I honestly think that it is easier to leave Australia then it is to enter it. Leaving Australia is as follows:
1. Fill out a customs form.
2. Wait about 3 mins in a line.
3. Customs person plays on computer and says that you are ok to leave.
4. Go to waiting room and wait for plane.
However, entering Paris from Charles de Gaulle Airport is as follows:
1. Go to foreigner line and wait about 5 mins.
2. Get passport stamped.
3. Enter the EU.
It was 5 am when we entered France, there was one booth open with two people in there stamping passports.
It was even easier leaving from Frankfurt. We waited about a minute and then got our passports stamped and then left.
Malaysia was interesting.
KLIA has a very large customs area. I think there were about 20 of the two people booths open and about half of them were staffed. No waiting in line at all. You filled out your customs form on the flight, they stamped your passport you entered the country.
Leaving was about the same. Most of the customs booths were open (and this was during the Chinese New Year as well, you'd be amazed how empty Kuala Lumpur was considering how many people there aren't Chinese) no lines, no waiting, a couple of stamps and you were out of there.
Then I arrived back in Australia.
My customs form was already filled out on the plane. I had to wait about 10 mins in line because I didn't know (and I guess nearly everyone else didn't either) that you could go to a "self service" thing. They had about 10 booths but they could only hold one person. There were three open booths helping Australians and two for foreigners. In typical Australian fashion everything was slow because of the bureaucracy.
I could understand if this was the proper customs section. That bit was surprisingly efficient. We went in, answered a few questions, and left. That was it. But this was the bit where you get your passport checked before you go and get your bags. That was frustraitingly slow.
It seems to be an Australian phenomena. I had to go to the Centrelink office recently and I learned that they had renovated it. Before they had many sections each with at least one person there to help you (there were places for more but usually it was one person). No more. Now they've changed it to one counter for the elderly and carers and two for everyone else. They melded three sections into one "general enquiries" section just to increase the amount of time you waste in lines.
That sums up dealings with the Australian Government. You spend far more time waiting in lines here then you would over in other countries.
Bravo Australian Government. Bravo.
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
Monday, 9 February 2009
Tarquinia
If you are in Italy and you have your own way of getting around I really suggest that you take a trip to Tarquinia. Tarquinia is along the coast of Italy, and was one of the major Etruscan cities.
There is a Necropolis there with some of the finest decorated tombs in Tuscany.
If you leave Rome head out towards Sutri (the road isn't an autostrada though) and spend some time looking at the amphitheatre there. It might not be as fancy as the Colosseum but it is one that was hewn out of the tuff. There are some tombs there of a different variety and a church that was converted from a Mithreaum.
As I stated before the tombs in Tarquinia are very finely decorated. They have a few recurring elements. Feasting scenes for example are popular for tombs built when times were good. There are other scences though, one is decorated as if it were a forest. Another, known as the 'hunting and fishing tomb', is decorated in hunting and fishing motifs. There was one tomb that was influenced by Bacchic rites with one picture of a woman being whipped (Etruscan S&M?).
Many of the tombs have a happy/peaceful feel to them. There was one though that was built when the Romans started to increase pressure on the Etruscan cities. It had a family being led into the underworld by an Etruscan spirit of the dead. It seemed out of place and sad.
But it is worth seeing, however you need plenty of time since they close at 2pm. We needed to move on so we only saw the tombs, but there is a museum as well.
There is a Necropolis there with some of the finest decorated tombs in Tuscany.
If you leave Rome head out towards Sutri (the road isn't an autostrada though) and spend some time looking at the amphitheatre there. It might not be as fancy as the Colosseum but it is one that was hewn out of the tuff. There are some tombs there of a different variety and a church that was converted from a Mithreaum.
