Job Discussion Forums

[Andres]

Hi,

I was in Kyoto a few weeks ago and found what i was looking for, for a long time...a white katana (of course not a real one, but ornamental..still...).

I decided not to buy it (and a bokken {wooden katana, not heavy} too) because of weight problems with my luggage (for flights within Asia it;s not the same as international) and not to risk having to leave it at the airport with other things I was gonna leave behind (dont ask how that happened) and so wasting money.

But now i constantly think about it and regret not having bought it! Ill probably wont go back to Kyoto too.

So, if theres anybody going to Kyoto and coming to Taipei sometime within the next few months, i would really appreciate if someone could go buy it for me (i can give you the exact location of the store, it's only about 40$ Canadian and not too heavy). I cant offer you a lot of money for the service, but i can treat you out for diner or something. If you can do me the favor you can reach me at [email protected] and we can see about any conditions.

thanks!

[Gordon]

Is this a joke?
It was too heavy for you and you'd like someone else to buy it, carry it to you in another country, for free.

That's a really big favor.

[lajzar]

I wouldnt mind knowing whether the relevant authorities would let you import something that is, after all, a dangerous weapon.

I can only think of two better ways to get stopped at the border. Well, three, if you count stripping at customs without being asked

[Andres]

Gordon,

My flight was from Vancouver to Tokyo. With that, i can carry something like 45 kilos. I didnt like Tokyo so i bought a plane ticket for Taipei. Here's the problem. Within Asia, the limit was now 20 kilos with my airline. That;s why it was "too heavy". I had to leave a suitcase back there.

if my plane ticket included a stop to Tokyo going to Taipei then there wouldnt have been any problems.

Its not really heavy, about 10 pounds, but when you have to pay 20 bucks for every extra kilo....

and by the way...i didnt say it was for free...i said i cant offer you a lot of money... so whats your price?

[Andres]

Lajzar,

There are no problems with autorities. Afterall, you are not taking it with you on the plane, it only has to be check in with your suitcases and you pick it up when you arrive with your suitcases.

[Gordon]

You said: Within Asia, the limit was now 20 kilos with my airline. That;s why it was "too heavy". I had to leave a suitcase back there.


Do I understand that one of your suitcases is still in Japan? If so, then why don't you get your gift when you come back to Japan?[/quote]

[shmooj]

Andres,

despite there being some people on this board who are kind and helpful, I'd humbly suggest that you are asking too much.

International travellers around Asia as TEFLers are have to be very wary of carrying luggage for anyone. This is not an accusation but an attempt to explain why you might not get any offers.

I had a similar request to yours to purchase something for someone to take back to the UK while I was in India. I just couldn't do it despite all the reassurance they offered that there was nothing dodgy about the deal. I was concerned that the whole thing was a set up by the store owner and the person who was asking me to do it. For all I knew I was purchasing something in which drugs were hidden. There was no way I could tell of course so I refused politely.

Recent news of a British guy getting 15 years in prison here in Japan recently for being caught with drugs in a bag that wasn't his would make anyone think twice.

Taipei is three hours flight from Osaka and that's a short train ride from Kyoto. If you have really wanted this for a long time and want to pick up that extra luggage you have waiting, you could do the trip in 24 hours. That's my best suggestion to your problem.

[Andres]

Dear shmooj,


How would I know if I dont ask? right?

So im just taking the chance...theres nothing wrong in that. But i admit it didnt cross my mind that it could so so problematic (since i'm not planing on smuggling anything illegal!).

Anyway, i have to go back to Tokyo to catch my fight back to Canada. So if I cant find someone, then my next choice was to fly to Osaka and take the train there as you mentioned, to Kyoto. I'm still not sure ill do that since it might turn out to be more expensive than just buying a katana in Canada (and my experience in Japan hasnt been the best).


And Gordon,

Yes, I have one suitcase in Tokyo. But to get my "gift", i would have to go to Kyoto = spend money to go there for the Katana (which might turn out to cost me more than buying it in Canada) and go to the trouble of communicating with those Japanese who, for the majority, dont speak english at all (and for my part i didnt learn enough Japanese to get around, but thats my problem, not yours). So, it would be simpler, i would have thought at first, to ask someone who is already in Kyoto to get it for me.



btw. The Katana is not 10 pounds, its probably not more than 2 or 3.

[lajzar]

Hey, you said it would only be going as cargo, so the airline would accept it. Fair enough. But the receiving nation MIGHT NOT. It may sound petty, but legally, doing this can be considered a form of international arms dealing, and a petty beureaucrat may decide to make life interesting for you on this basis.

Im pretty sure if I tried taking one into Britain, I could expect to have it removed from my bags on arrival.

[Andres]

hmm... I see...