Trans-Siberian Visas

My travel plans after Korea (T-4 days) are to fly to China and take the train from Beijing through Mongolia to Russia on the Trans-Siberian route and from Russia through Europe to London. In order to take the Trans-Siberian I needed visas for China, Mongolia and Russia. Once in Europe I've decided on a route to England that excludes Belarus (visas start at £100) going through Ukraine, Poland and Germany which are all part of the EU zone. Living in Korea made arranging and applying for these visas more difficult than back in the UK. 

The first one I tackled was the Chinese. Already being aware that they are incredibly strict and change the rules almost monthly. In May, after researching online I'd found out that the recent rule changes meant foreigners within Korea couldn't apply for a visa without at least 6 months remaining on their residence cards. BUT a few people had discovered a loop-hole by using a travel agent in Itaewon and sending their passport to Busan. When I visited however they told me that the rules had once again changed and now it was impossible.

My options? Either don't go, or send my passport back to the UK and apply there. This is the procedure I was forced to take. So I sent all of the documents by EMS. I was worried about this but through the EMS service it is possible to track your parcel online and I even knew who'd signed for it at the final destination (my neighbour!) From then on my mum sorted everything. Sending my documents registered post and including a registered self-addressed envelope she sent it to the China Visa service in London. They returned it within the same week because I hadn't included my round air ticket and the confirmation of where I'm staying. Obviously I hadn't booked these yet because I didn't have a visa but I had to duly book everything and emailed to my mum. Second time lucky they processed and sent back my passport. Then my mum sent the passport back to Seoul. It was an expensive exercise, especially as I my mum had to pay for registered post twice (total £24). The total cost for the visa + visa service was £60.

The Russians have a similarly awkward reputation and it was that visa that I tackled next. The Russian consulate in Seoul is at City Hall station (exit 10). I trotted along with my 'invitation' and itinerary (provided by the Trans-Siberian agents we used). After messing up the queueing system (I'm used to the Korean system of picking up a ticket now) I finally reached the window and the guy behind the counter tells me that visa selection is only in the morning session (9.30-12) and besides I have the wrong form anyway. So I picked up the correct application form (for British, US and Canadian citizens) and went on my merry way. A week later I managed to get the morning off work and went again. This time they accepted my application and the cost was significantly lower than my friend had paid in London (80,000 won). A week later I picked it up with no problems in the afternoon.

Finally found the consulate!

And so, for the last; Mongolia. Which I thought would be the most straight forward. I checked the info online and the Mongolian consulate is at yongsan (line 1) or sinyongsan (line 4) and the instructions looked pretty straight forward. I know that area a little bit so I thought there would be no problems. But when I went to find the place I couldn't see it anywhere. Following the map and looking for a tall building (as pictured on the map) on one of the hottest days of the year I walked up and down, up and down. Sweaty does not even describe it! Finally, I asked in an office block and the security man rang the consulate but our language barrier proved too large and I had to return after unsuccessfully walking up and down again to get him to draw the correct location onto my map.

When I FINALLY arrived the service was quick and easy. I had to pop into the bank next door to transfer 42,000 won to the Mongolian account and then I was to wait 2 days for processing.

The entrance to the Mongolian Consulate.

If you're looking for the Mongolian Consulate it's between a GS25 and Hyundai Swiss bank. On the 5th floor, of a 6 storey building -not a skyscraper as pictured on their map.

I hope the info on this page can help anyone else who is trying to apply for any of these visas. If anyone needs any clarification about these three applications just leave me a comment and I'll try my best to offer any help!

How do you pick a hotel?

Hostel view. Palawan, Philippines.

This month's question on the Travel Belle's website is 'How do you pick a hotel?'. When I first read it, I thought "How can I answer that?" because I'm really not picky, in fact I haven't stayed in a hotel since China, and even then they were always budget hotels. I'm a hostel girl, mainly out of necessity. The last 4 years of travel for me have been about having great experiences, seeing as much as possible, exploring anywhere and everywhere. When that's your priority, where you sleep is really not important, other that it should be cheap. But then I thought about it a bit more, and I realised that even when I'm trawling though hostelbookers and hostelworld there are a few things that will prompt me to pay more or choose one place over another.

1. Does it have social communal areas? When you're travelling (especially on your own, which I actually don't do that much), you want to be able to easily meet other travellers, have a chat about where they've been, where they're going or what's good to see in the place you're currently in. There's nothing worse than a hostel with nowhere to sit and even just be around other people. Who wants to be stuck in your room all the time?

2. Breakfast included. For me, breakfast is an important meal. Living and travelling in Asia means that if you eat like a local you'll be eating rice or noodles morning, noon and night. Not something I want that early in the morning. So if I can find a hostel that has breakfast included, happy days! It means I don't have to wander around looking for a cafe wasting time and it also saves money!

3. Airport/train/bus station pick up. Arriving in different cities every few days, or after a long and tiring flight/bus/train journey and then having to navigate your way to your hostel can be a nightmare. More and more hostels are offering pick up, which is a god send! It means you can confidently walk past the drivers shouting 'TAXI! TAXI! WHERE YOU GO?' and straight to the person holding a card with your name on to swiftly take you straight to the door. If I have to pay, it's usually worth it, and if it's free it's even better!