As I stated before the tombs in Tarquinia are very finely decorated. They have a few recurring elements. Feasting scenes for example are popular for tombs built when times were good. There are other scences though, one is decorated as if it were a forest. Another, known as the 'hunting and fishing tomb', is decorated in hunting and fishing motifs. There was one tomb that was influenced by Bacchic rites with one picture of a woman being whipped (Etruscan S&M?).
Many of the tombs have a happy/peaceful feel to them. There was one though that was built when the Romans started to increase pressure on the Etruscan cities. It had a family being led into the underworld by an Etruscan spirit of the dead. It seemed out of place and sad.
But it is worth seeing, however you need plenty of time since they close at 2pm. We needed to move on so we only saw the tombs, but there is a museum as well.
Friday, 6 February 2009
Jason Spiehler - Tour Guide
So, you're in eternal Rome, and you want to go for a tour. So you need to find yourself a guide. The best person to guide you around Rome is an American from Louisiana.
No, you read that right.
The man in question is named Jason Spiehler.
He is an art historian and theologian and is quite possibly the best tour guide in Rome.
He is even recommended by name by the New York Times.
Finding him starts at the end of our first day in Rome. We had been to the Colosseum, and we were wandering around the Forum when, a tour appeared near the Rostra Divi Iulii. The man, an American, was both informative and entertaining, something that is very important when it comes to a tour. The tour was free, so we tagged along and got to learn more about the Forum.
As a side note, when one of the people outside the Colosseum said that there were no signs in the Forum he wasn't kidding. There were a few signs, but they only said what the things were. For someone who doesn't know anything about the forum you would be hard pressed to know who the hell Phocas was, and why did he have a column in the forum, or what the hell most of the buildings were. It makes a really good selling point for the tour guides, because you are forced to pay a more expensive price for a tour. I'm not lying here, I saw nothing for an official tour of the forum, and the Colosseum official tour is €4. It probably works out cheap if you are not an EU citizen, but not if you are eligible for the discount.
Anyway. We learned about Phocas and at the Curia we learned about the cheap, corner cutting technique used to build it. There was quite a bit of stuff we learned, and it all culminated with him reciting Shakespeare at the foot of the Temple of Jupiter.
There was a night tour but we didn't go on that. Instead we decided to forgoe the Palatine Hill (the ticket is valid for two days) and check out some of the other well known sights in Rome (Trevi fountain, Spanish Steps, Castel Sant' Angelo etc.) and go to the Vatican for his Vatican tour (which did cost money though). Firstly it was worth it. It decided to rain about the time the tour started, so it worked out alright since we were inside. Secondly, after the partial tour that we went on with him in the forum it seemed like a really stupid idea not to take up the offer.
An interesting tour followed, and we never noticed that we spent three hours in the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. Someone with the credentials that Jason has makes it really interesting to look at and understand the artwork that is there.
I now understand far better then I ever would works like Raphael's School of Athens or the symbolism of the fresco of the Sistine Chapel (hint: Jonah = Jesus). Or a rather funny tale involving the painting of The Last Jugement where Biagio de Cesena insulted the painting Michelangelo portrayed him as Minos, in the hell part of the picture with ass' ears and a snake biting his penis. When Cesena complained to the Pope the response was that he couldn't do anything because the Pope is not in charge of hell.
If you ever get a chance to go on a tour of the Vatican (or find him in the forum, or on a night walk) go. Do it. You won't regret it.
[The title is there because of laziness, I can't think of a decent one. So this crappier one will have to do, sorry.]
No, you read that right.
The man in question is named Jason Spiehler.
He is an art historian and theologian and is quite possibly the best tour guide in Rome.
He is even recommended by name by the New York Times.
Finding him starts at the end of our first day in Rome. We had been to the Colosseum, and we were wandering around the Forum when, a tour appeared near the Rostra Divi Iulii. The man, an American, was both informative and entertaining, something that is very important when it comes to a tour. The tour was free, so we tagged along and got to learn more about the Forum.
