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tripstations · 5 years ago

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5 beautiful destinations Pakistanis can travel to on a budget

From island escapes, Eastern European marvels and South-East Asian delights, inspire your inner wanderlust on a budget

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/GIRL WITH THE GREEN PASSPORT/ESLIMAH/AYESHA OMAR

KARACHI: The global travel industry is growing and it’s growing fast. Not only that, more people are travelling now than ever before, thanks to cheaper flights and the ease of planning and booking a trip.

Add to this the new batch of travel bloggers on Instagram and you’ve got hundreds of people jetting off to places they had never heard of before. After all, it’s a most human thing to explore new horizons.

And statistics don’t lie. The travel and tourism sector grew more in 2018 than all other economic sectors, adding a record $8.8 trillion to the world’s combined Gross Domestic Product – up from $8.3 trillion in 2017. It created some 319 million new jobs as well, according to Forbes.

While Pakistan is expected get higher numbers of tourists thanks to the government’s support, what about Pakistanis wanting to go abroad? Everyone is surely feeling the rupee’s present standing against the dollar and this can make travel for Pakistanis at home very expensive.

But don’t worry, we have you covered. Here are our recommendations for some pretty lust-worthy destinations across the globe that will allow you to indulge your wanderlust without draining your pockets. Bon voyage!

Istanbul, the transcontinental escape

Turkey really offers the best of both worlds. Straddling Europe and Asia, its capital Istanbul is hailed as one of the greatest cities in the world with lots of history, heritage, culture and beauty to offer. Not to mention, the Turkish and Pakistanis love each other!

A single entry visa will cost you around Rs8,500 and flight tickets will be roughly Rs80,000 return during peak holiday seasons. Decent 3-star hotels are abundant, right next to the exquisite Sultan Ahmet Mosque. And then, there is the AirBnB option.

Best places to go: Grand Bazaar, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Dolmabahce Palace, Taksim Square…need we go on?

Maldives – the water wonderland

This island nation is the picture of paradise. Think bungalows hovering over turquoise waters, golden beaches and lots of scuba diving. Oh, and seriously Insta-worthy sunsets! How could you not want to travel to the Maldives?

The best thing is that this dream can be a reality because it’s surprisingly reasonable and also Muslim-friendly.

Located in the Arabian Sea, the capital Malé has a busy fish market, restaurants and shops on the main road, Majeedhee Magu, and 17th-century Hukuru Miskiy (also known as Friday Mosque) made of carved white coral. No wonder it’s a honeymoon staple.

Cheapest flight: Around Rs60,000.

Eastern Europe – the new it place

You may not think Eastern Europe is cheap area but it actually is! If you want a unique travel experience that truly captivates, this entire region is the place for you.

Take Romania for example. Whatever you think this country is, it probably isn’t. The Transylvanian region, in particular, defies expectations with its quaint medieval towns and spectacular Carpathian mountain range. Many travel bloggers reiterate that it’s a beautiful country with great food and friendly people. The cheapest flight is around Rs60,000 (not to mention once you’re there, eating and sleeping is great value!), making it one of the most inexpensive countries to travel to for Pakistanis.

And, can we please talk about Ukraine. It’s on every traveller’s bucket list as of late and there are raving reviews about it. With flights starting from around Rs50,000, Ukraine is possibly one of the cheapest options for Pakistanis wanting to go beyond the Middle East.

Hotspots: The coastal city of Odessa on the Black Sea is a favourite, while the beautiful city of Lviv (close to the Polish border) is widely tipped as offering some of the best values for money in Europe.

5 Muslim countries that are trending holiday destinations this summer

Azerbaijan and Georgia – easy on the eyes and the wallets

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I burnt my hand in Georgia. . I was rushing to catch the 10 am Mashrukta (intercity mini-bus) from Tbilisi to Signagi. When I reached the bus stop, there was a 10-minute window. I bought some bananas for breakfast & coffee in a flimsy, small cup from a tiny window in a kiosk. I got into the minibus with low roof, my back bent, backpack on, bananas, wallet & phone in one hand and coffee cup in another. As I sat amongst two strangers, and tried to adjust my butt, I shook the coffee cup, it spilled a bit on my hand, it was so hot that in within a second, my instincts had me drop the entire thing, and then it spilled it on my right palm all the way to my right thigh, splashes on left hand; and couple splashes on the stranger sitting next to me. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I was first embarrassed on my clumsiness, then guilty for being late & rushing in the first place and then in pain. I had burnt my right palm and it was BURNING. The bus had started. It was a 2-hour ride to this small city, Signagni, reputed to be the city of love. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ And in burning pain I thought, holy mother of shits I need to see a doctor and finding a doctor in a small city I’m heading to for the first time! I was sure I’m gonna get huge blisters all over my palm and then I won’t be able to touch or hold anything and then the rest of the trip will be a waste. All thoughts crossed my head in the next 15 minutes. I felt like crying. The only thing that comforted me was the reminder that I was medically insured for such accidents, courtesy @jgi.pk (not an ad). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Anyway, I kept a bundle of tissue paper soaked in water, between the palm of my hands, the entire journey. Suggested by the stranger next to me. And that did relieve me to some extent. I reached Signagi, the burning had calmed & I didnt feel the need to see a doctor. I looked at my coffee-stained dress, felt sad; but then I looked at the terra cotta roofs, amidst lush green hills and cobblestone streets of Signagi and I forgot the incident. I headed ahead to explore this tiny quaint town & make the most of my day! Ever spilled coffee & burnt yourself? Outfit courtesy: @qnhstore #Signagi #Georgia

A post shared by ANAM HAKEEM

Travel Lifestyle (@girlwithgreenpassport) on Jun 11, 2019 at 8:52am PDT

Speaking of Eastern Europe, take Georgia for example. Where is it? Right next to the latest Pakistani travellers favourite, Azerbaijan. So consider going to both countries together and explore this stunning region.

Georgia small country in the Caucasus – one you’ll probably be hearing more about it in the years to come. It all starts in the eccentric capital of Tbilisi. From there, be sure to explore the stunning Caucasian Mountain range, dip your feet in the Black Sea, and visit ancient hilltop monasteries (a few of them are inside caves!) all over the country.

