So i have only left the country to visit canada. I got a quick passport at a walgreens but people are telling me that a trip to Nepal is going to need a real passport. i have no idea how any of this is done so i'd appreaciate tips on international travel. I know i need a new birth certificate, since idk where mine is. Which i think i need to get from the hospital where i was born.

Every country has different ways of dealing with foreigners from particular countries coming into their own. When traveling, a passport is a given, but a lot of the time you need to get a tourist visa for extended stays. I just got one for India. It's good for 6 months. After I take off from India, im heading to Thailand and South East Asia, from there I'll file for my Chinese visa. Theres a formal interview at the Chinese embassy and everything that takes place. After that, im swinging over to Nepal.

When it comes to Nepal, you can file for a visa when you get to the air port.

Where abouts in Canada are you gonna be? oh!

No im going to nepal

In Norway you get your passport at the police station, show ID etc. etc. Can't remember if I needed a birth certificate.

Then you know, you show your passport when you're told to.

I had a hell of a time trying to get my passport for a trip to Europe after my graduation.. they kept telling me that the picture I used to apply did not "meet their standards" as I was smiling (natural reflex when Im infront of a camera)

took me like 5 applications before i got mine..

I'm planning on getting a passport for my birthday and then traveling to Vanuatu, Fiji and possibly Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu. Depending on my luck/finances. So I guess I'll learn about the process of getting a passport then.

I'm pretty sure you don't need a visa to visit Nepal and if you do you should probably get it on arrival.

Have fun!

Typically, you get a passport through a full branch of the post office. Or through a specialty shop in a bigger city (Seattle, San Francisco, etc.) The specialty places are usually fairly expensive and used to rush passports, which you don't need to do if you're planning in advance.

Look up the ID stuff you need, get it, and then pay and get the processing started ASAP, because it can take over a month.

Some places you need to get imunization shots, malaria pills, or take special precautions. Some of these can take a few months to go through the procedure, though I doubt you'll need anything so extreme for Nepal. The important point is that you need to find out all of this info in advance, otherwise your trip can be ruined. Seriously, some places, for example, won't let you out of the airport without proof of immunization.

Go to a travel site like lonely planet (they have great forums), and buy or checkout travel guides like lonely planet or the moon guides. Guides are sometimes wrong (or at least, off) about specifics like restaurants or hotels, but they're great for getting some basic ideas for planning. It is really worth paying money for one or two guides, because you may never visit that country again, and you do not want to waste time when you're there.

And some random, high level advice:
I prefer cheaper places like hostels to nice hotels (usually), because I meet much cooler people in the cheap places. Also, other travelers are a much better source of info (usually) than any guide book. If you're social, you will have a great time, meet great people, and get much better advice by talking to other travelers once you get to the destination.

Make sure know you ALL the info about how and where you can get your visa, for any country you might visit.

Sometimes you need to have planned in advance to get one, or they will deny you.