As a side note, when one of the people outside the Colosseum said that there were no signs in the Forum he wasn't kidding. There were a few signs, but they only said what the things were. For someone who doesn't know anything about the forum you would be hard pressed to know who the hell Phocas was, and why did he have a column in the forum, or what the hell most of the buildings were. It makes a really good selling point for the tour guides, because you are forced to pay a more expensive price for a tour. I'm not lying here, I saw nothing for an official tour of the forum, and the Colosseum official tour is €4. It probably works out cheap if you are not an EU citizen, but not if you are eligible for the discount.
Anyway. We learned about Phocas and at the Curia we learned about the cheap, corner cutting technique used to build it. There was quite a bit of stuff we learned, and it all culminated with him reciting Shakespeare at the foot of the Temple of Jupiter.
There was a night tour but we didn't go on that. Instead we decided to forgoe the Palatine Hill (the ticket is valid for two days) and check out some of the other well known sights in Rome (Trevi fountain, Spanish Steps, Castel Sant' Angelo etc.) and go to the Vatican for his Vatican tour (which did cost money though). Firstly it was worth it. It decided to rain about the time the tour started, so it worked out alright since we were inside. Secondly, after the partial tour that we went on with him in the forum it seemed like a really stupid idea not to take up the offer.
An interesting tour followed, and we never noticed that we spent three hours in the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. Someone with the credentials that Jason has makes it really interesting to look at and understand the artwork that is there.
I now understand far better then I ever would works like Raphael's School of Athens or the symbolism of the fresco of the Sistine Chapel (hint: Jonah = Jesus). Or a rather funny tale involving the painting of The Last Jugement where Biagio de Cesena insulted the painting Michelangelo portrayed him as Minos, in the hell part of the picture with ass' ears and a snake biting his penis. When Cesena complained to the Pope the response was that he couldn't do anything because the Pope is not in charge of hell.
If you ever get a chance to go on a tour of the Vatican (or find him in the forum, or on a night walk) go. Do it. You won't regret it.
[The title is there because of laziness, I can't think of a decent one. So this crappier one will have to do, sorry.]
Sunday, 1 February 2009
Student Discounts
Won't be given in Italy.
That is what I have learned, in this, my third part of travel stuff.
I'm pretty sure that this isn't entirely true. But it is true at least if you go to more famous things.
I suspect that this is true in most cases for more famous things. In Paris, which isn't in Italy, you won't get a discount when you go to the Louvre. I don't know why, I mean it isn't like they get millions of people going there each year to see things, but you don't.
You do at the Catacombs, and at Invalides though.
The Rembranthuis has a discount of about €2.80 for students which is good, compared to €1.50 at the Catacombs and €2 at Invalides.
However, I don't remember getting one at the Deutsches Schiffahrtsmuseum. And to be honest the saving at Neuschwanstein was €1, which incidentally was the same saving as in Walhalla.
Italy however seems to work on EU citizenship. I may be living in Australia but I am technically a citizen of the EU under article 17 (1) of the Treaty of Rome. I didn't have to prove it in Rome and the Necropolis at Tarquinia (something I should write on), but I did in Florence, so I paid the full price because the consulate for the relevant country of which I am a citizen of (as well as Australia) didn't have a fingerprint machine and I couldn't be bothered paying $100 for a temporary one to save about $30.
The student discounts are ok, but I've found that you don't need to get an International Student card thingy. Places didn't accept them, and other places, like Walhalla for example, were happy enough to accept a student ID from the university.
However, the discounts don't seem to work for students over 26. Invalides, the Vatican Museum and a bunch of other places have an upper age limit of 26. The places in Germany didn't do such a thing which was good. I saw this limit annoy one man at the ticket counter in the Vatican for that reason. I didn't have to worry.
That is what I have learned, in this, my third part of travel stuff.
I'm pretty sure that this isn't entirely true. But it is true at least if you go to more famous things.
