Travel in Sel Appa

This article is about the current 2024 edition. For the 2007 edition, see Travel in Sel Appa/2007 edition.

Sel Appa is a large country of over 1.3 billion inhabitants. It is located on the continent of Sel Appa, along with MassPwnage, Comunisticturkeys, and De Jewish Mafia. It is a quite diverse nation molding all walks of life together. With a history going back more than four millennia, Sel Appa today is quite modernised and enjoys a prosperous economy. Being a powerful and wealthy nation, it has a mixture of densely-populated urban areas with wide areas of low population and incredible natural beauty.

Understand

Units of measure

Sel Appa uses the metric system after converting from traditional units in the mid 20th century. The only remnant of the historical system is the currency, which still is pegged to a pound of copper.

Holidays

Sel Appa has ten major holidays, which are celebrated nationwide for the most part, even if unseasonable in the tropical south. These are usually government, school, and bank holidays, except Midwinter Nights, which only sees closures on the first and last day, except schools remain closed the entire period.

• New Years — 20 March (equinox)
• Sel Appa Day — 1 April (anniversary of the Founding of the Republic)
• Workers Day — 1 May (formerly Socialist Day)
• Midsummer — 20 or 21 June (solstice festival with picnics, barbecues, and parties)
• Jour de français — 14 July (celebration of French culture)
• First Harvest — 22 or 23 September (equinox and celebrating the early harvests)
• Harvest — 1 November (celebrating the completion of the harvest period and thanksgiving)
• Midwinter Nights — 21 or 22 December to 1 January (starts winter solstice and continues to the first of January, winter solstice festival with markets, fun activities, lights, bonfires, gifts, etc)
• Civil Rights Day — 15 January
• Election Day — 1 March (unless an early election is called)

Talk

English and French are the two official languages of Sel Appa. The constitution accords both equal status and protection, however the national government tends to use English, and French provinces use French. All government services and materials must accommodate both. Sel Appans are almost universally fluent in both, but will exclusively speak English in English areas and French in French areas. Bilingualism goes back decades, so even older people will know both. Often, third and fourth languages are learned in school, such as Mandarin, Hebrew, Russian, Ukrainian, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Greek, Latin, and more.

Mandarin is prevalent in Chinatowns and somewhat more common in southern Sel Appa, reflecting the influence of neighboring MassPwnage.

Get in

A visa is required for all visitors except:

• citizens of De Jewish Mafia, Comunisticturkeys, MassPwnage, or Eniarku
• attendees of sporting events
• some other cases

Such visitors will be granted 60 day renewable entry permits.

You may apply for a visa directly from Sel Appa, or with your nearest Sel Appan embassy or consulate. A visa lasts 90 days and can be renewed at a police station. A temporary identification card will be given when approved. Renewal must be completed before expiration and usually takes a few hours. There is no longer a grace period after expiration, meaning you can be arrested and deported if found with an expired visa.

Transit

Transit visas are provided, but must be approved in advance. They usually last 24 hours and confine you to the airport. In an emergency, an emergency visa may be granted.

Customs

Customs is fairly straightforward and honesty is your best policy. Contraband, such as drugs and alcohol, must be declared. Religious use is generally exempted, unless the agent finds the claim absurd. Medicinal use simply needs a marked container and prescription. Interpretation has a wide latitude, but an ounce of cannabis will be laughed at. However, unlike most countries, you can legally store most contraband at the border until your departure. It must be sealed and registered with customs, and a fee charged. Historically, it was possible to have your contraband delivered to another port, if different from entry, however that program was eliminated during budget cuts in the 2010s. If this option does not work, customs agents will dispose of your contraband without a fuss. Anything smuggled into Sel Appa after this is strictly punished, and will likely result in deportation.

Animals and agricultural products are generally permitted, but may result in additional questioning. Endangered or sacred animal products (eg. turtles) are absolutely forbidden and will be seized and destroyed. Artifacts and treasures are generally permitted if proof of purchase or ownership can be provided.

Transport of arms and explosives is legal, but must be declared and registered. A visitors carry permit may be issued. Transport of money is not really restricted, but agents have the right to refuse entry to someone who appears to be a mule.

By plane

The major two international airports are Nemnenait and Anila City, however there are others. Air Sel Appa and Turtle Airlines are the two major international and domestic carriers, however some low-cost airlines have sprung up. Many foreign airlines also serve both airports.

By train

Train service enters Sel Appa from all of its neighbors, with Eniarku having the most connections, reflecting their former incorporation.

By bus

Bus service is available from all of Sel Appas neighbors, but is less common than trains.

By boat

Cruise ships and liners make port all over Sel Appa.

Buy

Sel Appa is a cash-centric society, but electronic payments can be made by card in some outlets. Some electronic payment services are accepted, but this is sporadic.

Money

Sel Appas currency is the Sel Appan pound (symbol: £, code: SAP) and is pegged to the price of a pound of copper, and divided into 100 pence. The coin denominations are: 1p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1, and £2. Cash is denominated in £5, £10, £20, £50, £100, and £500 (rare).

Tipping

Gratuity is generally included in bills. Bellhops, deliverymen, housekeeping, and the like should usually be tipped a pound or two per day or use.

Bargaining

Most small shops will welcome bargaining and often give you a deal. Some corporate chains may allow salespeople to make deals on big ticket items.

