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Old 09-20-2007, 09:25 PM   #1
travlvirgin
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Default Your EMBASSY can SAVE YOUR LIFE

My mum just got home from the AUS immigration department. like any proud mum she was chit chatting to the man at the counter about me hehe and my travels while she was waiting for her re-entry visa. long story short he gave her some great great advice for me. that id love to pass on

GO TO YOUR EMBASSY lol. where ever you go in the world, the man suggested to go to your countries local embassy in that country as a first stop. their duty is to protect you and because of this responsibility to you (their loving patriots) they are equiped with the best information about the area.....for example

They have panflets, books, and maps of everything you can think of in that country.

They have the most accurate and reliable advice and brochures listing the safest places to go.

The man said aparently every embassy has a list of hostels, hotels and areas to avoid/like a blacklist that have the highest crime rate. some places might supprise you. some cheap hostels may really appeal but think about your safety aswell.

You can register with them aswell to make sure your family knows your safe and the last place you were incase anything goes wrong.

They can even hold copies of your personal information incase of loss or theft.

Most/All of there services are free and they will do anything to make you safe. it is there job.

and most importantly if the worst happens. you get robbed, you are broke, you cant get home or are seriously injured. GO TO YOUR EMBASSY. it is there duty to take care of you. they have an obligation to all citizens of there home country.

they could possibly be your best source of information and your lifeline so give there front door a go. you might be thank full.

P.S the reason i feel so strongly about this is because my mum (when she was a young travla) went to Malaysia and well she had some trouble. she got robbed, all her stuff was stolen. she kinda bought a kid - dont ask - it wasnt intentional more of a barterring mistake . this kid followed her everywhere even into the embassy ahah. she had lost her travel partner who abandon her (she thinks that is who stole her moneys n stuff). so she walked into the embassy and said HELP. they organised everything all they had to do was verify she was a citizen and had adequate funding and they payed for a ticket for her to go home asap. (she obviously had to pay that back) but yeah ...... they do there part.
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Old 09-20-2007, 11:32 PM   #2
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so wait... your mom bought you?
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Old 09-21-2007, 12:33 AM   #3
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ahahahahhahahahah i never thought about it like that . lol
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Old 09-21-2007, 05:40 AM   #4
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you were actually the kid she bought? Seriously...? I thought, I dunno, if she really didnt want the kid she'd work something out with the government?
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Old 09-21-2007, 07:34 AM   #5
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I'm guessing she wasn't the kid bought! However, kid buying aside, that is all great advice so thank you for sharing it. I actually have never even been to a Canadian embassy on my travels.
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Old 09-21-2007, 07:47 AM   #6
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I think it's something I'd do if I was traveling there for while (like staying for a year or something), I think for me, it's just too much effort for a city I'll only be staying in for like 4-5 days max
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Old 09-21-2007, 08:49 AM   #7
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I went to visit the US Embassy in Amman, Jordan, because it looks like a castle and I have a friend who works there. Even though I had a US passport and a government security clearance, they fully searched me and said I wasn't allowed to go anywhere without my escort (a local Jordanian guy). I didn't encounter a single American in the process. So basically, had I just showed up as a traveler, I don't know if I could have even gotten in.

If I ever have issues, I think I'll try my luck at the Australian embassy.
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Old 09-21-2007, 08:50 AM   #8
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Yeah for sure registering with embassies is VERY important. Especially if you go to those "shady" countries aka. anything not Western Europe.

When I was in Turkey, the Canadian government event sent us terrorist attack warnings, and advisories while I was on the road... although I was in Spain by the time, they were warning me about terrorist attacks in Istanbul.

So yeah, Embassy = good thing!
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Old 09-21-2007, 10:48 AM   #9
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I couldn't have gotten to the US embassy in India if I'd tried. Besides that, they would have been horrified if they knew I was going to Kashmir. I probably would have been put on the first plane home with a stern talking-to!

It might be a good idea to hit up your embassy, but it's not always going to be located in a city you're in.
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Old 09-21-2007, 02:31 PM   #10
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That and I think the American embassies are a bit different than other countries... Our country really doesn't care about us as individuals so they make it really difficult to get help.
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Old 09-22-2007, 02:47 AM   #11
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Firstly, NO i am not the child bought . although somedays i do wonder, i think the distinct italian features and lack of malaysian gives it away though ahaha.

and yeah im with laura (im hoping that is your name lol) , i think its only really nessecary for long trips but it certainly got my mum out of crap. she is an american, and she said the embassy was wounderfull but it was a long time ago so thing must be different no adays.

I know the aus embassies are really nice i rang a few in the countries im going to in europe next yr and they were awsome. they gave me so much great advice.
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Old 09-22-2007, 03:56 AM   #12
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Never really liked the Canadian embassy mind. I find them to be slow and really bureaucratic and I get the idea they don't really care about individual travelers. Of course I am a dual national so for them its easy to pass the buck.
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Old 09-26-2007, 06:56 PM   #13
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Haha, I'm sorry to say, but some US embasies are harder to get into than Ft Knox! hehe, seriously, I dare any american to go by Colombia and Kennedy Ave here in Buenos Aires and take a look... they even got those hidraulic police trucks parked out front and everything... you'd think we're Afghanistan or sth...

I found all Argentinian embassies to be wonder fulfortunately, but luckily I wasnt there in a case of last-resourse-send-me-home-asap! hehe.
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Old 09-27-2007, 07:24 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by travlvirgin View Post
im with laura (im hoping that is your name lol)
Yes, my name is Laura

So what ever happened to the child bought?
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