Anything else that they might offer, towels, tours, internet and wifi are all bonuses. So although I'm not fussy, and I have stayed in some shockers (Harbin so far being the worst) there are some things that will entice me to spend a little more on my accommodation!

The find out what other belles look for check it out here.

Across the cafe table

The Travel Belles first across the cafe table question of 2012: Where do you most want to go in 2012 but haven’t been yet? was a really easy one for me. I'm not sure if it's cheating to choose a place I already have plans to visit, but I'm going to go with this one anyway. Where do I most want to visit:

Tibet.

 

 

 

In August 2008 I took a big step away from home and moved to China. I spent my final year of university reading testimonials from the British Council China language assistants programme and getting lost in imagining myself living an exciting life in China. I left uni focused on one thing; moving to China. I completed my CELTA course and managed to land a job teaching English as a Foreign language near my home in Essex. But I was always planning to leave. I became pretty fascinated with China. I read my Lonely Planet guide over and over, I read Wild Swans, to the edge of the sky, Snow Flower and the secret fan and every book by Xinran that I could. I was hooked on China. In my interview for the assistants programme I was asked 'China is a politically sensitive country. What topics should you avoid talking about in Class?' 

 

 

 Chairman Mao, Taiwan and Tibet.

 

 

Hmm, Tibet. Is it part of China? Is it an independent region? Will the Dalai Lama ever return from Exile to Lhasa? How much cultural genocide has the PRC committed to Traditional Tibetan traditions? and so my interest in this country widened.

 

Once I arrived in China, talk often turned to Tibet. It's off-limits, it's impossible to get to, you need a guide, you have to take a tour, monks on Putuoshan island were begging for Alms 'For Tibet'. When we stayed in Chengdu our hostel had posters all over about tours to Tibet, the safest way in. I read about the 'rooftop of the world' taking a train through the highest railway in the world. Simply having laid train tracks so high up was a feat of engineering. Apparently electronic gadgets turn a little strange as the train climbs further and further up into the mountains, carriages are equipped with oxygen and the toilet water has to be heated so it doesn't freeze due to the altitude.

 

I want to see what's left of Tibet, to visit Lhasa, stand in temple courtyard surrounded by colourful prayer flags, stare in awe at the stunning blue blue skies, across the empty plains and out over the biggest and tallest mountain ranges in the world, and hopefully my travel wish will finally come true in 2012!

 

Look to the future now...

 

...It's only just begun!

Fun and games at camp

During camp last week, I was sitting in the Korean teachers class. She taught the students about 'Western' customs at new year (by western read: American, which she did in fact mention many times in Korean). Then students were instructed to make new years resolutions, because according to her this is what ALL Western people do, while at their family new year dinner. I always consider making resolutions, it is such a good time to think about breaking old habits and starting new virtuous ones. But as with most people, I give mine up after about a month and slowly slip back into a familiar routine. Last year, I rolled into 2011 in a poor state of mind, starting the year with doubts and worries and confusion. Needless to say, the rest of the year didn't pan out too well, and those doubts and worries overshadowed everything that happened.

Messing around with my brother

This year I look to 2012 with great anticipation. Although I haven't made any specific resolutions, I have one thing I will remember for whole year. Focus. Focus on why I'm here, what I want to achieve, how I want to deal with difficult situations.

This year I have many things already that I am focusing on;

Travels around Asia, starting with an (Essex) girls break to Thailand with Nic. August will bring the end of my second Korean contract and one I don't intend to re-sign. Which means I will be leaving Asia, although I have some dreams to fulfill, places to see and adventures to embark on before I leave. My summer plans are still in their infancy but incredibly exciting already!

Next September is completely unknown to me at the moment, plans include either further teaching abroad in Europe (or Turkey), or a homecoming to Essex, where I haven't lived for 4 years. 

Day-tripping to London with my mum

And what plans for when I do get back to England? After many an evening (or deskwarming day) watching 'Who do you think you are?' I've set my mind to explore my family history some more, particularly my mum's very unknown maternal side. A couple of books focusing on the second world war have piqued my interested, so a visit to the Imperial War Museum should be interesting. In fact 2 years away from London make me want to soak up as much time in the fantastic museums and art galleries in the capital city as possible. Making a trip with my mum to Scotland is in the very near future too, and if there is room within the year also an adventure to Istanbul, which I missed out on just before coming to Korea.

St Pauls

All in all, 2012 is bursting with possibility and adventure and promise. I simply can't wait to get started and experience all it has to offer!

Happy New Year!

Food and books

This post pretty much sums up my weekday evenings at the moment. Eating and reading, and the gym as well but I don't have any pictures of that. Thank goodness! Saving isn't much fun, but planning what you will do with those savings is incredibly fun. Tonight I will be booking my flight out of Seoul in August (and back again 3 weeks later). Saigon here I come!

Vietnamese food with School. That rice was far spicer than I had anticipated! 

Delicious! Salad and fried dumpings (the other dish is a buckwheat noodles thing which I didn't try)

Loving this stuff at the moment!

Crisps that come with their own dip. Ingenious! (Nicola this is in your next parcel from Korea!)

Strawberries

I had a big one (that what she said!)

Wongers. Opposite directions home!

Contemplative

Spending too much money on books. Kev: "Don't you have an English language library in Seoul?" Me: "Yeah but I like keeping the books on my shelf".