Currency exchange

Avoid the airport exchanges due to bad rates and high fees. Cash machines tend to offer the best rates if you have a card. Otherwise, you can exchange currencies at banks and exchange offices. Rates vary based on how well known a country is.

Credit cards

Credit cards are accepted in major chains and most cities, but Sel Appa is a very cash centered society. You may find establishments refusing cards or charging a fee.

Taxes

Value Added Tax of 15% is applied to most goods and services and included in the sales price. Certain categories of essential items are exempt. Provincial and local governments may not charge a VAT. There is no VAT refund program for tourists.

Stay safe

To call emergency services, enter 999 on any phone. Police are in every city and town, either provincially or locally administered. The uniform is standardised nationally, except in French provinces, which have a different standard. They are trained to high standards and behavior strictly regulated. In smaller towns, there will usually be one station. In larger towns and cities, there are multiple. Denser neighborhoods often have small posts on a corner, marked with blue lights. Officers conduct foot, cycle, and vehicle patrols. You cant travel far in a city without encountering one. However, they are always friendly and willing to assist with emergency needs, directions, advice, and local recommendations. They are among the best sources of finding top eateries. While ubiquitous, one could not say they are overwhelming. They are there to deter crime before it happens and be ready to assist where needed.

An officer may greet you while patrolling a less busy area with a pleasant "good morning, good afternoon, or good evening (bonjour or bonsoir in French). You can return the salutation or otherwise acknowledge him, and is advisable in later hours in less busy areas. This is part of active crime deterrence and proven very effective. It is rare, but you may be asked for identification. If you cant produce your visa, the officer will be happy to escort you home to retrieve it. If you are far from your lodging, you may be warned or detained and brought back to the post or station to be identified. This is not an arrest, however resisting or escaping is a crime and will result in arrest. Once identified, you will be released with a reminder to keep your ID on you. You can be fined £25, but this is rare.

Crime is quite low in Sel Appa. Some run-down areas of cities may have issues, as well as some rural areas that have a roughness to them. Organized crime is somewhat embedded in major cities, often smuggling contraband, but this will rarely impact a tourist. If you are the victim of a crime, call 999 or locate a nearby officer.

It is legal to carry a firearm, even as a tourist. You will be registered at customs and issued a permit. Citizens are licensed to carry. In cities, open carry is rare and taboo. In rural areas, it can be quite common.

The use of drugs and alcohol is strictly forbidden except for religious and medical purposes. Behind closed doors, enforcement is extremely rare. However, this means public consumption will receive notice very quickly. Both exceptions are fairly loose, but drugs and alcohol cannot be purchased at a store nor are there bars. Religions that use alcohol will provide it to members, and do not sell to the public. However, criminal organizations do operate speakeasies with smuggled or locally produced alcohol. Given these are unregulated, there are no safety standards. Patronising these as a tourist can get you arrested and deported. Enforcement is sporadic with raids occurring infrequently, reflecting Sel Appas quiet tolerance of its unsociable behaviors.

Respect

Sel Appa is somewhat an outlier in being economically left, but socially conservative yet secular. One might think they were in a theocracy going by the attitudes of Sel Appans who frown upon drug and alcohol use, prostitution, abortion, and homosexuality. All are illegal, officially. Alcohol and drugs are permitted for private religious purposes, but public use is illegal and despised. It is generally advised to homosexual travelers to be discreet. Public displays of affection are broadly taboo, but behind closed doors, citizens arent nosy.

However, in recent years as stable Liberal Party leadership opened Sel Appa up, values have loosened. National law enforcement ceased to regulate drugs and alcohol beyond importation, and deprioritised anti-homosexuality laws. Provincial governments vary in enforcement. Historically, arrest and deportation were possible. In the 2020s, police generally tell violators to knock it off. In rural and working class areas, vigilantes are known to enforce their views, albeit more bluster than action. In more modern, urban areas, there is a more quiet tolerance.

Sel Appans are an open and welcoming people who love all cultures, no surprise given the diversity within. Racism is rare, but not illegal. Hate speech is not restricted, however racist comments might get dirty looks at a minimum. Christianity and Islam are both illegal, but only in public practice; private worship is private.

Environmentalism has a deep current in Sel Appa, across the populace, almost a national religion. Desecrating nature is illegal and harshly punished. Recycling is mandatory nationwide, and one will more readily find recycling and reuse bins than trash.

Politics can be sensitive with the recent Russian secession being very divisive, and other subnational movements with various levels of influence. Anvorbuod separatism has tempered out, but residents there consider themselves different. The monarchy, recently abolished, still has supporters, especially on Fizroe Island and around the Bay. Republican sentiments are generally unwelcome.

Go next

• Saint Elmo Isle — a sovereign protectorate of Sel Appa off the coast. For centuries, the Isle has provided a navy while Sel Appa provided land defense and foreign representation.
• Eniarku — To the east, formerly part of Sel Appa, the Russian region seceded in 2024.
• De Jewish Mafia — To the east, an Orthodox Jewish theocracy neighboring Sel Appa. Very reclusive and it is believed only welcoming to Jews.
• MassPwnage — To the south, a large Chinese nation.
• Comunisticturkeys — To the east, a Russian and Spanish communist nation.