Another trip to Four Enchanting Nations
(Disclaimer: Hi everyone, you might have noticed the title and thought I was revisiting the topic of my international travels. However, there's a unique reason for this particular blog post. During this month-long journey, I ventured alone and explored four incredible countries in Europe: the UK, Denmark, Sweden, and Germany. My aim in sharing this experience is to offer valuable insights, especially for those planning their own trips abroad. I made my fair share of mistakes on this adventure, and I hope that by sharing them, you can learn from my experiences. I won't be delving into the details of the academic event I attended during this trip; instead, my focus is on sharing my experience and providing guidance for your future international travels.)
Denmark
Next, I traveled to Copenhagen, Denmark, where I would be staying for three weeks. Before sharing my experiences, here are some points to keep in mind when visiting Denmark. Danish is the local language, and you'll often encounter signs and instructions in Danish. However, in Copenhagen, many people speak English and are helpful. It's still advisable to learn some basic words when traveling to a non-English-speaking country.
One of the highlights in Copenhagen was dining at the ITU Canteen, called 'Wicked Rabbit.' It was the first place outside of India where I didn't need to inquire about the vegetarian options; it's a fully vegetarian canteen offering a variety of delicious and nutritious dishes.
During my stay in Copenhagen, I experienced sudden changes in weather, including rain, winter, and even a surprisingly scorching summer with extended daylight hours. I often saw sunlight until 11 PM, and the darkness lasted for only 3-4 hours during summer nights. Among all these changes, one of the most memorable moments was witnessing two rainbows in the sky, a truly amazing sight😍
I also visited a beach in Copenhagen and took an ice-cold bath, given that it was summer, the water was still incredibly cold. I attempted to swim but found it challenging.
My time in Denmark was memorable, and I cherished the best days of my life there. From Denmark, I ventured to Sweden and experienced a train ride from Copenhagen to Sweden via the Öresund Bridge🌉 A colleague from a summer school had recommended a Swedish-Danish web-series called 'The Bridge,' which was set on this iconic bridge. I later watched it in Danish with English subtitles and found it to be an amazing thriller and suspense story.
Germany
One thing worth noting is that in Paderborn, English was not widely spoken, which presented some language challenges, but they were manageable. I also learned the importance of carrying some cash with you, as I encountered a troublesome situation due to not having cash.
A Big Mistake
This journey was an adventure from start to finish, and it all began even before my departure.
Before Departure
Since I had traveled to the UK in March 2023, I already had a valid UK visa until mid-July. However, this time, I was planning to travel to both the UK and Denmark. So, a month before my travel date, I applied for the Denmark visa. I had heard that the visa process would hardly take 15 days, which seemed manageable with a month to spare. However, I waited for three weeks without any update on my visa status. With just one week left before my scheduled travel to the UK, I was getting increasingly stressed. I tried to contact the Danish embassy in New Delhi, but there was no response.
As the days passed, my stress levels rose. My travel to the UK was scheduled for Friday evening that same week, and I hadn't heard anything from the embassy until Wednesday. I was nearly giving up hope of receiving my visa in time. Without the visa, I couldn't obtain the necessary currency for the UK and Denmark, and I hadn't made any preparations because I had already spent a considerable amount on my travel tickets and visa procedures (which would be reimbursed after the trip, but I still had to front the costs). Fortunately, I received my visa on the very last day. The mix of stress and happiness I experienced that day was indescribable. I had little time to prepare for the trip, but since it was a month-long journey, I had to buy food supplies and euros (€) for my Denmark trip. I had £60 left from my previous visit to the UK, and for the UK leg of my trip, I decided to rely on credit and debit cards, so I didn't take extra pounds (£) from India.
United Kingdom
My journey began on a Friday evening when I flew from Ahmedabad to Delhi and then had a direct flight to London Heathrow Airport. I landed in London at 7:30 AM UK time with plans to take a train from the airport to my destination, which was a two-hour journey from London. I hadn't booked train tickets in advance because I was concerned about potential delays from my connecting flight. However, things took an unexpected turn.