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Welcome to Georgia. Sitting at the crossroads of Asia & Europe, but unfairly, the less talked about country, compared to its neighbouring Turkey. It swept me off my feet with its expansive sights, sounds, experiences and tastes. All of which, I had a heart full of in my 10 days. Tbilisi, the beating heart of the country sits in the lap of lush green hills. It is dotted with old Eurasian architecture on the slopes and decorated with modern and artistic glass shaped buildings and bridges in the centre. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Three hours north of the capital & I was in the midst of the Caucasus mountain. The tapestry changed. The little town of Kazbegi welcomed me first with its chilly mountain air & then warmed me with the hospitality. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ When I drove 2 hours east of Tbilisi, I was in Kaheti, the wine region of the country. Ask a local and they show you with pride, their traditional winemaking methods. With a curious set of eyes and ears, I learnt all I could about 8000-year-old Georgian winemaking tradition. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Three hours west of Tbilisi, I reached one of the oldest cities in Europe, Kutaisi. The highlight was the locals I met; they were even more friendly and had all the time in the world for conversations. They enjoyed learning about Pakistan from me as I did about Georgia from them. Nature swayed me even more, as I visited the canyons nearby Kutaisi. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The only thought I had throughout my visit, is that this country deserves more limelight than it has! There is so much I want to pour out, but I gotta save some for upcoming posts. Are you guys with me? Pls let me know what do you want me to tell about the country? . : Old town Tbilisi (picture taken via self timer & remote)

A post shared by ANAM HAKEEM

Travel Lifestyle (@girlwithgreenpassport) on May 28, 2019 at 5:10am PDT

As for Azerbaijan, the capital Baku is an obvious must. There’s so much you can pack in a few days, including the ultra-modern Heydar Aliyev Center.

Flights: Cheapest air-tickets to either or of these countries are around Rs45,000, usually with one stop somewhere in the Middle East.

Vietnam – a different kind of South East Asia

Forget Thailand and Sri Lanka right now because Vietnam is all that it’s about these days. And for good reason too. From the beautiful chaos of Hanoi’s Old Quarter to the serene Hoi An riverfront adorned with coloured lanterns, this is truly a country full of contrasts.

But Vietnam is not for the faint-hearted. If adventure is what you’re about, be prepared for crazy weather cycles and off-beat exotic scenery. Alas, it’s also among the cheapest places in Asia: eat local and you’ll struggle to spend more than a few hundred rupees per meal. A round trip ticket is around Rs87,000.

What to do: There are a myriad of pristine beaches, such as Mango Bay and Halong Bay. Don’t forget to explore rice-farming mountains where you can go caving. Adventure sports on the beaches are also a must.

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doriscahill · 7 years ago

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Georgia’s Wondering Tourist

I received my first visitor, my sister. She flew on that crazy late Lufthansa flight I arrived on only five short months ago! Lufthansa’s 3:30 am morning express, just a bunny hop from Munich! You could say its early!

Surprisingly crowded, I waited steadfast with other family members outside customs. Packed tightly, we all lean in to view guests as they trickle out glass doors. I am short, but luckily her hair is much like mine: a like-kind puffy curly ball, easy to spot. “Hey!!!” “Immediately she turns, broad smiles. Pushing through we hug luggage in toe, she exhales “I made it!” Admittedly I cried when greeting her at the airport and so did she. We are inseparable as we were in childhood.

My work in the Peace Corp is really cool, beyond cool, note not easy. My organization mission is to grow economy;in tourism and agriculture for local community and stakeholders.

My region and where I live, my primary focus is to assist small businesses in both advertising and associated web advertising. To enhance financial literacy and technical for focus industries, through education and training. The best result is growth and the ability to sustain new skill and knowledge post service. My underlying focus is women development. I am the unofficial photographer for my office, we often use all the photos you see here on this blog and Facebook for reporting/inspection/monitoring purposes and viewing pleasure!

The Tbilisi Airport recently separated the arrival terminal from the departure terminal. The modern arrival building recently opened; greeting new comers to Georgia. Visitor travel is up 40% year over and once you visit, you’ll know why.

Possibly with so many new comers airlines will consider better flight arrival /departure/connecting times?

When visiting, try to have an interpreter or guide with you, my language is good enough now, thus we did not need one. However, complete GPS mapping of the entire country would be good too.

Equally important I wish tourism web sites published first in native language; Georgian then translated to English.

Not English to Georgian, its critical in my opinion Georgians draft their tourism info in their native language. For instance, Expedia, TripAdvisor, Booking.com offer 40 plus “other” native languages to draft your advertisements. The opposite creates a very messy translation. What I am saying is Google translate is a mess, if your trying to insert English to Georgian. Also, Georgian language has many beautiful cultural expressions that best translate from Georgian to English not English to Georgian.

Exhausted we head off to rest. If your not a seasoned traveler, there are many Western standard Hotels equivalent to 4 and 5 star and less than Western prices. For the seasoned, guest houses and hostels are abundant; clean and dirt cheap with breakfast. Not so bushy tailed, we rise early, to enjoy each other and the Capital. Later we will head out to my regional area where I reside. My host family so very happy to receive a guest.

Most August days the temperture hovers in the mid to high 90s, no rain! Dress light, extra socks and undies, pack water and leave those high heels at home. The Capital City is packed with to do’s but not the crushing crowds of US Major Cities. Depending on your likes you can fan out stay in other City and village centers only to loop back for your return home. A short western loop takes you, forest/spa resort town, historic castles, cave cities and ancient monasteries dating back B.C. Time allowing you can stretch to the Black Sea resort of Batumi, the towering Caucasus Mountains or make an equally enjoying loop to the east reaching wine country and resorts.

We posed for a bunch of pictures highlighting hots spot should you want to visit too! Americans visitors are not as common in Georgia (I actually checked this statistic) and for many locals, when seen or heard, a must photo opportunity. Friendly and cell phone loving, do not be taken back when everyone asks you to pose! Many bordering and close by countries can also visit Visa Free. We met up with travelers from Estonia, Netherlands, Germany, Iran and Israel. Jordan was recently added to visit Visa Free.

Most Americans we met were at the Hotel and so far that is where I seem to find them. Other Americans can be found at Peace Corp/Embassy offices. Britain has a presence here with BP, so you likely will bump into some Brits! The U.S. Embassy is in Tbilisi, something every American should know in case you loose your passport! If you do loose your passport, don’t be surprised that the entire Country will help you find it! Even with the language barriers communication beats any 911 system I have ever seen. This culture is loving and social. Very social, guests are treated exceptionally well.

Less than complete here are some of our details and list of other favorites:

The cable card Ride to Narikala Fortress. The ride takes Metro Pass or cash 2.5 Gel one way, that’s about $1.05 (beats Disney) As you swing and glide you see grand views of the City. At the cliff top is Fortress Castle and the Mother Statue. When at the top you can take the steep cliff walk down and enter the Botanical gardens that are from 1845 another 3 Gel for adults about $1.20. The only rip off is bottled water and still that translates 80 cents, compared to $6 dollars on a Caribbean Island. When completed your walk through the gardens you are near the famous sulfur baths, believe there are six, the older is 300 years. Definitely reserve and enjoy the experience, prices and add-on range in price, but still a bargain. I missed the Finicular and the new Finicular Complex but hope to catch it next opportunity!

Kharshuri Bizaar (click this blog link)

Ude Village (click on my blog link)

Borjomi Forest and Park Resort (check out link)

Green Monastary in Borjomi Valley (check out link)

Rabati Castle in Akhaltskikhe (check out link)

Vardzia Cave City (check out link)

Ninotsminda ნინოცმინდა Village Gorelovka სოფელი გორელოვკა

Georgia Safety Tips:

Money Exchange: not a problem, easy and at the airport and is thriving privately in most Cities. Also my US debit card distributes GEL, EURO and Dollars at Georgian ATMs. I notified my bank.

