Visas.
So we researched and found the following:
1. We shall buy the visas for Turkey at the border.
2. For the Iranian visa http://www.iran-embassy.org.uk/?l=e we shall apply for in London prior to departure as it is valid for 3 months from date of issue. You need to apply for authorisation number from Tehran, this can be obtained via the internet or through a recognised tour operator we chose Nasrin at Persian Voyages Ltd in Dorking 01306 885 894 who also helped advise on places to visit at £50 was the cheapest. Once the authorisation number is obtained in 7-10 days you then take your completed visa form to the consulate section in London with the number written at the top of the form. You pay your £68 each then wait for about 2 days to gain your visa stamp and you’re off.
3. The Pakistan Visa http://www.pakmission-uk.gov.pk/HC/visa.htm we also be obtained in London this is valid for 6 months from date of issue, allowing a stay of 90 days single entry giving us plenty of time in the country before it expires, ours expires on Christmas day. The secret is to turn up at the Embassy about 30 minutes before the opening time your ushered into a white marquee in the garden where you are all called forward at once. You then move in to the building corridor where a receptionist quickly checks your documents then gives you a number then moving down to the far end of the building you wait for your number on the screen. Moving to the counter you hand over the completed form, a photocopy of your passport and 2 photos, the clerk then stamps the forms returns them along with a yellow payment slip, this you then hand to the bank clerk pay your money preferably cash £41 each and wait in the collection area. About 30 minutes later a gentleman with a box returns calls out your name and you collect your passport with visa stapled in side. It all takes about 1 hour but you need to get there early to be first in the queue.
4. Due to us not being in a rush the Indian visa http://www.indianembassy.co.uk/index.htm also valid for 6 months will probably have ran out or be about to run out by the time we will arrive in India, so we applied for it in Islamabad. Pakistan thereby giving us a greater flexibility & time to see the country. It was one of the easiest to get The Government have provided a Tourist campsite about 1 mile from the Embassy that costs £1 a night for that you get a campsite in a secure compound with a section of soldiers providing 24 hr security but very cold showers. At the embassy take your passports 2 photos glue & 3000 PRps. just speak to the guard by moving to the front of the crowd then get the form stick the picture to the form & proceed to the window pay your money & return 5 days or when ever they tell you but keep the slip of paper they give you or its hard work getting your passport back.
5. The Australian visa can be applied for on the internet electronicallyhttp://www.immi.gov.au/immigration.htm ; We applied just before leaving this is then valid for 1 year with a duration of 1 year. So this gives us 1 year to get to Australia then as you enter the 1 year begins. It was easy to get just download your bank statements to prove you can support yourself whilst in the country & they enter it electronically on the system so as you enter they know you have a visa.
6. The Australian visa (v2.0) If you get issued a 1 year no further stay visa then you need to leave the country reapply then return, we went to NZ and applied again electronically but this time had to get a chest xray from a panel doctor all is explained on the website. The Doctor couriers it to Auckland embassy then once received it took 4 hours to be granted the full 1 year visa then back to the land of OZ. One thing we have learnt that it is valid for multiple entry for a full year and each time you enter the 1 year period restarts, so in theory if you wait until the year is up then fly out returning before the expire date the year restarts so it could turn in to a 2 year visa!
Banking.
Ensure that you can manage your finances on line pay any bills and have the ability to talk to the bank via their secure email system as if there are any concerns then it could cost you. Also discus with your bank what you intend doing and constantly inform them when you change countries as the fraud department can keep an eye on the spending habits. We used only ATM’s in Pakistan & India due to being concerned about card cloning. The best bank we found or that Alex our webmaster suggested was HSBC, this has proved the best decision we could have made. Thanks Alex.
V5 Vehicle logbook.
Ensuring that all the details were correct Engine, we had removed the seats so it was now a 2 seater in stead of 7
Carnet de Passage.