As I arrived at the train station after finishing immigration, it was already 9 AM. In Europe, ticket machines usually accept card payments only, without the option for cash. The next available train was in 20 minutes, and the ticket cost approximately £64. I attempted to use both my debit and credit cards around 15 times, but none of them worked. I asked how to purchase tickets with cash, but I only had £60 in cash, and there seemed to be no way to get train tickets.
Panicking, I contacted my bank to inquire why my cards weren't working. I had previously made international payments with my debit card, and my credit card had worked in India. The bank suggested adjusting my international spending limits, which I had already done. It dawned on me that they might not be able to help at this point.
With no other option, I bought tickets for the next cheapest train with my remaining cash, which cost just under £60. The downside was that this train required 2-3 changes. I went to the counter to purchase the tickets with cash and inquired about the cheapest option. The ticket seller suggested taking a bus that would depart in 20 minutes and cost £26, offering a direct route. I gladly accepted, even though he charged me £32, citing an extra fee for paying in cash. I didn't notice the discrepancy in the ticket amount until later, but I was just relieved that everything was sorted out. The bus ride turned out to be an incredible experience, with comfortable seats, large windows, and breathtaking views.
During my week in England, I explored extensively. One thing I noticed was the driving habits of the local people; they not only followed traffic rules but also stopped to let pedestrians cross, which was a pleasant surprise.
Before Departure
Since I had traveled to the UK in March 2023, I already had a valid UK visa until mid-July. However, this time, I was planning to travel to both the UK and Denmark. So, a month before my travel date, I applied for the Denmark visa. I had heard that the visa process would hardly take 15 days, which seemed manageable with a month to spare. However, I waited for three weeks without any update on my visa status. With just one week left before my scheduled travel to the UK, I was getting increasingly stressed. I tried to contact the Danish embassy in New Delhi, but there was no response.
As the days passed, my stress levels rose. My travel to the UK was scheduled for Friday evening that same week, and I hadn't heard anything from the embassy until Wednesday. I was nearly giving up hope of receiving my visa in time. Without the visa, I couldn't obtain the necessary currency for the UK and Denmark, and I hadn't made any preparations because I had already spent a considerable amount on my travel tickets and visa procedures (which would be reimbursed after the trip, but I still had to front the costs). Fortunately, I received my visa on the very last day. The mix of stress and happiness I experienced that day was indescribable. I had little time to prepare for the trip, but since it was a month-long journey, I had to buy food supplies and euros (€) for my Denmark trip. I had £60 left from my previous visit to the UK, and for the UK leg of my trip, I decided to rely on credit and debit cards, so I didn't take extra pounds (£) from India.
United Kingdom
My journey began on a Friday evening when I flew from Ahmedabad to Delhi and then had a direct flight to London Heathrow Airport. I landed in London at 7:30 AM UK time with plans to take a train from the airport to my destination, which was a two-hour journey from London. I hadn't booked train tickets in advance because I was concerned about potential delays from my connecting flight. However, things took an unexpected turn.
As I arrived at the train station after finishing immigration, it was already 9 AM. In Europe, ticket machines usually accept card payments only, without the option for cash. The next available train was in 20 minutes, and the ticket cost approximately £64. I attempted to use both my debit and credit cards around 15 times, but none of them worked. I asked how to purchase tickets with cash, but I only had £60 in cash, and there seemed to be no way to get train tickets.
Panicking, I contacted my bank to inquire why my cards weren't working. I had previously made international payments with my debit card, and my credit card had worked in India. The bank suggested adjusting my international spending limits, which I had already done. It dawned on me that they might not be able to help at this point.
With no other option, I bought tickets for the next cheapest train with my remaining cash, which cost just under £60. The downside was that this train required 2-3 changes. I went to the counter to purchase the tickets with cash and inquired about the cheapest option. The ticket seller suggested taking a bus that would depart in 20 minutes and cost £26, offering a direct route. I gladly accepted, even though he charged me £32, citing an extra fee for paying in cash. I didn't notice the discrepancy in the ticket amount until later, but I was just relieved that everything was sorted out. The bus ride turned out to be an incredible experience, with comfortable seats, large windows, and breathtaking views.
