Road Trip–2700 KMs Europe & 3380 KMS UK + end-to-end.

StarVegabond · 15th November 2009, 22:11

Hi Ramkya

It looks like you had a trip of a lifetime
i some how missed all those posts of yours
would read at ease late on, just now subscribing to this thread.

Cherish your trip for more time ot come.

ramkya1 · 15th November 2009, 22:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by manolin

In the movie "Day of the Jackal", there is a panning shot of this square as the Jackal surveys it. There is an Indian woman in a sari in that shot. Dont know why it suddenly remembered itself to me

@ Manolin:Didn't know that. Our guides were saying on and off, this was in that picture, that picture etc., remember them mentoning lots of "Da Vinci Code" palces in Europe and UK.

@ Wanderhermit: Thanks for that. I had collected lots of information before going and during the trip, I've put a small portion here, lots of late nights working on the project and writing this travalogue.

@ Starvagobond: I'm finished with the story and pictures; enjoyed writing and uploading this, lived the trip again. This doze would last for a long time for sure.

======

laluks · 16th November 2009, 10:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by MileCruncher

When I first landed in UK, had hired a car from Avis on a weekly rental and they had accepted my Indian licence. No IDP. ThenI got myself a car and the Insurance was bought on the Indian License ( it costed more than the car). I was stopped and fined in the first week itself (not for over speeding though at that particular time)

wherein I produced my Indian Licence and it was perfectly valid. Even my long term monthly rentals from Enterprise used to accept my Indian Licence.

When I lived in Germany our Indian license was valid upto 1 year, and over that I had to get a German one. Well I was on a residence permit and do not know aboput visiting / tourist visas.

MX6 · 16th November 2009, 10:35

They've not changed anything now I guess. It's still the same with your Indian license valid for a year from the day you land there. I'm not sure for tourists/ visitors though. I went on work permit.

ashwinsid · 16th November 2009, 10:38

Excellent!! That was good read. Thanks for taking time to put it up for us ramkya1 ji.

sam003 · 16th November 2009, 10:51

Watching Switzerland pics reminds me about my honeymoon trip their. I still remember the cool breeze which came while taking that half open ice cable sitting car. Thanks a lot.

Samir Taheer · 16th November 2009, 18:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by ramkya1

Some tips for driving holidays abroad:
-- Stick to speed limits as far as possible, an allowance of 10 KMPH above limit is tolerated.
=======

Absolutely brilliant travelogues. The only one i have actually followed. Even for people living in the UK it's a great insight on where to plan trips too.

Only correction is - The allowance is actually 10% of the speed limit not 10MPH above the speed limit.

Glad you enjoyed your holiday and once again lovely travelogue.

Sam.

ramkya1 · 16th November 2009, 19:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samir Taheer

Absolutely brilliant travelogues. The only one i have actually followed. Even for people living in the UK it's a great insight on where to plan trips too.

Only correction is - The allowance is actually 10% of the speed limit not 10MPH above the speed limit.

Glad you enjoyed your holiday and once again lovely travelogue.

Sam.

Samit, Thanks for your appreciation. Loved every day of my stay there, would love to do it again.

Before I left, I dug into the web and came across this site, URL:

Speed vs Fines
The current guidelines from the Association of Chief Police officers (ACPO)

The site specifies guidelines, practices and fines and I took it as a guide. I stand corrected, as you said, fixed penalty starts 10% above allowed limits.

======
@ Ashwinji & Sam: Thanks for the support.

======

AarEmm · 17th November 2009, 21:40

Lovely travelogue with great details and photographs. I came across this travelogue today and read all the pages in one go. Thank you for putting such a detailed travelogue, will come in handy for all the folks travelling a trip to Europe & UK

advaitlele · 18th November 2009, 16:54

Ramki Sir, Thanks for taking me to UK and back.

It was one great read I have ever come across. Almost all the photographs are picture postcards; and I have saved many of them on my laptop (hope there is no IPR violation here

) and using them as wallpaper.