Cell Coverage: excellent and offered at most hotels and many cafes. Don’t plan on streaming War and Peace.

Water: Bring a good water bottle, I use a Hydro Flask. And a Sterile-Pen, I use a Quantum. You would not want to ruin your trip with dehydration and some funky microbe. The country is developing!!

Taxis: Arrange this through your hotel or trusted Georgian and please only engaged Company Taxis (permitted or licensed). Taxify is a good smart phone app available in Tbilisi for rides, no UBER. Its a safety risk to flag a cab driver without knowing Georgian and your likely to get overcharged. Driving practices are aggressive. Check for seat belts. Not all have air conditioning.

Marshurktka: This is the intercity/village travel by can and available and stations and road side waiting areas. Cheap, crowded and mostly no air conditioning. These Vans hold 16-20 people and they can be hot or too cold and crammed.

Train: Only available to certain Cities in Georgia. Cheap. There is an overnight train to Batumi. Reserve a ticket for 2nd or 1st class. (i.e. crowded)

Metro Train and Yellow Vans: Good subway transport within Tbilisi. Easy maps. There are Yellow Van routes marked at stops on City roads. Cheap with transfer long transfer time to save money.

General: Bring motion sickness pills if you plan to go off main roads, its mountainous and many roads are unpaved. Consider a stomach ant-acid or Imodium in case what you eat effects you, you will most definitely be eating new foods.

Proper Clothing: Many areas in Georgia are conservative in dress. Read up on this as not to be turned away at touring sites. That means you should not bring those short shorts, ragged jean or thread thin short tops. And proper shoes. This applies to men too.

Stray animals: Do not pet or feed the stray animals, they can and do carry disease.

Health: If your unsteady on your feet or need cane or wheel chair assistance, this would likely be a significant challenge to visit. Many sites are riddled with uneven pavement, lack elevators, ramps and steps are many and steep. If you have certain conditions and need access to specialized medical care, do your research this will likely limit your choices. Check out my blog on watching where you walk http://doriscahill.tumblr.com/post/164245554346/heads-up-construction

A Blog Story on Safety: Heads Up when Walking!!!

And Last but not least, I knocked one off a bucket list when in Tbilisi. This ditty is strictly my American perspective. Enjoy!

Tbilisi means warm in Georgian and is known for its hot sulfur springs. For centuries bath houses have operated and are open to tourists and residents to bath in hot community pools, get a scrub down with hot soap.

We requested a private bath, and had it reserved by the hotel, the sulfur baths are popular. There are a number of baths in the old city district to chose from too. Private means only your party of people.

Arriving timely and seeing we are American you are plucked from the crowd quickly and offered some nice extras. We mention we are reserved and offered soap, towels, body wash and scrub.

We are led to this very large room at least 80 by 40 feet wide. First through an opening with a living room with a curtained room. I peek in behind the curtain, there is a bare mattress/queen size bed. Quickly closing it thinking, “ bet you know what that is for :-)”.

Entering the entire room is steamy and smells of sulfur. Marble flooring throughout the bath. Hand laid brick walls rise up to the a circular copula a opening, stone marble slabs with tilting pillows on either side, two open small opening on top you can see the sky. Straight ahead one larger hot pool and immediately to the left a the smaller cold pool. A Turkish Toilet to the back corner with no door, the toilet is set to the back. Other than cleanliness at times this toilet is less stressful of the body.

One gets to wear their birthday suit, its does not feel private at all. At first I was taken back, a topless in her underwear enters. Apparently our attendant. In broken English and pointing she instructs us to shower, then dunk hot, then dunk cold. Hot then cold. She would return in 15 minutes. She returns timely remains topless and seems quiet happy and relaxed. Point us to the stone slab and proceeds to scrub, wash, rinse and repeat til we are squeaky clean. Professional, but not very American, a good cultural experience.

I understand the public baths are separated by gender.

Thanks for listening! I enjoy my returning visitors :-). Doe

#peace corps georgia #peace corps #doris cahill #doris cahill cpa #vardzia #borjomi #rabati #green monastary #taxify #villageude #ninotsminda #letsguide #travel #peacecorps

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adventuresaroundasia · 5 years ago

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Pin me for later!

Some of you may have noticed I haven’t done the Freedom Life monthly recaps for these last few months. To be honest, I don’t have much of an excuse for why I’ve taken some time off except for that sometimes you need a little bit of a break. With everything that’s been happening this year in regards to my blog, business, and Coronavirus, I think you’ll understand why I needed to take a little time away.

While I plan to start my monthly recaps back up soon, I wanted to let you know what I’ve been up to these last few months and shed a little light on where I’ve been… physically, mentally, and financially.

Welcome to Tbilisi Old Town!

I Moved to Tbilisi Georgia (The Country)

If you didn’t already know, I moved to Tbilisi, Georgia (aka the country of Georgia) at the end of January. While this deserves a whole post in and of itself, the gist is that Chris and I had a wedding to attend in the UK at the end of December, and a ton of US weddings this summer (none of which are happening now, of course).

We needed a place in Europe to stay for four months while we waited in limbo, and Tbilisi seemed like the perfect city. Tbilisi is beautiful, affordable, full of history, has great food and wine, and our blogger friends Tommo and Megsy from Food Fun Travel live here. Not to mention, you can stay in Georgia visa-free for up to a year!

So after spending a few weeks visiting friends in the UK, and a few days traveling in Italy, Chris and I moved to Tbilisi and found a cute 1-bedroom apartment in the Vake neighborhood.

Chris and I ate amazing Georgian food and stayed out drinking liters of house wine with friends until 1 am. We explored Tbilisi’s old town and relaxed in the traditional sulfur baths. The two of us made a ton of friends in a short amount of time and even had the audacity to complain about the number of social events we were invited to. We even took a few weekend trips to go wine tasting in Kakheti, and enjoy the snow in Gudauri.

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Coronavirus Shut Down China

At the beginning of 2020 during the Chinese New Year holiday, I started to hear some concerns over a new virus in China. I run a free Facebook group for people who teach abroad in China (or want to teach in China), and slowly but surely I started to see more and more posts about concerns over the new Coronavirus.

My Free Facebook Group Blew Up

At that point, most of us thought it was just a very bad flu, and many people decided to wait it out in China. When Wuhan went on lockdown, people started to book flights home or extend their Chinese New Year trips abroad. There was so much confusion and concern, and I felt responsible for managing the emotions and information in the group.

I spent hours every day researching, watching videos, reading articles on both ends of the spectrum, from “it’s no big deal” to “people are dying in the streets and the government is building the new Wuhan hospital as a death prison!!”

The group has over 500 people and is managed exclusively by me, so let me tell you, this was a full-time job in and of itself trying to manage the flow of information and emotions. Thankfully the members still in China were very helpful in providing on-the-ground information and practical advice which really helped alleviate some of the panic.

