| Username |
Post |
| rai |
Posted
on 05-Feb-02 08:49 AM
Lets share the experiences and all the problems we faced or had faced at airport while going back to Nepal. You all can suggest the way to solve it too. I hope it will be useful to those who are travelling back to Nepal.
|
| Nhuchche |
Posted
on 05-Feb-02 10:52 AM
About 5 years ago, I went back to Ktm. After hours of flight, there was going to be hours of waiting at the Airport customs (since I didn't have any source force). To pass the time I wanted to light up a ciggerette. Having lived in the US for couple of years, I was unsure if I could smoke in there. So I went to a policeman and asked him "yeha churot khanu huncha?" His reply assured me that I was indeed back in Nepal "Yeah jasle jey garey pani huncha". That's what he told me.
Then at the customs counter. The customs officer said upfront, bhai $100 dinuhosh, tapailai pani no problem hamilai pani no problem. SO i said 'hernos dai hami ta gareeb bidyarthee paryo $20 dollar matra chha"... so he took the $20 and proceeded on to check my luggage. He saw a stack of CD's in my bag and then he put about 6 of them aside and then said ok jahuhosh..
I went out to greet my folks only to be surrounded by a bunch of children and bunch of other people who started grabbing my bags and insisting that they be my bag bearers who I'd have to pay.
Anyways.. that was my experience.
|
| rai |
Posted
on 05-Feb-02 12:06 PM
just few more experiences from the Nepali Times (weekly)
1.
http://www.nepalnews.com.np/ntimes/issue71/letters.htm#4
KATHMANDU IMMIGRATION
It came as a surprise to me to find how honest immigration officials at Tribhuvan International Airport ask for donations. I arrived in Katmandu a few weeks ago on an evening flight from Bombay. Having already visited Nepal once this year I knew that the visa-on-arrival fee was $50. On submitting my application form and photograph, the immigration official asked me for $55. Upon inquiring what the extra $5 was for, he nonchalantly replied: “It is very hard to be working this late shift, it would be very nice for me and my friends to go out for a drink afterwards.”
I was quite taken aback by the honesty of the answer. When I refused, he threw the visa form back at me and told me to go stand in another queue. After waiting in this queue for a number of minutes the immigration officer came back and said he’d let me go if I paid $51. Still, I refused, and placed the $50 before him, which he finally accepted grumpily.
It takes little effort to work out how much extra each immigration officer may make in a night when one counts the number of arriving tourists. It does Nepal little credit to start taking “donations” from tourists before they have even left the airport.
(Name withheld on request)
2.http://www.nepalnews.com.np/ntimes/issue72/letters.htm#2
Kathmandu immigration, redux
With regard to the letter in Nepali Times last week (“Kathmandu immigration”), I have something to add. I was leaving the airport for the US after visiting my parents in Nepal. On the way to the boarding area a police officer asked me for $100. When I asked her why, she replied that they were poor people and that they do not get a chance to make money like high-ranking officers. I said, no, sorry.
She then said, “I wish you a safe journey, that you do not have any accident while you are flying.”
I could not believe she said that to me! As a Nepali, it had the psychological effect that it spelt bad luck. Then another policeman came up to me, a two-star one this time, and said, “Give her Rs 1,000. She is poor. She can use it for chya-pani.”
I really felt so bad and angry because these people were wishing bad luck just before I was to fly. So I gave her Rs 500, because that was all I had. Why does the government allow these people to run such personal businesses at the airport? I know they have to pay a lot to get a posting at the airport. Isn’t this is another form of corruption? They do this to everybody, and it is time the government stopped it. t
Suman Shrestha
USA
|
| Custom Officer |
Posted
on 05-Feb-02 01:22 PM
I was with my family at Tribhuvan International Airport Custom with 4 suitcases. All I had my clothes and small gift to my family members. No electronic or expensive stuff. The Custom officer straightly ask me $20 for each bag to go through green channel. I questioned him why ? Is there a written law ? He said do you want to leave airport now or be a last guy to leave. The next flight is coming and you will have to wait for another 2 hour before you will see your family members. Then I decided to give him a california wine which cost me $ 13. I told him I don't have money if you agree on this I am happy to give you as a gift (man mani sira dan). He let me go after accepting it and ask me a t-shirt from my bag. Virtually they were like scavengers.
|
| sunakhari |
Posted
on 05-Feb-02 01:49 PM
I have actually had a very weird experience myself.
