Around the world in ...

Author: Nicholas Kruger

29th April 2006

Ahoy there my little grommits and beer guzzling friends in Hermanus, as you know I've been working real hard for the past two years and well... it's all about to pay off. For those of you who don't know me "Hi" my name's Kruger, a born and bred Hermanus local (South Africa). And for the past two years I've sacrificed my beloved sun and all important surf ... for grey skies and non existent surf all for ... MONEY.

Where you ask ... well on a little island called Britain, but it's not all in vein cause come next week, 2 May '06, myself and three friends hop on a jet plane and head round the world to spots that make you wish you were us. Ha ha ha ha.

However being South African things start way before you even board that first flight. To be more exact six whole months before ... Visas ... the biggest pain in my life !

So Riaan and I headed to our local American embassy down in London (remember we're still working in Britain) for the first of many interviews. After already paying our £60 each (R1200 non refundable) to get in the embassy, Riaan realizes he hasn't even got half the documents needed ... KOOK. However I had all the correct documents and was well prepared, and by some dumb luck was called before Riaan. The dude was so impressed with my presentation, that he picked up his little microphone and called Riaan over. It went a little something like this: U.S. dude says "You traveling with him?" Riaan says " uuugh... yes! " U.S. dude proceeds to stamp our passports with six beautiful months worth of visa. SICK!

We didn't realize at the time, but a month later when Attie went to apply for his U.S. visa and proceeded to explain to the women he was traveling with us and would like the same visa, showing her photocopies of ours. The women told him that six month visas are very very hard to get and doesn't know how we managed to get them, still she grantedhim the visa and that was that. DOUBLE SICK!!

So after fiddling the same accounts and paper work it was onto the Australian embassy. After many calls, two refusals and countless e-mails we were all three finally granted our three months for the land down under.

While we were all struggling with our visas my little Lisa never had these problems. You see the fourth member of our crew has this little pink book........ and well this little pink book is more like a ...... FREE PASS rather than a passport. Life is good to Lisa NO VISAS, NO FEES, NO HASSLE and NO PROBLEMS. You see Lisa is British and well.... were NOT!

So with all pre-travel visas out the way... except Bali but that's easy, it was now time to buy some tickets. And on that note I think its time you meet the crew!

But that you'll have to wait till tomorrow to see........
Laterz, Kruger

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