First Couch Surfed

2009 07 04 - Day 8 – Gdansk

Thanks to Michał, his parents and his girlfriend Katarzyna for being such welcoming and friendly couch surfing hosts.

My couch surfing profile

Permission....

2009 06 - pre-departure

What a mission!
I currently have the following visas in my passport:

India - 1 year - multiple entry
Uzbekistan - 15 days - single entry
Kazakhstan - 30 days - double entry
China - 6 months - double entry
Russia - 30 days - double entry

On the road I'll also have to get visas for :
Nepal - can get in Lhasa or on the border
Cambodia - can get in Bangkok
Vietnam - can get in Bangkok
Laos - can get in Bangkok
China - for a second entry further away than 6 months (no 1 year visa allowed for me)

Thanks to the Uzbekistan embassy taking 2 weeks to do nothing - thanks for nothing! - I had to get the speedy & more expensive options on both Russia and China visas... The Uzbeks seem to run a 1 man operation - the most expressionless man I've ever met... though his eyebrows were extremely communicative! When I went to enquire as to what was taking so long (all other nations' visas take 5 days max) he printed it for me on the spot! It clearly pays to be there in person!

Thanks!

2009 06 - pre-departure

As with any sizeable endeavour, no one person is responsible for everything working out...
With films I prefer credits to be at the end, but as there's no defined end point to this adventure I'd like to thank a few of you now.

Thanks Mum & Dad for your support, particularly two weeks up to departure which were crazy - you helped me keep it together.

Thanks Ali for your super shopping skills :)

Thanks Rach & Jon for your shared knowledge & experience.

Thanks to the Grandparents.

Thanks to Bob and those at ink who helped make leaving as painless as possible.

Thanks to everyone who did things large and small that made this trip happen!

Finally, if you see any photos you think are quite good, then thanks to Garry, Kyla, Alan, Ruaraidh, Harriet, Vicki & Bob for their part in helping me buy the camera I wanted!