eclectic

I’m going to Helsinki in summer for 3 days.

Here’s a weird question: As the country which produced Nokia mobile phones, I have been requested to buy a couple. Anyone know if I can easily buy a mobile phone outright, and if they’re cheap? And do they have the latest models there?

I have been organising my trip to go to Russia in August since March – been 2 months now. My travel agent warned me that it wasn’t peachy obtaining a travel visa and while I took her advice lightly initially, my experience so far (it’s not over!) in getting a visa has been horrendous. Basically I’m going to arrive in St Petersburg, going on a tour, then was planning on spending last few days with a friend in Moscow.

But no – never simple, as tourists need visas to get into the country, and invitation letters to boot to inform the government where you’re staying every night before you can send through application form. Then the place I’m staying at in St Petersburg is sooo expensive and not even in the city centre – but if I wanted to find a cheaper place, the company in Australia that processes visas told me they wouldn’t help me and I’d have to do it myself as the chances of me getting rejected would increase and they didn’t want to handle it.

But then that would mean taking off a couple of half days of work in going to Russian consulate (out of the way for me and my work) and then going back another time to pick up forms. Not worth it, and I’d lose my wages.

My friend is in Moscow but not a registered resident there, she’s originally from another region. She needs to go to the police to get an invitation letter, but has to go back to her hometown to get it. She called to enquire what forms I need to send to her and they said to come in and look at the poster, that’s what it’s there for – then hung up on her. Argh. So I called Russian consulate here except the number for visa enquiries wasn’t working – finally got through general number and man told me in broken English to call direct number and cut me off mid-sentence. Hung up on me too!

Finally find out from my friend that besides photocopy of my passport that I need to send to her, there are four other things apparently (she’s not sure yet what), but this includes letter from my work that informs them how much I earn here!

That’s it. Get screwed. Do I LOOK like an idiot? I’m only there for 10 days!! Thank goodness it’s not for 80 – otherwise I’d have to get a HIV test done in a clinic to send with my documentation! (NO JOKE).

Yes I’m still going, have always wanted to go – it’s been my dream, and I’m very excited… However, I am leaving straight after the tour (despite my friend’s suggestion to just change my flight once I get visa approval), and heading to another country that doesn’t have all this visa melodrama.

I went here 10 years ago when I was 13. I think that’s the best age to go, because you’re old enough to enjoy all the rides and you’re still young and are thrilled by all the cartoons and entertainment. If I went back now I’d look like a big child hehe.

I had an excellent time – so much to do and see and so much I wanted to buy.. I loved Epcot Center the most because of all the ‘countries’ and Universal Studios for the ‘Back to the Future’ ride. Definitely somewhere to experience and enjoy.

An interesting, sleepy little town with a lot of foreign history – there’s a Russian Orthodox Church, a Catholic Church and an Episcopal Church there, looking forlorn and rather unused now that it’s not packed with foreign merchants.

If you’re there in winter, try to get there just in time for the snow sculpture festival they have. The people there are very pleasant and friendly, and it’s really easy to see the whole town just by riding on buses and trams.

Go during the Yuki Matsuri (snow festival) in early February! It’s fantastic – snow and ice sculptures around the streets which light up at night, and you can always warm yourself up with a nice hot bowl of ramen (noodles) in the famous Ramen-jo (Ramen Alley) near Susukino :) I recommend staying at the capsule hotel there, available for men and women, for a unique Japanese experience!

Definitely would love to go back!