My Czech Travelbook is completed!

Just like how it took ages for the completion of my Turkey travelbook, it took an even longer time to get this project completed. I'm happy with the result (apart from one or two typos), and I hope you enjoy taking a look at it!

Čau Čechy by bentse

Make Your Own Book

Getting a visa in Prague

If ever I think of emigrating, this story makes me think otherwise.

It dates back to my post secondment travels in June 2009, when I was travelling with the Schengen work visa stuck to my passport, which was valid till 31 May 2009. I had planned to see the Yeah Yeah Yeahs in concert on 1 June in Prague, and hence booked my return ticket to Singapore for 2 June.

After what happened in London (where my work visa expired and I was not allowed back to Norway till my work permit was extended for a month), I did not want any form of trouble with immigration on my final flight back home, especially since my firm was not going to compensate me for any costs/penalties incurred. I decided I was going to the Singapore Embassy in Prague to get any potential issues sorted out before I flew back, especially since I had 5 days or so in Prague.

Visa Mission Day 1
Getting to the Singapore embassy was simple, and meeting the ambassador's secretary was pleasant and straightforward. I was instructed to go to the immigration department located at Opletalova 27 and there I should have my visa renewed/extended with minimal fuss. I thanked her and went on my way.

Since I had some time in the afternoon, I thought I would try checking out the immigration building by tram. Based on the instructions from the internet sites, I boarded the tram, and alighted at a stop which appeared to be close to the immigratoin centre (from the map). Somehow I ended walking a good HOUR or so in the suburbs, and I realised I had to get back to central Prague to meet a couchsurfer for beers. Wasted time, if I did not consider the not so scenic tram ride a Czech experience in itself.

Visa Mission Day 2
Getting the directions right this time, I left Tereza's (my CS host) office with a good hour to reach the Immigration Centre (they closed at 12, according to the website). I was at the tram station and wanted to buy a tram ticket from the nearby newspaper stand, but they were closed for lunch, so I took a chance and boarded the tram, since technically the office was to close in an hour, and Tereza told me she had not been caught by a tram inspector for more than a year (she had been travelling free in Prague for most of the year). Horror of horrors, and the inspector boarded the tram, and I was deservedly fined a good EUR40 equivalent... At least I'd get my visa problems solved today... or so I thought... the Immigration Centre was closed for the day! Best part is, they had been closed the entire day, and the website was outdated! Wasted day, with additional cost for a fine!

Visa Mission Day 3 (a couple of days later)
I finally got to the Immigration Centre, and this time made it to the Immigration counter. They did not speak English, and the counter staff did not even put in an effort to help. Basically they told me in Czech that they do not speak English. After an hour or so, I realised I was in the WRONG part of the building...
I was pissed. I returned to the Singapore embassy, and raised my voice this time at the ambassador's secretary, tell her to make some calls, and to get all the steps to get my visa extended. I even told her to type out a letter in Czech so that the monolingual locals could understand what I needed. She was apologetic and did as told.

On my second trip for the day, I made it to the Police Branch, where I was told to take passport photos for the visa. Not too bad, apart from going down 6 floors to have them taken and going up again. At least this time things were moving. After submitting the passport photos, I was made to wait in a rooom with a few other non-locals. 2 were of Middle Eastern descent, the other was Asian. I could hear banging of walls on the other side of the wall. Clearly I was not the only unhappy person in the building. After 45 minutes of waiting, I poked my head out to their office to check on them. I was shouted at to stay in the room. Knowing that arguing was not going to get me anywhere, I did as told. My patience paid off and at the end of 2 hours, I had an extra sticker on my passport which allowed me to stay in Prague till 2 June 2009....

Having gotten what I needed, and feeling bad about what I did to the Embassy lady, I apologised to her by way of flowers on my journey back to Prague central.

Lesson learnt:
I sure as hell know that I would not want to be part of the Czech social system!

Have fate will meet...

Well, if one is not amazed at how I met Jamie (see earlier post about meeting people) in both Granada and Toledo (well, both are still Spanish cities) randomly, hopefully this post impresses.

I met an Australian backpacker in Selcuk, Turkey on 11 May 2009 on a bus ride. We spoke a couple of hours and she alighted at some place I don't remember.

Fast forward 48 days later, 1590km away, and I meet this same lady in my hostel (Hostel99, see previous post) in Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic!

And no, I did not know her travel schedule, we did not keep in touch subsequent to Selcuk... it was just one of those "hey, I've seen you somewhere before" moments.

Totally random, totally cool!

The Kama Sutra room

Location: Hostel99, Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic
Date: 27-28 June 2009

Hostel99 is a really cool hostel built out of an old Czech house, with great atmosphere, free wi-fi, a bar and bakery, rooms with names instead of numbers, and a large dvd collection to boot. But what really made my stay memorable was their Kama Sutra room.

So here's the story:

I was asking the receptionist where to get a towel, and he blabbered that the towels were in a cabinet around the corner. I was not really paying attention to the receptionist's specific directions, and entered the first room around the corner, thinking the cabinet would be inside. There was no cabinet in sight, but what I did see was a naked couple on the bed, without sheets, copulating....


My natural response - "Oh F#*k, Sorry!" and shut the door. I looked up at the door, taking note of the room name - Kama Sutra.

The towel cabinet turned out to be just outside the room.

Pub by the flooded river

I actually did clarify that the Kama Sutra room was a regular double room available for rent, and not a communal room for copulation.

Lesson learnt: Unless you're fine with strangers walking in, lock the door.

Afterthought: Just thought of the movie "Hostel". Maybe I was supposed to stay in the room, and get invited for some decadence... oh well...