I have not traveled much to write something deep about the experiences. However, one occurrence runs common in all my trips out of the country - currency exchange. My first 'foreign' experience was flying to Bangladesh with 100 INR in wallet and a non-functional debit card. Either it was too dumb of me to not inquire about the currency issue or I was too naive to perceive that. I like to think that I was naive. Nevertheless, I was saved by colleagues. And I shopped on their credit card, without shame. I learned from the mistake and carried bulk amount ( INR) when I was visiting Sri Lanka, the second trip. Office gave me a few notes of Sri Lankan rupees, balance from a colleague's previous visit. The bundle of INR which I carried had no value in Sri Lanka. In Bangladesh INR could be used in shops. With that in mind I carried INR to SL. However, my bundle of notes had no worth. I could not find a money exchange counter at the airport and the bank did not help me either. I remain grateful to the colleague who returned the SLRupees to the office, with which I could purchase a bottle of water. The taxi driver, in consultation with my host, took me to Tamilian jewellery shop where we got the exchange done informally. Since the INR is on higher side, I shopped here with least resistance.
In Nepal I could get the money exchanged easily in the hotel itself. I guess, things become smoother in life. In my recent, yet again a sponsored trip, to Norway you could find me looking at the retail prices and pulling out the calculator to multiply by 8. Mental maths failed me ...