Majic · 18th November 2009, 17:09

Ramkya sir, this has turned out to be one of the best threads that i have gone through, the photographs are beautiful and splendid narration, you could even write a book someday. I have given you 5 stars, in rating. Congrats Sir, looking for more from you

ramkya1 · 18th November 2009, 22:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by AarEmm

Lovely travelogue with great details and photographs. I came across this travelogue today and read all the pages in one go. Thank you for putting such a detailed travelogue, will come in handy for all the folks travelling a trip to Europe & UK

AarEmm: Thank you. The only reason I have put so much details is for it to become some reference point for people who wold do Europe and UK, specially the newbees.

advaitlele: Thanks, please use them, I'm happy you thing they are good enough for a desktop

majic: Thanks a lot. I had to compress the nattarion with great difficulty, in my full flow form, this could have turned into a 500 page book. A book? mmm...... .?? I don't know.... you have planted a seed, maybe someday.......

rawnak · 21st November 2009, 01:50

ramkyaji,

many many thanks for uploading such a detailed trip narration with excellent
pics. very useful tips in the end.
I have gone thru the whole narration and keeping it as bookmark and
plan to go thru it when planning my europe trip next yr.

what is your next trip?
any chance of USA

--rawnak

LLL · 21st November 2009, 15:57

Awesome trip.....really a lifetime experience.

Can you share your experience about the visa process and the TC costs, just to round up the travelogue...

Thanks

ramkya1 · 21st November 2009, 16:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by rawnak

ramkyaji,

many many thanks for uploading such a detailed trip narration with excellentpics. very useful tips in the end.
I have gone thru the whole narration and keeping it as bookmark and plan to go thru it when planning my europe trip next yr.

what is your next trip?
any chance of USA

--rawnak

rawnak: Thank you for your comments.

Bingo.... have started collecting info and seriously evaluating route 50, 4800 kms in 20 days next year. Want to join in????

@ LLL: Thanks. Will work out details of cost etc.,, and upload sometime tomorrow.

The Visa was easy, since we were going to UK first time, the bio-metrics were taken at Ahmedabad office, 2 hrs, sen to Mumbai and got the same by courier back in 3 working days. Same time for Schengen Visa for Europe, we did not go anywhere, just signed the papers, Thomas cook took care of the rest, took them 3 working days. For visitor visa, Europe and UK is no problem.

15th November 2009, 22:11	#136
StarVegabond Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,891 Thanked: 42 Times	Hi Ramkya It looks like you had a trip of a lifetime i some how missed all those posts of yours would read at ease late on, just now subscribing to this thread. Cherish your trip for more time ot come.
	() Thanks

16th November 2009, 10:35	#139
MX6 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: City of seven islands. Posts: 2,877 Thanked: 231 Times	They've not changed anything now I guess. It's still the same with your Indian license valid for a year from the day you land there. I'm not sure for tourists/ visitors though. I went on work permit.
	() Thanks

16th November 2009, 10:38	#140
ashwinsid BHPian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 181 Thanked: 34 Times	Excellent!! That was good read. Thanks for taking time to put it up for us ramkya1 ji.
	() Thanks

16th November 2009, 10:51	#141
sam003 BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Delhi Posts: 533 Thanked: 67 Times	Watching Switzerland pics reminds me about my honeymoon trip their. I still remember the cool breeze which came while taking that half open ice cable sitting car. Thanks a lot.
	() Thanks

17th November 2009, 21:40	#144
AarEmm BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 46 Thanked: 7 Times	Lovely travelogue with great details and photographs. I came across this travelogue today and read all the pages in one go. Thank you for putting such a detailed travelogue, will come in handy for all the folks travelling a trip to Europe & UK
	() Thanks

18th November 2009, 16:54	#145
advaitlele BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Pune, Vadodara Posts: 528 Thanked: 463 Times	Ramki Sir, Thanks for taking me to UK and back. It was one great read I have ever come across. Almost all the photographs are picture postcards; and I have saved many of them on my laptop (hope there is no IPR violation here ) and using them as wallpaper.
	() Thanks

18th November 2009, 17:09	#146
Majic BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Kottayam Posts: 588 Thanked: 8 Times	Ramkya sir, this has turned out to be one of the best threads that i have gone through, the photographs are beautiful and splendid narration, you could even write a book someday. I have given you 5 stars, in rating. Congrats Sir, looking for more from you
	() Thanks

21st November 2009, 01:50	#148
rawnak BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Boston Posts: 61 Thanked: 11 Times	ramkyaji, many many thanks for uploading such a detailed trip narration with excellent pics. very useful tips in the end. I have gone thru the whole narration and keeping it as bookmark and plan to go thru it when planning my europe trip next yr. what is your next trip? any chance of USA --rawnak
	() Thanks

21st November 2009, 15:57	#149
LLL BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Delhi Posts: 635 Thanked: 2 Times	Awesome trip.....really a lifetime experience. Can you share your experience about the visa process and the TC costs, just to round up the travelogue... Thanks
	() Thanks