Passports, Visas and Vaccinations

Our passports had to have six months validity on our arrival back to the country we left from, in our case Melbourne. It would be too costly to sort it out whilst overseas, were we not to have that six month 'window'. Another safety step would be to contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, just to let the government know that you are in China. Or the Australian Ministry. Obviously let family and friends know of your travel plans. Make photocopies of your travelling papers; passport; insurance and anything else that you think is important. Carry a couple of sets with you, put a set on the internet so that you can access it. Leave a set at home with whanau and if you are travelling with others, then give them a set too. Because if you lose your suitcases etc, they will have copies of your papers with them. I know, I know, but more is better.


Chinese Visa; Would you believe, from NZ it costs $140 for a single entry, $210 for a double entry; $280 for a 6 month, multi pass! Unbelievable. The Multi pass one was the one that we were going to need, because we would come out of China and then re-entering, perhaps more than once. Thankfully, I would be leaving (and paying) from Australia, so it would only cost $85AUD = $105NZD plus postage (back to me), which would mean that I would end up paying about $125NZD. Far less than $280 NZD.

I would come to rely on the 'Currency Conversion widget.' Bouncing between NZD, AUD, CNY (Chinese yuan) HKD (Hong Kong dollars) and MOP (Macau Pataca).

Vaccinations: So many, so many. After reading about what was required, I went to 'Worldwise' a company that could give me my vaccinations. I had the Tetanus/Diptheria = $20; Typhoid = $65; and the triple visit Rabies shots =$195; the 3 appointments and administration of the vaccinations in total cost $90. Thankfully I had Hepatitis A and B immunities. I did consider Malaria. However Malaria seemed to be more prominent in the African countries. Were I to get medication I would have gone to an ordinary doctor and got a 3 month prescription of Doxyclycline, (an antibiotic) this would have cost $12, and I would have taken a month ahead of my leaving as I did with my innoculations. Because mosquitoes just love my blood :) What I am going to do is take Deet, a recommended mosquito repellent. Lanacaine, if one of those things gets to bite me, it takes the itch away. I'll take Vitamin B, beginning a month before I go as I've read that mosquitoes don't like Vitamin B blood :) and I'll buy Avon 'Soft and Silky' body moisturiser (another handy hint), I think the mosquitoes just slide off :). And when all else fails, I've read that I could go to a pharmacy and buy a bottle of Qingliang You 清凉油 - a cool & refreshing oil, which is said to work. Finally, mosquitos are said to be attracted to perfume and dark coloured clothing. NOW, that's where I draw the line, I like dark clothing and I love nice smells. :)