When I went home some years ago, one of mybaggages came in late and as a result, this guy had a lot of time to question me - when they saw I was accompanied by a foreigner, they worked doubly fast and got my bag on time, not only that! I didn't have to put any of my bags on the green channel, no checking nothing!! shocking isn't it? The presence of goro chala can do a lot!!
But while returning, one of the police women asked me where I was going and why and if I could give them some money :).
What reduces people to beg like this? Maybe if all of us passing through TI is stricter and is more concerned about how Nepalese people behave rather than passing a few items through bhansar, then we would have some kind of input. Other than that, this is going to continue.
|
| Horizon |
Posted
on 05-Feb-02 02:51 PM
Sunakhari said - What reduces people to beg like this? The answer is easy money. As long as people continue to bribe officials in the name of less custom tax or even convenience, this will continue. It has become our culture to buy way out of any situation. I have a friend who pays thousands in taxes here in US but paid $20 in TI so that he wouldn’t be taxed for goods he was carrying. In US, people spend hours in line outside some bars but can’t wait an hour or two in TI custom if need be. We promote corruption and then come back to US and complain about corruption in Nepal. What happens in TI is the cumulative result of our inability to understand our contribution to corruption.
|
| Taat |
Posted
on 05-Feb-02 03:01 PM
Horizon, Very well said, couldn't agree more.
I suggest everyone on your next trip, pay all the due taxes, do not attempt to use your source/force or bribe the TI officers. If you do, I do not see any point complaining about the problem you faced or about how TI customs officers are.
As Prithvi Narayan said: Ghush Dinya ra Linya dubai Rastraka Satru Hun.
|
| gaunle |
Posted
on 05-Feb-02 03:47 PM
It's not about tax all the time. I went home in Nov. '99. I had 2 luggages and didn't have anything taxable. 2 custome officers(?) took my luggages in 2 directions saying that would speed up the process. I tried my best to watch them since I knew waht vansaar people could do. When I reached home my cordless phone, the most valuable item in my bag, was missing :(
|
| JackAss |
Posted
on 05-Feb-02 03:47 PM
If y'all keep donating your money...they'll keep coming back...isn't that obvious?
|
| science guy |
Posted
on 05-Feb-02 04:18 PM
This is interesting...
I have multiple times arrived in Kathmandu airport with upto four excess pieces of luggage (rugged Pelican cases) containing scientific instruments and related computers... and letters from a professor at my university stating that this is university equipment which has to be returned back to the US. I went straight to red channel, asked what the procedure is, how much I need to pay, etc. and the people were more than helpful in helping me through the paperwork such that I could take the equipment through without paying a paisa or a cent. The same was the case a few years ago while bringing in a CD player. A few weeks ago I arrived in Kathmandu with a laptop computer... they sent me in a circle between four desks before waving me through without even taking a look at the laptop.
My advice, folks, is that if you are bringing in anything that does cost customs duty, then tell your relatives to be patient, pack an extra water bottle, and be willingness to stick EXACTLY to the rules... even if you are offered a "deal" refuse it and be willing to pay the exact customs fee and go through all the paperwork. If you are lucky the paperwork will be too much hassle (you see, official papers don't leave room for "deals") so they might just decide that it is not worth their effort and let you go through free. Best might be to enquire about customs regulations before traveling. A lot of duty-able things can be taken into Nepal for free if it is temporary.
Watched this funny scene at San Francisco airport last week: a guy gets his suitcase x-rayed... then the officer asks him "do you have ANY meat in there?" "No" "I repeat, do you have any meat?" "No"... and then the officer proceeded to pull a whole frozen duck out of the guy's duffel bag. I did not wait to see what happened next... but I doubt that the officer would have been happy to keep the duck and let the guy go.
I did have some strange incidents at Kathmandu airport's departure area though:
Once at security check the police "jawan" wanted a bribe for letting me through with a laptop saying that customs did not declare it properly in my passport when I arrived. I refused, and insisted that he call the custom's officer to clarify the matter...until a police officer came through and scolded the guy.
Another time, at immigration, the guy flipped through my passport, and commented that he had signed my passport several times before (arrival or departure stickers)... that I travel a lot(!)... so we are friends, right? That next time I should not forget to bring him a present. I said that yes of course I do bring presents to my friends... but if he wants to be my friend then I need to know his name, and where he lives, and who his supervisor is (that I'd like to meet him), etc. It got a little uncomfortable for him, and he reminded me that I needed to hurry to catch the flight.