Working With My Teach Abroad Squad Members

Not only that, but some of the members of my Teach Abroad Squad program started having major issues too! This is a paid program for people who really want to work with me privately to have an incredible experience in China the FIRST time around. However, COVID-19 was something that I never could’ve anticipated, and I was honestly at a loss for what to do.

I had one member who was sitting in Thailand while all of her stuff (including her laptop!) was stuck in China. She eventually flew home to Hawaii, and it’s been months since she’s seen her computer or the majority of her wardrobe. I had another member who was literally about to fly to China in a few days when he was told not to come anymore. He was then stuck at home in the US with no job and no timeline for when he can eventually arrive in China.

I know it’s not my personal fault that the members of my program were suffering, but for some reason, I felt like it was. I honestly felt like it was my responsibility to protect them and make sure they have the adventure of a lifetime, and I felt horribly guilty when COVID-19 crushed their dreams and plans.

It took a lot of talks with my group coaching program for female entrepreneurs to get over my issues sounding this and to be honest, I still take it all waaaay too personally.

Let me drown my sorrows in a liter of Georgian house wine…

I Felt So Alone

Honestly, the worst part of all of this was that I felt so alone because I was the only one in my immediate social circle that was dealing with this catastrophe. Then, of course, I felt super guilty for feeling that way, when people were suffering all over China.

Because Coronavirus was only really affecting China and a few surrounding countries, in my immediate circle of Tbilisi expats, travel bloggers, and friends back home in the US and Australia, it felt like I was the only one struggling with how the virus was impacting my business and life. It was almost like some weird joke. “Oh… you work with China? That must suck.” Yeah, it sucked.

I honestly felt like a leper. I had hordes of people unsubscribing every time I sent an email about China (even helpful ones about Coronavirus!). I offered free 20-minute calls with me to work through any issues people were facing when it came to COVID-19 and barely anyone took me up on them. Seriously?? Don’t you guys need help??!

Then I got in my head that no one wanted to hear from me, and people didn’t trust me as an expert that could help them because I wasn’t in China. The imposter syndrome is REAL people.

Not only that, but I started having weekly panic attacks and days of full-on depression where I couldn’t even get out of bed. The career I’d spent YEARS building for myself came crashing down all around me, and without my job, I just felt useless.

Well… that’s unfortunate

Coronavirus Destroyed the Travel Industry

Slowly but surely, the panic spread from China to the rest of the world. People started canceling their international trips, and travel bloggers began to panic. My husband Chris sells safaris in Africa, and while Africa had zero cases at the time, people started canceling and postponing their trips left and right because they were worried their international flights would be canceled without a refund.

Almost overnight Chris and I had ZERO income. Chris went from piles of inquiries on a daily basis to waking up with an empty inbox. While my income has been a bit sporadic since I quit my high-paid college counseling job in China, Chris’ consistent safari income made up for this. But with zero money coming in, we both started to worry. Summer is high season in Tanzania, and we’d been counting on a year’s worth of sales commissions to come in at this time.

On top of all of this my blog traffic halved, my affiliate commissions dried up and sponsored posts and brands I had already done the work for all of a sudden just stopped responding to my emails when I asked for payment. Cool.

I started applying to all the decent online jobs I could find. From social media manager positions to working as an online dating coach (yeah that happened). I even considered teaching English online, but I honestly couldn’t go back to teaching basic ESL online for a fraction of what I used to make on-the-ground in China.

Well, after a solid week of applying to positions, I ended up getting offered a job to manage Facebook for my business coach. While it wasn’t much of an income, it was better than nothing, and something I actually enjoyed doing.

No more wine tasting and dinners out with friends…

COVID-19 Shut Down the World

Slowly but surely Coronavirus spread to the rest of the world. My home state of Washington was a mess, Northern Italy (a place I had just visited earlier that year) was on complete lockdown, and Georgians started canceling events as more of us opted to stay indoors.

As the weeks went by, things started to get more and more serious. Georgia closed the airports, no one from outside Tbilisi was allowed in, all the shops and restaurants closed (except for grocery stores and food delivery), and we all waited patiently inside our homes.

AHHH!

Wait… Isn’t This Old News?

Once the rest of the world started panicking about COVID-19, it felt strange. I’d been an anxious mess for MONTHS and now the rest of the world was finally catching on. I joked with my course members and China friends that it felt like old news to us. We’d been dealing with Coronavirus for what felt like an eternity!

In a horrible way, it was a bit reassuring to feel like I wasn’t alone in my panic anymore. As much as I hated how the virus was spreading, it was somewhat nice (in an awful way) that I had friends and family to commiserate with. Then, of course, I felt like an absolutely horrible human for feeling relieved that I wasn’t alone in this.

Celebrating my 29th birthday in lockdown

Why We Decided to Stay in Georgia

Eventually, Chris and I had to make a decision: would we stay in Tbilisi or head to the US or Australia? This was actually a huge dilemma for a few reasons.

Firstly, Chris and I planned to be in the US over the summer because we had three weddings to attend (one of which was our second wedding in my parents’ backyard). Now, Chirs doesn’t have a Green Card, so the plan was to head to the US in mid-May and stay until the end of July, hop down to Mexico for a bit, and return in October. So, flying to the US early just didn’t make sense considering we’d have to consistently fly in and out for Chris’ visa. Obviously, that’s not ideal during a pandemic.

Another option was to stay with Chris’ family in rural Australia, which was a much safer option than the West Coast of the US. However, flights were going to be at least $1,000 each with multiple layovers. Plus, if things did clear up, we’d need to spend a ton of money getting to the US for all of the wedding festivities.

It just seemed like the most practical and economical option was to stay in Tbilisi. Georgia had far fewer cases and deaths than both Australia and the UK (we didn’t have our first death until waaay into the pandemic). Our stores were fully stocked with toilet paper, people were actually staying home, and the government seemed to be taking everything very seriously.

It was kind of nice to have no cars on the road

What It’s Like in Tbilisi Right Now

If you follow me on Facebook, you’ll probably notice I’ve been doing Facebook lives every few days to talk about what life is like in Tbilisi right now (among other things). But as of right now, all of the shops are closed except for grocery stores. Thankfully we have a small Europroduct grocer right below us, and a fruit and vegetable shop down the block. We also have a man who delivers meat for us to cook with!

In addition to grocery stores, food delivery is available, but you need to order very early. Tbilisi has a curfew that runs from 9 pm to 6 am, however most of the restaurants close their food delivery after 6:30 pm!

All shops and pharmacies have a mask policy, and you’re not allowed inside without one. They also have limits on the number of people allowed inside at any given time. For example, my local pharmacy (which is also the only place to buy shampoo, lotion, and body wash) only allows two people in at a time, so the few times we’ve had to go this usually involves a 20-30 minute wait.

For the most part, Tbilisi has been doing a great job, except for one aspect: the church. We recently celebrated Georgian Orthodox Easter, and unfortunately for us, the churches blatantly refused to close. Since the Georgian government was unable to stand up to the church, they ended up BANNING CARS for over a week! I have no idea why they thought this would help considering there’s a church on every block, but that’s what they did.