I suspect that this is true in most cases for more famous things. In Paris, which isn't in Italy, you won't get a discount when you go to the Louvre. I don't know why, I mean it isn't like they get millions of people going there each year to see things, but you don't.
You do at the Catacombs, and at Invalides though.
The Rembranthuis has a discount of about €2.80 for students which is good, compared to €1.50 at the Catacombs and €2 at Invalides.
However, I don't remember getting one at the Deutsches Schiffahrtsmuseum. And to be honest the saving at Neuschwanstein was €1, which incidentally was the same saving as in Walhalla.
Italy however seems to work on EU citizenship. I may be living in Australia but I am technically a citizen of the EU under article 17 (1) of the Treaty of Rome. I didn't have to prove it in Rome and the Necropolis at Tarquinia (something I should write on), but I did in Florence, so I paid the full price because the consulate for the relevant country of which I am a citizen of (as well as Australia) didn't have a fingerprint machine and I couldn't be bothered paying $100 for a temporary one to save about $30.
The student discounts are ok, but I've found that you don't need to get an International Student card thingy. Places didn't accept them, and other places, like Walhalla for example, were happy enough to accept a student ID from the university.
However, the discounts don't seem to work for students over 26. Invalides, the Vatican Museum and a bunch of other places have an upper age limit of 26. The places in Germany didn't do such a thing which was good. I saw this limit annoy one man at the ticket counter in the Vatican for that reason. I didn't have to worry.
Catacomb and Ossuary
Take a look at this interesting picture that I took in Paris.
"So what Wildy? It's just a bad picture of a street sign, why are you wasting my time?" most likely what you are thinking, but bear with me.
Like the sign below it, these were taken in Paris. However I was under the street when I took it.
Welcome to a picture from the Catacombs of Paris.
I don't know how many people know of it, but there are tunnels underneath the Paris. Initially they were used for quarrying limestone which went into the construction of the city above. Yes, you heard me right, they used the very rock that the city was built on to build the city. Doesn't sound very logical huh?
In the 1800s when the city started to collapse from the tunnels they sent workers down there to reinforce, and strengthen the tunnels. These street signs were a useful way to allow a worker to find his location in the labyrinth of tunnels.
Over time the catacombs have been used as a quarry, some tunnels, a hiding place during the revolution, transport tunnels for the Resistance and the Nazi troops during WWII a church and an Ossuary.
When the tunnels were being strengthened the government also thought it would be a good idea to empty out the cemeteries, which were getting too full, and pile the bones into the catacombs. They did, and along the way they consecrated the area and made a chapel.
The remains of about 6 million Parisians lie within these catacombs, which are lined with skulls and femurs mainly, along with plaque things with stuff that I can't understand in French, and Bible quotes that I can't understand in Latin.
Somewhere among these bones are also victims of the Terror, nobles, a lawyer to the King, a handmaiden of the Queen, enemies of Robespierre and also Robespierre himself. When the cemetery was emptied the remains of Robespierre were moved to the Ossuary as well and were lost among the remains of other Parisians including those who he had sent to their deaths.
The catacombs are located on Avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy and the walk through the catacombs takes about an hour.
There are two spiral staircases that you have to walk on and the area before the Ossuary shows you the reinforcing work that was undertaken as well as some sculptures of palaces on an island somewhere.
On the way out you can see areas where the tunnels had caved in and subsequently cleared, leaving a bell shaped roof.
If you do what I did, go see the former site of the Bastille first. Then walk across the Seine and check out their Natural History Museum (with a statue of Lamarck...) If you don't go to the other museum there, go to the metro stop outside the McDonalds and head to the Catacombs. They are right across from the Metro station (but you have to go above ground first).
Finally, sorry for the crappy pictures. I used my phone on night mode. I wasn't the one carrying the camera.
"So what Wildy? It's just a bad picture of a street sign, why are you wasting my time?" most likely what you are thinking, but bear with me.
