Bura gets his wristwatch -- but not without great difficulty.

Bill Martino

Bill Martino

Joined
Mar 5, 1999
Messages
34,096
In our last express mail to Nepal I stuck in one wristwatch to test the waters of Nepali customs. This particular watch was supplied courtesy of either John Powell or Yvsa -- can't remember. Being an old Nepal hand with more experience with Nepal customs than I ever wanted I was leery about their possible treatment of the watch.

My worst fears were confirmed. Nepali customs seized the watch and said it was illegal to import it. Gelbu had to rally all the government officials he knows to help him get the watch out of hock. But, the good news is he was able to spring it -- but not without paying duty about four times the original cost of the watch and a lot of help from friends.

Now, Bura, the Royal Kami and our shop foreman is proudly wearing the wristwatch and Gelbu will soon have a picture coming showing just this.

We are working on an alternate method of getting all the remaining watches into Nepal which are destined for each of our kamis and sarkis. Last resort, Pala hand carries them when he returns and fights it out mano a mano with Nepal customs.

Knowing Pala as I do I wish the customs inspectors luck!

But anyway, congratulations, Bura! You now wear the first wristwactch you ever owned -- a gift from Himalayan Imports customers.

------------------
Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
 
Uncle Bill, is there anything we forumites can do to try to improve this situation, to make it easier to get such things into Nepal? Do you think writing embassy personnel, both Nepalese and U.S. might help, or would it just make things worse? If you have any ideas, please let us know. Thanks
 
I don't know how they work, Uncle Bill, but how about this: if watches are your favored gift for example, how about every time someone goes over, each person carries a reasonable number of wristwatches in carry on, say two or three, then puts them on or in their pockets before disembarking. Eventually, everyone can receive a watch. They don't have to be expensive to be good and appreciated. Does customs frisk arrivals?
 
Pakcik Bill.
How old is Bura? Is he in his early eighties?
I still remember the 1st time I wore a wristwatch was when my age about 27 years old! It was a SEIKO automatic wristwatch - I wore it till it stop working last year!
 
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