Overall, it was actually very peaceful to be able to walk around the block through the deserted streets. The only downside was that the fruit and vegetable shop closed during this time, and the meat man couldn’t deliver, making it difficult to cook. As the government kept extending the car ban, we started to get worried, but thankfully that’s all finished now!

This is my view all day every day

Turning into a Workaholic

As everyone started joking about having nothing to do, I was working harder than ever! I kept doing all of my regular blogging tasks, running my Teach Abroad Squad course, and social media. But in addition, I was also providing tons of extra content and support.

Emergency coaching sessions, daily Facebook Lives, interviews with recruiters still in China, supporting both my Facebook groups, and more! I also took on two different social media jobs, did a launch for Teach Abroad Squad (with free strategy calls), and got extremely involved in my women’s entrepreneur group coaching program, which was also offering additional training and resources.

I felt like I was working harder than I’d ever worked while making a fraction of the income. I was beyond stressed, started having problems with my jaw from grinding my teeth in my sleep, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t turn it off!

My husband Chris encouraged me to just take this time to relax, but I kept getting swept up in all the hype. Take this extra time to work on your business! Now is a time for leaders to step up! People still want your online products, you just need to pivot and be essential!

If I couldn’t make it work during Coronavirus, what does that say about me? I just need to work harder and everything will be okay!!! Yeah, that’s a healthy way to live your life Richelle…

Well… that’s awkward

So… I Guess I’m a Leper Now?

To be honest, for most of 2020 I’ve felt like a leper. I send an email and get heaps of unsubscribes. I offered free coaching and had barely any people take me up on it. It felt like every time I opened my mouth, people just wanted me to shut it.

I tired so hard to be helpful, and it seemed like the world just wasn’t interested. I even created a free webinar called “So you wanted to teach in China… Now What?” to help people through this time. But when I went to promote it on Facebook, I started getting angry faces and mean comments. Seriously? I’m just trying to help!

It got to the point where I just wanted to stick my head in the sand or run away and hide. I was tired of feeling like I was talking to a void. I didn’t want to do my webinar, Facebook lives, write blog posts, or send emails. But my business coach kept pushing me to be present and show up. UGH.

I guess my fear of disappointing her outweighed my fear of embarrassing myself… barely.

My latest webinar training!

Turning Lemons into Lemonade

A few days before my live webinar training, I started to panic. What am I doing?? Why did I think this was a good idea???

I wanted to run away and hide. I felt awkward promoting my paid program at a time like this. I knew I could really help people with Teach Abroad Squad, but man, I felt weird charging for ANYTHING when so many people around the world are suffering and in need of help.

But I showed up and did the webinar launch anyway, and I’m so glad I did. Not only was the training really fun and interactive (so much participation in the chat!), it ended up going for an extra HOUR. Whoopsies!

Not only that, but we had some incredible new people join Teach Abroad Squad, which was really exciting!

Through this experience, I realized that pulling back was helping literally no one. Sure, not everyone wants to hear me talk right now, but there are some people that need my help and advice, especially during a time like this. The whole experience was really strangely empowering and made me feel like all the time, effort, and anxiety was worth it in the end.

bread on the balcony!

Georgian bread and mountain cheese!

The Things Keeping Me Sane Right Now

After the last few months of overworking and my live teach abroad training, I’ve been super exhausted lately. I’ve been working on this post for literally two weeks, but I haven’t had the energy to actually sit down and finish it. All of the stress has finally caught up with me, and all I want to do is sleep, relax, and have fun. It’s funny how weeks of chronic stress will really do a number on you.

Thankfully there are a few things I’ve been doing to make my life sane, so I figured I’d share them with all of you. Firstly, while I do live in a tiny apartment, I’m lucky to have a balcony that gets a lot of sun. So when the weather is nice, I sit out on the balcony with a cup of coffee and a good book (I’m reading the Wheel of Time series right now) and get some sun and fresh air.

I’ve also started doing Yoga With Adrienne every morning for the last few months. Not only is it a great way to get some exercise, but yoga also helped me a ton with my stress and anxiety. With the focus on breathing, plus the difficulty of the poses, there isn’t much room left in my mind for stress and worry. Not only do I feel great and healthy afterward, but I also feel so much more relaxed and calm!

In the evenings I’ve been relaxing by playing a ton of Animal Crossing (which Chris just got me for my birthday!) or playing online games of D&D, otherwise known as Dungeons and Dragons. Yes, I am a hugely unapologetic nerd. I went from playing once every other week, to playing 2-3 times a week! It’s a great way to actually have a social life while taking your mind off of everything that’s happening in the world right now.

All three of us were supposed to have weddings this summer…

My Plans for the Future

Well, the plan was to head back to the US for a bunch of weddings, bachelorette parties, and showers, but one by one all of them keep getting canceled.

Until all three of us (in the last few days) decided to cancel our weddings and related events, I had no idea how much stress and anxiety this summer was causing me. Would I even be able to make it home for the end of July even if things cleared up? Would there be a resurgence of COVID in October for my friend’s wedding (which I’m a bridesmaid for)? Even if things clear up, are plane tickets still going to be over $1,000 with multiple layovers? Will the Georgian airports even open in July as promised??

Well, now that everything is canceled, I feel like a giant weight has been taken off my chest. There’s no constant stressing, checking flights, and hours on hours spent discussing possibilities. For now, we can just stay in Tbilisi until this all blows over…

Pin me for later!

How Have Your Plans Changed?

I’d love to hear from you: How have your plans changed this year? Are you stuck abroad like me? Were you supposed to be moving abroad or traveling during this time? Have you lost your source of income? Tell me what’s happening with you in a comment below!

What I’ve Been Up To This 2020: Coronavirus, Money Woes, and Getting Stuck Abroad Some of you may have noticed I haven't done the Freedom Life monthly recaps for these last few months.

#Coronavirus #digital nomad #expat #Georgia #location independence #travel

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topfygad · 5 years ago

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How to travel to Abkhazia in 2020 (Tips + 6-day itinerary)

I was in no man’s land, walking the couple of kilometers that separate Georgia from Abkhazia, still thinking about the last thing that the Georgian officer told me:

Don’t trust Abkhazians – He said after handing my passport back.

It wasn’t the first time I had crossed a non-friendly border but this was the first time I heard an immigration officer saying something like that.

I was getting closer to the Abkhazian border and, as soon as I arrived and said hello to everybody with a big smile, the Abkhazian officer told me:

This bottle of water is not allowed here. Remove the label.

Yes, in effect, my water had a label written in Georgian, and Georgian-related things are not allowed in Abkhazia.

Shit… That was pretty intense.

Things were about to get very interesting and I couldn’t be more excited to be there.

Welcome to the unrecognized Republic of Abkhazia.