The Discovery's Passport this for those that don't know is to avoid paying large sums of money each time you cross over a border in import duties, yes you should get them back on exiting the country but would you give the border guard the equivalent to his annual earnings of 3 million £. (If it was me I would be off like a shot)
Being from the UK we initially approached the RAC to discover that we would need a guarantee of around £110 000 or an insurance policy around £9 000 plus Admin charges around £1000, Yes with the insurance policy you got half back but that is still a lot of money.
So we approached the German ADAC, a little worried about the language barrier but we shouldn't have been. They provided the whole package for a Guarantee of £6000 which we would have returned once the Carnet was returned.
As we were in Australia when the Carnet ran out we required a follow on Carnet this was arranged effortlessly by Karina at the ADAC and sent to Darwin where we had the new one stamped by the customs then sent the old one with a photocopy of the new one stamped to Karina. all at a cost of 210 euros.
International Drivers Permit
Very handy Purchased through the RAC, the only problem was that it only lasts for 1 year from issue.
Extras
Passport photos (lots of them) we took digital photos of each other then printed them covering an A4 sheet of paper so that we can just cut them off when needed. This avoided the delay of searching for a photo booth.
Photocopies of all our paperwork this was then left in the car & at home with Gordon (Karen's dad) then scanned put on the hard drive of our laptop, CD, Memory stick & left in a folder in our e-mail in box. all this in case of a loss
Maps & Guides
We have used Stanford's in London as the primary place to buy all the guides due to the amazing variety and choice. We settled on the Lonely Planet guides due to the vastness of information even though they are back packer orientated. For mapping we found the Euro Map to be the easiest to read, we had thought of collecting maps on route but we needed to find the locations that we wanted to visit to help plan the route. Once we had left the country we then posted the maps & guides back to our parents in Turkey as a sort of souvenir.
Shipping.
Shipping from India we used George Xavier from NTA in Cochin because we were recommended by a friend who had used him before, also shipping from a smaller port was a far easier than from Chennai or Mumbai.
George knew everyone sorted everything out within 4 days, ran us around and even welcomed us by taking us out with his family. All in all it was the better choice he even took care of the back handers to get things moving with the price quoted the price we paid, this was still $1000 to $800 cheaper than the 2 big ports.
The shipping from Cochin to Fremantle was $1850 for a 20 ft container with no hidden costs including washing etc.
His details are as follows:
Mr George Xavier
National Trades & Agencies
NTA Chambers
Hina House
Perumanoor Jetty Road
Willingdon Island
Kochi
Tel: 3012492
e-mail: ntakochi@eth.net
In Australia we used Craig Rowan, a fantastic & well connected guy. He was able to clear the docks in 1 working week, again running us around so no need for taxis.
His invoice was $2005 AUD still good value.
Fremantle Port charges $434
Container Transport $361.30
Lo/Lo & Yard fees $165
Container unpack $165
Cleaning AQIS $177
AQIS Inspection $180.50
AQIS & Customs $90
Agency fees $250
GST $182.28
Total $2005.08
Mr Craig Rowan’s details are.
Craig Rowan
Indian Ocean Shipping Agencies
Suite 5/330 South Terrace
South Fremantle
WA 6162
Tel: 61-8-9430 6266
email: c.rowan@indianoceansa.com.au
So to ship 1 Land Rover from Kochin to Fremantle in A 20 ft Container it will cost you $3865.08. That dose not include your air fares and accommodation whilst waiting.
The duration is quoted as 26 days port to port then allow 1 week in India to sort things out & at least 2 weeks in Australia. AQIS are a nightmare so be prepared, we were immaculate she couldn't find a scrap of dust but ended her well done speech with “Because it is a 4X4 it will need a wash” so you will still need a was no matter how well you clean the car. Craig pulled off cleaning & releasing that same day as it just needed a spray underneath others have spent 1 to 2 weeks in a queue for the wash downs.
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