Like the sign below it, these were taken in Paris. However I was under the street when I took it.
Welcome to a picture from the Catacombs of Paris.
I don't know how many people know of it, but there are tunnels underneath the Paris. Initially they were used for quarrying limestone which went into the construction of the city above. Yes, you heard me right, they used the very rock that the city was built on to build the city. Doesn't sound very logical huh?
In the 1800s when the city started to collapse from the tunnels they sent workers down there to reinforce, and strengthen the tunnels. These street signs were a useful way to allow a worker to find his location in the labyrinth of tunnels.Over time the catacombs have been used as a quarry, some tunnels, a hiding place during the revolution, transport tunnels for the Resistance and the Nazi troops during WWII a church and an Ossuary.
When the tunnels were being strengthened the government also thought it would be a good idea to empty out the cemeteries, which were getting too full, and pile the bones into the catacombs. They did, and along the way they consecrated the area and made a chapel.
The remains of about 6 million Parisians lie within these catacombs, which are lined with skulls and femurs mainly, along with plaque things with stuff that I can't understand in French, and Bible quotes that I can't understand in Latin.Somewhere among these bones are also victims of the Terror, nobles, a lawyer to the King, a handmaiden of the Queen, enemies of Robespierre and also Robespierre himself. When the cemetery was emptied the remains of Robespierre were moved to the Ossuary as well and were lost among the remains of other Parisians including those who he had sent to their deaths.
The catacombs are located on Avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy and the walk through the catacombs takes about an hour.There are two spiral staircases that you have to walk on and the area before the Ossuary shows you the reinforcing work that was undertaken as well as some sculptures of palaces on an island somewhere.
On the way out you can see areas where the tunnels had caved in and subsequently cleared, leaving a bell shaped roof.
If you do what I did, go see the former site of the Bastille first. Then walk across the Seine and check out their Natural History Museum (with a statue of Lamarck...) If you don't go to the other museum there, go to the metro stop outside the McDonalds and head to the Catacombs. They are right across from the Metro station (but you have to go above ground first).
Finally, sorry for the crappy pictures. I used my phone on night mode. I wasn't the one carrying the camera.
Friday, 30 January 2009
Travel Observations
Well I spent the past two months travelling a bit and I have observed a few things that I'm going to write about right now. I'm not going to bother writing too much detail at the moment, you will have to travel yourself.
It's also "part one" of a "series" of more then one parts that I will write about based on this trip.
Firstly, if the Parisian parking inspectors started to enforce parking laws in the same manner that you see here in Australia the government would be a hell of a lot richer, and the number of available parking spaces would be at least halved.
Incidentally French people seemed rather willing to speak English. It also helps if you know how to ask if they can in French. Will be writing more on Paris.
Brussels is rather boring but if you go in the off season you can find really cheap, good three course meals for about 10 Euros (about A$20). It's one of those choose from a set number of choices menus but one of the choices was a pepper steak.
Den Haag is nice and rather relaxed and unlike Amsterdam is far more car friendly.
If you are an Australian never, ever think of food portions in Australian terms when in Germany. I ordered a "kleine portion" at the Deutsches Schiffahrtsmuseum in Bremerhaven and was given three plates of food.
Prague is quite nice in the winter. The only problem is that since all the touristy things are located close to each other you will be surrounded by tourists.
Insurance companies in Europe are far more understanding then Australian ones. Until they offer you a hire car which comes standard with summer tyres. Does not help when you want to cross the Alps.
Germany has many cigarette and gumball machine things that you see along the side of the roads. If they did that here the machines would be stolen within minutes. Also cigarette packets only tell you that smoking can kill you. No pictures.
The same goes for pedestrian malls. There were no bollards protecting the Mac shop in München from being ram raided because they don't seem to do that thing there.
If you happen to head over the Brenner pass and you stop at the Europabrücke to look around, don't go to the McDonalds at the rest stop. Honestly, take the time and go to the restaurant instead.