This guide contains everything you need to know to travel to Abkhazia, including tips and a 6-day itinerary

For everything about the country, don’t forget to read my ultimate Georgia travel guide

Index:

Introduction to Abkhazia How to get a visa to Abkhazia How to travel to Abkhazia from Georgia Is it safe to travel to Abkhazia? Important information about money Places to visit in Abkhazia

My site only contains little information about Georgia, so if you want to get deeper and know about every destination, get a copy of my guide!

CLICK TO LEARN MORE

Introduction to the Republic of Abkhazia

Important – Before you read, please note that I don’t intend to get into politics. Seriously, I am not on any side but I am just a traveler who wants to show the beauty of Abkhazia in the same way that I have been showing other places in Georgia. It is not my business to claim whether Abkhazia is a republic or not and if I say it, it is because this is how Abkhazians say it, not because I care about it. I don’t care who is right but I just want to show the world what my eyes saw from a traveling perspective.

In 1992, after the Soviet Union’s dissolution, Georgia was planning to abolish the Soviet-era constitution and restoring the 1921 Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Georgia.

As a response, in fear of losing their autonomy in favor of Georgia, Abkhazia declared independence unilaterally.

As a consequence, the Georgian army invaded Abkhazia, which turned into a bloody war but, with the help of different Caucasian militias from the south of Russia, Georgia was defeated by Abkhazia.

Abkhazia was in the hands of the Abkhazians, and the ethnic Georgians, who were nearly half of the total population, were either killed or forced to flee the country and that is the reason why there are so many abandoned buildings.

Don’t forget to read my travel guide to Tbilisi, which also includes off the beaten track things to do

Partially abandoned train station in Sukhumi – Abkhazia travel

After a couple of years, Abkhazia was self-proclaimed an independent Republic.

However, nobody in the international community recognized it, so Abkhazia went through a long period of autarchic darkness.

It was only in 2008, after the Georgian-Russian war, that Russia recognized it as a country and decided to back them up economically, in exchange for military presence, among other things I believe.

Today, it is only recognized by a small bunch of countries which, besides Russia, includes Venezuela, Nicaragua, Syria and a few Pacific Islands. The flags from these countries are waving in the center of the city.

As I said, I don’t want to enter into politics but, regardless of whether they have the right to be independent or not, from a traveling perspective, traveling to Abkhazia feels like being in a different country:

There is a border, you need a country visa, they use the Russian Rubles, cars have an Abkhazian license place, the architecture is different and, as per the people, the culture is slightly different and they speak a distinct language named Abkazh, a Caucasian language that has nothing to do with Georgian.

Abkhazia is, seriously, an amazing destination you can’t miss.

This was a very simple summary so, if you want to know more about Abkhazia, I strongly recommend you to read Under Siege: Inter-ethnic relations in Abkhazia, one of the very few good books fully dedicated to Abkhazia – Click here to check prices on Amazon

Inside an abandoned building in Sukhumi – Visit Abkhazia

How to get a visa to Abkhazia

Calm down.

Many travelers seem to be particularly overwhelmed about getting a visa to visit Abkhazia, but you just need to make an easy online application and cross an easy border, that’s it.

You can apply through the official website. Just fill out the application and send them a hard copy of your passport, as stated. You don’t need to pay anything, for now.

After 5 working days, they will email you a security clearance which you need to show at the border. Remember to print several copies, as either Georgian, Russian or Abkhazian authorities may keep one.

Important – The security clearance is not a visa but just the key to enter Abkhazia. Once you are in Abkhazia, you need to pick up your visa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sukhumi, within 2-3 days of your arrival. The visa price depends on the length of your stay: I stayed 1 week and paid 350RB (5USD). By the way, you can pay by credit card. This is the location: 42.999895, 41.018142.

Read my guide for visiting Georgia!

My visa to Abkhazia – Visiting abkhazia

How to travel to Abkhazia from Georgia

Very easy.

You first need to take a train to a border city named Zugdidi.

From Tbilisi, there is a night train and morning one. The morning train leaves at 8am and arrives at 1:45pm, whereas the night train arrives at 6-7am.

If you come in the morning, the border will be less busy but it doesn’t open until 8-10am, so you may have to wait for a bit.

Buy your tickets a few days in advance. I bought them online on matarebeli.ge, but you can also get them at the station in Tbilisi.

The train journey to Zugdidi is a very touristic route, as it is the main getaway to Mestia, so the train is packed with tourists, but nobody was traveling to Abkhazia other than me.

The border is less than 10km away. I went to the main bus station in Zugdidi and didn’t find a marshrutka (but there should be one because I took it on the way back), so I jumped into a taxi and paid 8GEL (1.80USD). You need to tell the guy granitsa, which means border in Russian.

A ceasefire monument you can find in no man’s land. The question is: who paid for it, Abkhazia or Georgia? – can you travel to Abkhazia

The border to enter to Abkhazia is divided into 4 stages:

Georgian border – It took me 20 minutes. They don’t stamp your passport because, in their eyes, you aren’t leaving Georgia.

A few kilometers of no man’s land – You need to walk 2 or 3km and cross the bridge that goes over the Enguri river.

Abkhazian border – It took me 30 minutes.

Russian checkpoint – Despite not even being their country, the Russians authorities are the most annoying. It took me two hours to cross it, not only because it was slower but because they took me to a different room and ask loads of questions about my previous trip to Iran.

After the Russian checkpoint, congratulations.

You are officially in the unrecognized Republic of Abkhazia.

If you crossed in the morning, you will find marshrutkas that go straight to Sukhumi.

Otherwise, you will first need to go to Gale (50RB) and then take a second marshrutka to Sukhumi (200RB).

Important information for those coming from Russia – The Russian border is open but you can’t enter from Russia and leave through Georgia, basically because Georgia doesn’t recognize that border, so you won’t be allowed to get in. On the other hand, if you enter Abkhazia through Georgia, you are technically allowed to enter Russia (as long as you have a valid visa) but, if you ever try to come back to Georgia, you may be banned from entering the country or pay a fine.

Welcome to the Republic of Abkhazia – Border – How to travel to Abkhazia

Is it safe to travel to Abkhazia?

Tell any Georgian that you want to travel to Abkhazia and they will freak out and tell you that you are completely nuts.

Their opinion is, of course, a little bit biased but we can’t forget that the region is well-known for its crime, especially the southern part, close to the border with Zugdidi, around Gale.

I actually know two cases of people who got robbed there in summer 2018. One was an acquaintance of me and the other was the guys from Kathmandu and Beyond. Read their story here.

The south of Abkhazia used to have the largest population of Georgians and, since all of them left, here you find more abandoned buildings than anywhere else, so robbing tourists is a way to fight their misery.

Don’t be afraid of visiting the south though. You can go there and explore the different towns during the day, no problem, but if you decide to explore some of the abandoned factories outside, go with a local or a big group.

The rest of the country (my suggested itinerary), however, is safe and everybody is friendly and kind. I remember sitting in a café for breakfast when some random people that were next to me paid for my meal, and I had barely talked to them.