During my week in England, I explored extensively. One thing I noticed was the driving habits of the local people; they not only followed traffic rules but also stopped to let pedestrians cross, which was a pleasant surprise.
Denmark
Next, I traveled to Copenhagen, Denmark, where I would be staying for three weeks. Before sharing my experiences, here are some points to keep in mind when visiting Denmark. Danish is the local language, and you'll often encounter signs and instructions in Danish. However, in Copenhagen, many people speak English and are helpful. It's still advisable to learn some basic words when traveling to a non-English-speaking country.
One of the highlights in Copenhagen was dining at the ITU Canteen, called 'Wicked Rabbit.' It was the first place outside of India where I didn't need to inquire about the vegetarian options; it's a fully vegetarian canteen offering a variety of delicious and nutritious dishes.
During my stay in Copenhagen, I experienced sudden changes in weather, including rain, winter, and even a surprisingly scorching summer with extended daylight hours. I often saw sunlight until 11 PM, and the darkness lasted for only 3-4 hours during summer nights. Among all these changes, one of the most memorable moments was witnessing two rainbows in the sky, a truly amazing sight😍
 |
| Can you see two rainbows? |
I also visited a beach in Copenhagen and took an ice-cold bath, given that it was summer, the water was still incredibly cold. I attempted to swim but found it challenging.
My time in Denmark was memorable, and I cherished the best days of my life there. From Denmark, I ventured to Sweden and experienced a train ride from Copenhagen to Sweden via the Öresund Bridge🌉 A colleague from a summer school had recommended a Swedish-Danish web-series called 'The Bridge,' which was set on this iconic bridge. I later watched it in Danish with English subtitles and found it to be an amazing thriller and suspense story.
My journey continued with a trip to Germany. I traveled to Paderborn for a workshop. Since I hadn't pre-booked flights or train tickets, my only option was a 12-hour bus ride from Copenhagen to Paderborn, Germany. However, this bus ride had a fascinating twist.
There's no direct land connection between Denmark and Germany, so the border can be crossed by train, flight, or sea. On the bus ride, they accomplished this border crossing by loading the entire bus (and all other vehicles) onto a massive ferry boat, resulting in an approximately one-hour boat ride. Passengers were allowed to go to the top deck of the ferry and enjoy the breathtaking views. It was an unforgettable experience with restaurants, cafes, and even shopping options on board. I had never seen such a large ship, and it felt like a dream come true😊.
There's no direct land connection between Denmark and Germany, so the border can be crossed by train, flight, or sea. On the bus ride, they accomplished this border crossing by loading the entire bus (and all other vehicles) onto a massive ferry boat, resulting in an approximately one-hour boat ride. Passengers were allowed to go to the top deck of the ferry and enjoy the breathtaking views. It was an unforgettable experience with restaurants, cafes, and even shopping options on board. I had never seen such a large ship, and it felt like a dream come true😊.
One thing worth noting is that in Paderborn, English was not widely spoken, which presented some language challenges, but they were manageable. I also learned the importance of carrying some cash with you, as I encountered a troublesome situation due to not having cash.
A Big Mistake
When I searched for an international data plan, I noticed a plan that offered 12GB of data for 4k INR on a postpaid card, so I bought and activated it before leaving. Little did I know that this choice would come back to haunt me. At the end of the month, when the bill arrived, it was nearly 10k INR, significantly higher than I had expected. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but I had to pay the bill anyway. I hope that by sharing this mistake, readers of this blog will avoid making the same error.
In conclusion, my solo trip through the UK, Denmark, Sweden, and Germany was filled with memorable experiences, lessons learned, and a fair share of unexpected challenges. It was an adventure that I will cherish forever, and I hope that my insights and experiences will prove valuable to those planning their own international travels.
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