write the shorter version.

- to apply for any visas, first u need to make an appointment with the embassy/consulate

- i missed my first appointment with german embassy, it was on the 5th of May, and the next available appointment was on the 6th of June, so i gave up with german embassy, and i called up Greece embassy, Netherlands embassy, both of them told me the next available appointment is not until end of June. so i tried Italy embassy, and i found an appointment available on the 30th May, so i made the appointment (p.s: most of the europe embassy is able to issue a Schengen visa, Schengen visa is basically a visa that i need to travel in most of the europe countries)

- while waiting for the date, i accidentally made an appointment with german embassy on the 6th of June, and also i changed my plan, i added egypt to my trip, so i went to apply for the visa, and surprisingly it was the easiest visa i ever applied.

-on the 30th, i went to italy embassy, they told me i can't apply here, so basically i was rejected by them, and the lady told me to go back to indonesia to apply for it and asked me to change my travel dates, i was devastated, i called the travel agent to check a flight to indonesia for me, and i called the embassy in indonesia, and i actually planned to fly home on the 7th of June, after my last paper.

-i went back to the library, tried to study, but i was so distracted, so i called up german embassy, i told them my situation and the lady on the phone told me it is fine for me to apply my europe visa there, and i remembered i actually made an appointment there. so im back on track again. BUT i had exam on the 6th!! and it is in the morning, it clashes with my german appointment. i emailed my lecture, told her my situation, and FORTUNATELY my lecture allowed me to sit the exam at 11am instead of 9am that day (it was in class exam btw). so again im back on track

-on the 6th, i went to the embassy nice and early, brought with me all the documents that are needed, well the lady wasn't friendly at all, she was rude and annoying, she told me she needs the recent bank statement, which i didnt have it with me at that time, and she told me she has another problem (after she looked at my student visa) she said THEY CAN'T ISSUE THE VISA because i don't have valid visa to return to australia after my trip (it is the same reason used by Italy embassy) because according to the website, applicants have to have a valid visa to re-entry the country after the trip, and my visa expired in september. but i told her im going to egypt after, and she asked me where's my egypt visa, and it is actually in my passport that she was holding. so after long explanation, she asked me what am i going to do in egypt for 3 months, and do i have the proof, and i said yes i do, but i didnt bring it with me because i think it is unnecessary. basically she asked me to fax her my recent bank statement and the proof of stay in egypt and also my full itinerary for my europe trip! i managed to pull everything out yesterday. so all i can hope for now is to get my passport back before the 25th of June.

(it is not so short after all, i apologise)

i am now physically and mentally tired because of all this bullshit! i just want to get away and starts my adventure.

fingers crossed