Friendly Abkhazians playing backgammon, somewhere in Sukhumi – Is it safe to travel to Abkhazia

There is no Consulate representation

On the other hand, remember that, in Abkhazia, there is no embassy representation, so if you get into trouble, losing your passport, for example, I don’t know what you could do. Just be aware of this.

Travel Insurance for Abkhazia

If the unlikely happened to you, you will be alone, so I strongly recommend you buy specific travel insurance for Abkhazia.

The problem is that most companies won’t cover travel in Abkhazia because it is a unrecognized territory.

The one which does is IATI Insurance, a very good company that offers loads of different plans, including budget plans for backpackers.

If you select Georgia (or Europe), you will be covered for travel in Abkhazia.

Moreover, the readers of this blog can get an exclusive 5% discount.

BUY IT THROUGH THIS LINK TO GET YOUR 5% DISCOUNT!

Important information about money when you travel in Abkhazia

Currency – They use the Russian Ruble.

Don’t bring Georgian Laris – Except in Gale, you won’t be able to exchange your Laris, so it is better to bring Rubles. You can get them anywhere in Tbilisi.

ATMs – Unlike what you may read in other blogs, most ATMs do accept international credit cards.

How much does it cost to travel to Abkhazia? – The food in Abkhazia is substantially more expensive than Georgia but accommodation is very cheap: Breakfast – 300RB (4.50USD) Plate of khinkalis – 250RB (23.80USD) Beer – 100RB (1.50USD) Coffee – 80RB (1.20USD) Budget accommodation – From 6USD for a private room

Some fruits in Abkhazia are crazy expensive – Travel in Abkhazia

Places to visit in Abkhazia – 6-day itinerary

The reason for traveling to Abkhazia is not only political but the country is actually beautiful.

In fact, some Georgians claim that Abkhazia is the most beautiful part of Georgia, one of the reasons why it being taken from them is so painful.

You should also know that, during the Soviet Union, Abkhazia was a major touristic destination for Russians and other people from the Soviet Union and, if Abkhazia had not gotten its independence, today it would be the top resort destination in Georgia, not Batumi.

Map of the places to visit in Abkhazia

Day 1, 2 – Sukhumi

Sukhumi is awesome and, even if you only had 2 days to travel to Abkhazia, I still recommend you come and visit it.

Sukhumi is the capital of Abkhazia, a city that, somehow, tries to be cool among all the abandoned buildings and the Soviet-era stuff.

The center of the city is dominated by the abandoned Parliament, which in the past, used to be occupied by the Georgian authorities and, instead of re-occupying it, the Abkhazians left it there.

The old Parlament of Sukhumi, today abandoned

It is the most impressive abandoned building I saw when I visited Abkhazia and you can actually hang around for as long as you want.

Otherwise, besides going in search of more abandoned buildings (they are everywhere, really), the promenade is pretty cool, as it has a lot of Soviet stuff, as well as a lot of local life.

The background of Sukhumi is dominated by some mountains which you can go up to check the views, visit Bagrat fortress and some abandoned monuments.

Inside the Parlament

Where to stay in Sukhumi

Budget Guest House – Roza Guest House – A really good guest house with a very big garden. The owners are a young family which is super nice. I really enjoyed my time here.

Click here to check the latest prices

Nicer – Guest House GUMA – Also a guest house but it has a better location and it is of a higher quality.

Click here to check the latest prices

Sukhumi train station – Visit Abkhazia

Day 3 – New Athos

With nearly 1700 years of history, New Athos is the prettiest coastal town in Abkhazia, with blue-turquoise water and dense green forest that grows near the edge of the water.

New Athos is an actual touristic town and you are likely to see loads of Russian tourists around, but many of them are pretty cool, as New Athos is sort of an alternative destination for the average Russian tourist.

In New Athos, you must climb up to the Greek fortress (200RB) on the top of the mountain, to check some incredible views of the bay.

Views from the fortress

Moreover, the New Athos Monastery is one of the prettiest I have seen recently, really. It was built by monks in the 19th century and is a real blessing to your eyeballs.

Apparently, there is also a very impressive cave but I didn’t have time to go there.

How to get to New Athos from Sukhumi

You can easily reach New Athos on a day trip from Sukhumi and marshrutkas run from the main bus station in Sukhumi. It costs 70RB.

Epic New Athos Monastery

Day 4 – Gagra

Gagra is a very touristic beach town.

I didn’t like it, basically because I grew up in a very similar place in Catalonia, so there was nothing new for me and I would have preferred to have this day to explore the area around Gale.

It is a place to just chill at the beach and eat at the many promenade restaurants so, for solo travelers, it can get a bit boring, especially because there are no people to hang out with, basically because nobody speaks English.

What is interesting about it, however, is that this is the warmest town in the entire Black Sea coastline and apparently, in winter, the temperature is high enough to swim, so Gagra has always been a popular getaway for Russians escaping from their utterly freezing weather.

This is the reason why you see so many strange plants such as exotic cactus and things like that, which is very weird, taking into account that we are at the very doors of Great Caucasus.

Ah, almost forgot! There is an abandoned Music Club which is worth checking out. Right here: 43.290811, 40.260667.

Abandoned music club in Gagra – Really cool

How to get to Gargra from Sukhumi

Marshrutkas cost 130RB and it takes 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Where to stay in Gagra

Budget Guest House – Sunset Guest House – Really cool place. For budget travelers, look no further.

Click here to check prices & availability

Nicer – Guest House Oniks – Similar concept to the previous but it has higher standards.

Click here to check prices & availability

Stinky smoked fish somewhere in Gagra – Russians love it, as well as people from Central Asia

My site only contains little information about Georgia, so if you want to get deeper and know about every destination, get a copy of my guide!

CLICK TO LEARN MORE

Day 5, 6 – Camping at Lake Ritsa

Who would ever say that, at the very shores of this lake, Stalin himself used to spend his holidays in his personal dacha (Russian summer house).

Lake Ritsa was, in fact, a very popular spot for the Soviet elite and, today, you can still visit Stalin’s dacha and, for a few rubles, they will show you the bed where he used to sleep, the toilet where he used to shit and even his personal boat.

The tour is in Russian and nobody speaks English but it was fun enough.

Stalin’s dacha is on the opposite side of the main touristic part of the lake.

Lake Ritsa – Epic

The lake is actually very touristic but this shouldn’t pull you out from coming here because it is pretty big and, like always, people just go to certain areas of the lake.

The place we camped was totally empty, so we had the place for ourselves.

On the second day, we trekked to what is called the Small Ritsa, which is a smaller version of the main lake. It is a half-day trek and we only saw one other group of trekkers.

Alternatively, there are many roads and trails around the lake. With my Russian friends, we explored a little bit around by car and, as you can see in the below picture, Lake Ritsa is a great place for bringing your dog on an adventure

Good morning from Lake Ritsa – This dog followed me the whole day

How to get to Lake Ritsa from Sukhumi

There is no public transportation, so you need to take a taxi or hitchhike.