... and then there was this guy at the Thai Airways lounge who wanted a bribe to let me in just because I had misplaced my gold card, even though my card number was on the boarding pass... I talked my way in, and he came by three times to remind me that he had made an exception (hoping that the missing bribe would be turned into a tip)...
Anyway, back to work...keep the stories rolling... I think sajha.com now reaches enough of the traveling Nepali public that we might be able to work towards some real changes in the airport.
|
| HahooGuru |
Posted
on 05-Feb-02 05:29 PM
Horizon, you are right. ITs the double standard we Nepali
so called intellectuals have. Shame on we so called intellectual
peoples for the double standard, "we pay $20 to save $80"
and complain that TIA officials are corrupts. If we are so
dedicated to turn TIA into honest peoples workplace, why
can not we simply take stand and wait for some time. ITs
all because Kukur ko pucchhar barha barsha samma dhungra
ma hale pani bangai, and whatever our intellectual ability
or things we learned, when we land on TIA, we are just
another Nepali.
HahooGuru
|
| Moral Police |
Posted
on 06-Feb-02 09:28 AM
Not only in TIA, but happens in all walks of life, unfortunately in my "Cry the Beloved Country" Nepal. Another example: Shortly after IA hijack, on my trip out of the country, I saw a group, rather a horde, of people with a decorated (high ranking police officer) cutting through the lines and check points. After boarding the flight, I recognized only one person from that group on the plane. How many times and how often this sort of things happen - your guess is good as mine.
Isn't there a 7-10% kickback, in all government bids - and this is deemed legal? Haven't you experienced your poor relative, whom you provided a job in your small business out of compassion, siphoning off your daily sales? How about riding the bus without paying fares, adultering water and electricity meters, coming up with fake a financial statements from a bank for your visa and admissions in the US, not going back to Nepal, as promised, after a government sponsored study abroad ( and, now, yet these people are pushing for dual citizenships -ha!)?
Whether you are in line at Balaju gas or waiting to cash a check at Nepal Bank, dhandali goes on!
|
| SIWALIK |
Posted
on 07-Feb-02 10:33 AM
We should abstain from institutionlizing such corruption. Next time they ask for bribe, just let u ask these guys for their name and identification (if possible) and inform them that these names will be placed on the gbnc website. And then appropriate measures will be initiated to have them punished. Maybe calling Deuba's hotline is a good start. If that fails, we can consider other options. I for one have pledged in another forum that I will not give a penny.
|
| Taat |
Posted
on 07-Feb-02 12:43 PM
Lets have a section here with your personal (unaltered) experiences of "GHUSH" with names and posts and if possible pictures. We can also let these people know about the posting and if they like they can defend.
The postings should be only from Registered Users with proper names just so that it does not end up being a playground for pointing fingers without any credibility.
|
| Moral Police |
Posted
on 07-Feb-02 01:04 PM
Is it ok to bend the rules for better results, personal or otherwise? Under 19 World Cricket - are sure all Nepalis are under 19? I am not sure about this!
|
| king |
Posted
on 07-Feb-02 05:02 PM
Fortunately,
till now my experience at TIA has been good. Lucky me.
|
| Biswo |
Posted
on 07-Feb-02 05:08 PM
I think their attitude is very exceptionable. I found them haggling for a few bucks
with me a couple of times for the electronic goods I was carrying with me. It was
also very obvious that they were ready to bargain.
They need to improve their attitude. A lot of times, I found that they didn't have
any dress code, and a lot of people were roaming around the hall.
I don't mind when they check my luggage. But I don't like when I am done with
everything, a guy comes and says, "give me a few bucks to drink tea." I mean,
it sucks. If you ask with the attending officer, he would reply, "Dinus na dinus. He
is a poor guy!" It was long before I realised they were conspiring together.
|
| U19 |
Posted
on 08-Feb-02 07:40 AM
I certainly think so. I know 3 of the players personally. One is my friend's
son who is barely 15. It is not like youth football anymore, when 27 yr olds
went on to play as U17. Cheers
|
| SIWALIK |
Posted
on 08-Feb-02 02:28 PM
Taat: I like your idea. How do we get this started in GBNC? Do we ask the webmaster to take a poll first to get visitors' opinion? Or (on lighter note) is there a "bheti" required for this? Personally, I do not know anyone whose postings I have read, except Arniko).
|
