tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481294.post2523475748806939265..comments2024-03-28T21:55:59.030-04:00Comments on David's Tangled Thoughts: A Cheaper Passport – SortaDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00127042364846361909noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481294.post-50551412248235530882008-09-20T20:42:00.000-04:002008-09-20T20:42:00.000-04:00^Not that I really have a problem with your countr...^Not that I really have a problem with your country's ETA (actually, I think it's something that my gov't should consider doing) it just peeves me that it's not actually free. I'd have to fork over thousands of dollars to Quantas anyways... do I really need to be squeezed out of another $20?Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00127042364846361909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481294.post-66858550365168242002008-09-19T08:11:00.000-04:002008-09-19T08:11:00.000-04:00This was just for a regular passport - the fat one...This was just for a regular passport - the fat ones here only cost about an extra $100 - but almost nobody bothers stamping passports any more, it's mainly done electronically. Most of the pages in my current passport just have little staple-holes from US visa waiver cards... <BR/><BR/>And just in case you weren't sure exactly how keen Australia is about keeping would-be tourists out, we have an entire top-rating <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Border_Security" REL="nofollow">TV show</A> dedicated to it. I can't tell you if it's any good, because I think it's moronic and refuse to watch it on principle...John Provishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07679216095954261045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481294.post-8356076528840623222008-09-18T20:07:00.000-04:002008-09-18T20:07:00.000-04:00John, frequent travelers such as you need those fa...John, <I>frequent</I> travelers such as you need those fat passports that cost an arm and a leg.<BR/><BR/>I just checked out what it would take to get to Australia and I was a bit surprised that I just couldn't arrive with my passport in hand and expect to get in. As if I'd be an illegal immigrant! :-PDavidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00127042364846361909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481294.post-33047576010338133152008-09-18T09:09:00.000-04:002008-09-18T09:09:00.000-04:00And also... has anyone else noticed that Mr Happy ...And also... has anyone else noticed that Mr Happy Traveller as pictured in the official example card (born 1981) seems to have a severe premature ageing problem, and looks closer to 45 than 27?John Provishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07679216095954261045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481294.post-23214767080878695292008-09-18T09:07:00.000-04:002008-09-18T09:07:00.000-04:00I have to say the passport card actually sounds li...I have to say the passport card actually sounds like a really useful idea - although $75 for a passport itself is insanely cheap, I think mine cost over $300 last time I renewed it. The main problem with the book-style passport is that it starts to look pretty shabby after a few years of semi-regular travel - maybe being crammed into the pocket of my jeans on a 20-hour flight isn't exactly what they were designed for though...John Provishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07679216095954261045noreply@blogger.com