I need a Visa to get into Belgrade, Serbia.
WHAT?!! Googled on application process and the website stated that we need to apply 3 weeks prior to traveling and it'll take 3-5 working days to process.
Panic...
Anyway, took a night bus down to London to the Serbia embassy (thank goodness I didn't have travel sickness attack), lost my specs nose piece in the toilet while I was changing, stood outside the embassy for 15 minutes like some beggar, plead them to get my visa done on the same day, told to get health insurance to have the visa approved and processed, ran around London like some headless chicken to get the insurance, got it, told that visa will be done by 3pm, bought 4pm train ticket to get back up home and 5 minutes after getting the ticket at 12.30pm, got called that visa was done. Wheee BUT train ticket at 1.30pm cost 20pounds less than the 4.30pm train T.T
Reached home at 9pm feeling so loved because my friend drove out to fetch me home (even though I already started walking home) and packed me dinner!
Slept at 1.30am, woke up at 3.30am for 4am taxi. The taxi driver recognised me because
1. I am oriental
2. I am chatty
3. He picked me and mom up when we went to Germany in June
LOL.
Flew to Serbia with no problems at 6am, transited at Paris for 4 hours where a funny American guy chat with me and trying to impress me with stories (good entertainment I would say) then reached Belgrade, Serbia at 3.30pm WITHOUT LUGGAGE!!!
Submitted a report to the lost and found desk, taxi to hotel and got cheated 180 Serbian Dinar (RSD). He told me 1800RSD but when I paid 2000RSD, he gave me back 20RSD. Only realised what happened when I was in my hotel. Feeling sorry for myself x100. Asked where to get clothes and toiletries for the conference and was directed to the largest mall. Shopping ain't my thing so it took me forever to actually buy anything. Got back to hotel at 8ish pm.
BTW, Serbians are not the friendliest people. But then again, maybe because they can't speak English and hence try to avoid me? Another story for the guys, I could feel their eyes burning into me everything I walked home from the conference. Wolf whistling, laughing after passing by me like some kiddos etc but still, it was nice when I smiled and talked to some of them (with limited English and lots of awkward laughters). I tried to buy some food and to find out what meat was used, we started communicating in animal sounds. Epic traveling experience LOL.
Conference was Ok, well, not really in the best mood to engage but it was educational and I did learn things. I was called a baby by the surgeons there because I am a freshly 2 month old graduate while they are all experienced and skilled.
Anyway, to cut story short, got my luggage the day before I left, went around exploring Serbia only to encounter words like this.
How do I go about reading this? I nearly got lost but eventually recognised the places that I passed through.
Flew back on Friday with no hiccups until I reached the UK border at the airport. Due to the wording on the visa, I was detained for almost an hour, sitting at the side like some illegal immigrant. On the bright side, I was all alone and when I was asked to sit at 'that corner', I was all alone. But still, I was dead tired and exhausted. On the bright side, my luggage was arrived safely.
Finally got home by 9ish 10pm and thanks to the taxi driver, my mood was better. I seriously love chatting with them =)
Unpacked, repacked for Edinburgh trip next day (today in 3 hours time heading down), bathed and cleared the kitchen a bit (Blame my partial OCD), washed clothes (to wash all the bad luck away LOL), searched for claim forms etc till 1ish 2am only to be woken up by my mom at 6.30am.
Now, I have tonnes of things to do and submit etc...
Hopefully my Edinburgh trip won't be as tiring as this past week.
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