I hitchhiked and got picked up by two young Russians who I camped with, so I was very lucky.

You can also book a tour from Sukhumi, which costs around 10USD, but I wouldn’t go there by bus, as you will only have a few hours to enjoy the most touristic part of the lake, without time to go to the other side or even trek to the small Ritsa.

Where to stay in Ritsa Lake

We camped but, if you don’t have a tent, there are a few hotels around, none of them budget though.

Mountains around Lake Ritsa

Going back to Georgia

From Lake Ritsa, you can easily travel to Tbilisi on the same day.

I left the lake at around 1pm, after coming back from Small Ritsa and my Russian friends dropped me off in New Athos, from where I took a marshrutka and the driver dropped on the main road between Sukhumi and the border.

I waited for a lift, crossed the border in just a few minutes and, once in Zugdidi, I took a marshrutka to Tbilisi. I think I arrived around 1am.

Total transparency! – If you like my website and found this post useful, remember that, if you buy any service through any of my links, I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you. These earnings help me maintain and keep Against the Compass going! Thanks

More information

A really good article from Vice: Abkhazia is the country that doesn’t exist

Georgia travel guide A guide to visiting Tbilisi A guide to travel to Kazbegi

source http://cheaprtravels.com/how-to-travel-to-abkhazia-in-2020-tips-6-day-itinerary/

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accuhunt · 5 years ago

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South Africa Visa for Indians: Requirements and Tips.

It’s 2020 and those of us with Indian passports are still filling out visa paperwork to make our travel dreams come true. A visa on arrival for Indians in South Africa remains a far-fetched dream. And that sucks. But the good news is that a South Africa visa for Indians is not nearly as tedious as say, applying for a US visa on an Indian passport.

Even better news: it’s possible to get a South Africa visa on an Indian passport that allows a stay of upto 3 months! I jumped at that possibility and scored a 90-day multiple-entry visa for South Africa. It allowed me to slow travel through Cape Town, the Western Cape and Kruger National Park, and even hop over to Lesotho and back.

Here’s everything you need to know about the South Africa visa for Indians:

Application form for South Africa tourist visa from India

The application process for a South Africa visa for Indian citizens begins on the VFS South Africa website – the official visa platform of the South African embassy in India. There are several types of short term visas available. If you’re visiting South Africa on a holiday, choose Short Term Visa >> Visitor Visa >> Holiday / Visiting Family-Friends / Sports Events.

The first step is to download the visa application form and fill it – in black ink and capital letters. I filled mine on PDF using the fill tool. It can also be printed and filled by hand. The forms asks for basic personal information and your expected travel details in South Africa. It’s also your chance to request for a multiple-entry visa. Save, print and sign the form.

Also read: 9 Countries that Offer Visa on Arrival for Indians

Document checklist and visa requirements for South Africa visa for Indians

Once you’ve filled the application form, start gathering the usual documents required for most visas on an Indian passport. These include your passport, two photographs, proof of accommodation and flights, proof of funds, day to day itinerary and a cover letter.

Important things to note for the South Africa visa for Indians:

Proof of funds: You need to show 3 months of bank statements, printed on a bank letterhead, signed and stamped by the bank. It’s a pain but unfortunately, online banking statements are not accepted. As per the VFS website, your bank statements should show a balance of atleast INR 14,000. I would advise showing substantially more if you plan to spend longer in South Africa.

Cover letter: Surprisingly, VFS South Africa is very particular about the details included in the cover letter. I had to re-write and re-print mine for an exorbitant charge in the VFS building. Make sure your cover letter includes all of the following: your name, passport number, duration of visit, who will bear the expenses of the trip, physical address, contact details, designation and signature. I also explained my occupation in mine, and included valid visas on my passport.

Yellow fever vaccination certificate: If you plan to travel to any yellow fever affected countries before or after South Africa, remember to get and carry a yellow fever vaccination certificate. I got mine in Bangkok way back when I was travelling to Ethiopia.

Also read: The Epic Land Journey from Thailand to India via Myanmar

South Africa visa fee for Indians

Applying for a South Africa visa on an Indian passport – like any other visa applications – can be fairy frustrating. But there’s one relief. South Africa has waived off the visa fee for Indians for now!

However, we still need to pay a VFS logistics fee of INR 2000 – 2300, depending on the VFS centre where the application is filed. The fee is to be paid at VFS – in cash only.

Also read: Tajikistan: A Country That’s Not on Your Travel Radar but Should Be

Schedule an appointment at any VFS South Africa centre

Once your application form and documents are ready, make an appointment at the VFS centre closest to you to file your application. I was quite relieved that we don’t need to apply at the VFS centre closest to the address on our passport. I ended up applying without any hassles in Mumbai even though my passport address says Dehradun.

After submitting your application, you have the choice to collect your passport personally at the same centre when it’s ready. Or to courier it. Some centres allow a representative to collect it on your behalf. Either way, keep your collection receipt safely.

Note: The South Africa VFS centre doesn’t allow carrying laptops, battery backs and other electronics into the visa application room. Carry your documents in a transparent folder and put your phone on silent mode.

Also read: Travelling to Iran? Things to Know Before You Go

Visa processing time for South Africa visa on Indian Passport

The official visa processing time for the South Africa visa is minimum 5-7 working days. I received mine in a week. You can track your visa application here. It’s also possible to opt for a paid SMS-alert service.

If you’re collecting your passport in person, remember to carry an ID and the collection receipt.

Also read: 7 Countries to Travel in With the Falling Rupee

Immigration in South Africa

I landed in Cape Town with my multiple-entry tourist visa. The immigration officer only asked some basic questions about my purpose of visit and duration of stay before stamping me in. It’s always a good idea to keep your return flight ticket and accommodation booking handy.

Good luck; South Africa awaits!

Have you applied for a South Africa visa on an Indian passport? Or do you plan to travel to South Africa soon?

Also see my visa tips on an Indian passport for:

US tourist (B1) visa for Indians

Canada tourist visa on an Indian passport

Schengen visa to travel in Europe as an Indian

Japan tourist visa for Indians

Is it worth getting an E-visa for Georgia with the deportation of Indians at Tbilisi Airport?

The mysterious Cuba tourist visa for Indians

The easy Myanmar tourist visa on an Indian passport

The post South Africa Visa for Indians: Requirements and Tips. appeared first on The Shooting Star.

South Africa Visa for Indians: Requirements and Tips. published first on https://airriflelab.tumblr.com

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Together with those Oak Island holiday rentals to choose from, you are guaranteed to locate a that can be perfect for the perfect beach getaway lease! Furthermore, a number of the luxury accommodations and hotels offer entirely complimentary entry. The Inn comprises ballrooms along with spaces that are smaller. There aren't a lot of pure vegetarian dining establishments out there available in Lankawi.

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. Additionally, there Are a Lot of intriguing areas to Visit at the western aspects of Georgia. This fantastic picture vegetation a seed on mind which flowers over and over nevertheless usually you have observed it.

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