Comments on: The Seven Thousand Dollar Passport: An Adventure in Accidental Travel

By: Alex

Alex — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 17:58:49 +0000

In reply to Wes. First of all, I totally disagree with you on the general interest level of your life. Second, hope the flesh-eating bacteria is clearing up soon.

By: Diane

Diane — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 15:53:24 +0000

In reply to Tiffany @ theUnimaginedLife. Sounds like France! No one hurries here either. It's a good thing to be relaxed and all -- until you need something important done!

By: Wes

Wes — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 09:43:04 +0000

In reply to Tiffany @ theUnimaginedLife. I suspect this is thanks to the Australian embassy, who were just extraordinary. Translators, solicitors, taxis, tour guides. I was very lucky and don't I know it :-)

By: Wes

Wes — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 09:40:36 +0000

In reply to Jess.

Australia has a punitive system, where replacing lost passports are more expensive than normal replacements. Plus, Australian passports are normally a few hundred dollars to start with, and I get the 64 pager, since we can’t get extra pages, and use 32 in about 18 months. If I remember correctly, the actual emergency one issued in Beirut was quite cheap – maybe $100? The costs were accommodation, visas, exit fees, lost and replacement plane tickets from Beirut to mel to del, more visas, living, kebabs, beer, souvenir commemorative tea-towel. The figure is not forensic – it was around that figure. The actual passport was about $400. Whatever, just don’t lose yours!!!!

By: Tiffany @ theUnimaginedLife

Tiffany @ theUnimaginedLife — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 08:31:20 +0000

Having lived in Beirut part time for the last 5 years, I can completely attest that Lebanon (and her people) are some of the most amazing, kind hearted and generous souls I’ve ever had the pleasure of coming into contact with…Unfortunately, I can also attest that no one ever really gets in hurry to do anything! (i.e Police, government officials, etc..) ….I’ve known people that have had to wait months to get documents replaced! Glad that wasn’t you 🙂

By: Jess

Jess — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 03:08:24 +0000

Interesting. My sister lost her passport abroad and I think it cost her maybe an extra $100 on top of the regular passport fee. Just to clarify did most of the costs stem from the need to get a new work visa, and not the cost of the passport itself? If he had just need a temporary replacement passport I assume it would have been cheaper? I hope so, I am already terrified of losing my passport abroad- I`ve lost it back home and that was bad enough!!! Plus the fact that I have already lost one passport means I have a stamp in mine that says “This passport replaces on that has been declared lost” so if I ever lose it again.. I don`t even want to think about that 😉

By: Wes

Wes — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 23:31:55 +0000

I’m not that interesting. This is pretty much everything that ever happened to me. Though right now I’m in hospital with a flesh eating bacteria so that’s one more thing. I think I get out tomorrow.

Thanks miss Alex, this was a lot of fun. My 15 mins is up. Ding! Can’t wait to read about your other mates.

Wes

By: Alex

Alex — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 21:27:17 +0000

In reply to Andi of My Beautiful Adventures. Andi wow, that is dramatic! What drove the price up so much, just all the diplomatic business of it being a holiday? If only we could have our passports surgically attached to our bodies!

By: Alex

Alex — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 21:26:11 +0000

In reply to Mike. I will have to ask Wes to answer that one!

By: Alex

Alex — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 21:25:46 +0000

In reply to Kathryn. I second the motion for Wes to write a book. Maybe then I'll finally be able to grasp what exactly his job is...