The roads in Italy have along the sides of the roads either a) rubbish, or b) prostitutes.
I have many things to say about the Italian version of Wheel of Fortune, but I'm going to write a whole post on that.
The Forum Romanum is not very well signed, and the Colosseum has no signs at all. The official Colosseum tour is only 4 Euros, the other tours from some group thingy include the Colosseum and the Forum but are far more expensive.
For a tour guide for Rome (and the Vatican) one name: Jason Spiehler. Will definitely write more.
Incidentally Rome is quite expensive, and Roman pizza leaves a lot to be desired. (Time and the fact that Naples was flooded are the reasons why I didn't get to see Pompeii, or eat pizza from the birthplace of the food).
15 Euros to climb the Leaning Tower. So I didn't.
If you go to the Königsschlösser I personally think you shouldn't bother seeing Hohenschwangau. The tour is very rushed. Neuschwanstein however is far more relaxed.
I do wonder if Wagner was somewhat annoyed that they stopped work on the castle, considering that it was designed to be an embodiment of his operas.
Malaysia is ok to go to at the end of the wet season, except if you want lots of humidity. More will be written here as well.
It's also "part one" of a "series" of more then one parts that I will write about based on this trip.
Firstly, if the Parisian parking inspectors started to enforce parking laws in the same manner that you see here in Australia the government would be a hell of a lot richer, and the number of available parking spaces would be at least halved.
Incidentally French people seemed rather willing to speak English. It also helps if you know how to ask if they can in French. Will be writing more on Paris.
Brussels is rather boring but if you go in the off season you can find really cheap, good three course meals for about 10 Euros (about A$20). It's one of those choose from a set number of choices menus but one of the choices was a pepper steak.
Den Haag is nice and rather relaxed and unlike Amsterdam is far more car friendly.
If you are an Australian never, ever think of food portions in Australian terms when in Germany. I ordered a "kleine portion" at the Deutsches Schiffahrtsmuseum in Bremerhaven and was given three plates of food.
Prague is quite nice in the winter. The only problem is that since all the touristy things are located close to each other you will be surrounded by tourists.
Insurance companies in Europe are far more understanding then Australian ones. Until they offer you a hire car which comes standard with summer tyres. Does not help when you want to cross the Alps.
Germany has many cigarette and gumball machine things that you see along the side of the roads. If they did that here the machines would be stolen within minutes. Also cigarette packets only tell you that smoking can kill you. No pictures.
The same goes for pedestrian malls. There were no bollards protecting the Mac shop in München from being ram raided because they don't seem to do that thing there.
If you happen to head over the Brenner pass and you stop at the Europabrücke to look around, don't go to the McDonalds at the rest stop. Honestly, take the time and go to the restaurant instead.
The roads in Italy have along the sides of the roads either a) rubbish, or b) prostitutes.
I have many things to say about the Italian version of Wheel of Fortune, but I'm going to write a whole post on that.
The Forum Romanum is not very well signed, and the Colosseum has no signs at all. The official Colosseum tour is only 4 Euros, the other tours from some group thingy include the Colosseum and the Forum but are far more expensive.
For a tour guide for Rome (and the Vatican) one name: Jason Spiehler. Will definitely write more.
Incidentally Rome is quite expensive, and Roman pizza leaves a lot to be desired. (Time and the fact that Naples was flooded are the reasons why I didn't get to see Pompeii, or eat pizza from the birthplace of the food).
15 Euros to climb the Leaning Tower. So I didn't.
If you go to the Königsschlösser I personally think you shouldn't bother seeing Hohenschwangau. The tour is very rushed. Neuschwanstein however is far more relaxed.
I do wonder if Wagner was somewhat annoyed that they stopped work on the castle, considering that it was designed to be an embodiment of his operas.
Malaysia is ok to go to at the end of the wet season, except if you want lots of humidity. More will be written here as well.
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