My 7 day Solo Trip to Sydney from Bengaluru! – Part 2

If you have not read Part 1, please read it first. This post continuation of Part 1.

2 weeks before the trip, I got a call from HDFC Indiranagar branch [you can choose the branch while purchasing the HDFC Multicurrency Forex Card online] to come and collect my Forex Card. I went to bank with documents. They handed me and the kit. The cashier asked me whether I had HDFC bank account and insisted for opening a bank account in that branch. I told him that I already had applied for a Credit Card and will soon get it.

1 week before the trip, I already had prepared the list of things which I needed to take with me and whether I need to purchase anything.
I will share that list in the last part of this series. I packed my stuff and weighed it. It comes out to be 6.8 kgs. 7 kg is the limit.

I opened my Forex Card Kit, activated the card and thought if in-case my money will be over, let’s see how can I reload it.

I went to the portal, I saw that you can only reload your HDFC Multicurrency Forex Card only with HDFC Credit/Debit Card or via physically visiting the bank.

If you are already in abroad, someone else can reload the card but they would need an authorization letter from you and the process is complicated. I already had applied for Credit Card.
10th November was the travel date.

On 6th November, I check my HDFC Credit Card Application status. It got rejected. Reason: Not known. Why? They did not tell me.

I felt kind of stranded here.

I immediately shot an email to HDFC customer care, explaining that what if I am travelling abroad and I run out of money. I neither possess HDFC’s Debit Card(because I do not want to have HDFC’s bank acccount)/Credit Card(because HDFC rejected the application?) nor I have authorized anyone on my behalf. On a solo trip, I would like to be self-sufficient. They have definitely missed a use-case here.

I suggested them to add the functionality of reloading for Forex Card via any credit card. The response was automated, as expected. The response from the person assigned on the issue was a repeat of the rules.

Just to be extra safe, I took out around 5000 INR cash from my SBI’s International Debit Card. This ensured three things: My card works, I remember the PIN and I now have enough in-case I needed to exchange currency.

I also informed my flatmate about the situation and he had HDFC’s Debit Card.

On 10th November I left from my home at 6 PM and reach Bangalore Airport.

The Trip officially begins!

Since each day has a very long description, I have organized it into separate posts. I will try to put my detailed itinerary for each day, what I did, where did I eat, expenses on a per day basis.

1. Day 0-1: Immigration at Bengaluru Airport, Rushing after landing up at Kuala Lumpur, wrong bus at Sydney.
2. Day 2: Meeting new people, Sydney heat and the Sunscreen, Opera House, The Harbour Bridge, Art Gallery of NSW, Hyde Park, sitting at Anzac Memorial, Chinatown.
3. Day 3: Royal Botanical Garden, Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, Manly Beach, Acai Bowl, A bus I did not know about, QVB, North Head, FairFax Lookout Point, Luna Park.
4. Day 4: Train to Katoomba, Decision to wear a Hoodie, Blue Mountains, Scenic World, Chinese Tourists, NewTown, Cow n Moon.
5. Day 5: FeatherDale Wildlife Park, QVB, Watermelon Pastry, Bondi Beach, Nalini’s Wholesome Street Food
6. Day 6: 5 AM bus to Canberra, Full day exploration at Australia’s capital.
7. Day 7 and 8: Coogee Beach, Surprise event which I did not know about, Coogee to Bondi Walk, Darling Harbour attractions, Cow n Moon again.

I have also planned the last and most important part which is going to be:

1. 18 mistakes which I committed.
2. How can you as a solo person/family plan the trip?
   Big Bus, Hop n Hop off, Free Walking Tours, Klook App.
3. Where and how can you save money?
4. Where you should not save money?
5. Packing essentials in 7 kg. What I had already taken with me?