Our crates took some time to arrive so we amused ourselves playing football until someone got annoyed with us keep kicking the ball at them whilst they were trying to unload cargo and confiscated it.
Then some soldiers with guns turned up with a cameraman to pose with us and take photos. It was rather weird.
Eventually the crates turned up and we could set about dismantling our bikes. Marc went first and we all debated the best way of removing the front wheel whilst it was on the centre stand on a crate bottom then lowering it down. Since Marc's bike weighs about 230kg it took a few of us.
Mine was easier, weighing in at only 150kg and we saved Carlos' bike till last, his weighs a mighty 250kg+.
Fuel out, battery disconnected, front wheel off, tyres down, handlebars and cockpit off and my bike fitted very snugly into the premeasured crate.
We then had to push and lift the crates through an xray machine and into the holding area. Although the Nepalis are small they are surprisingly strong. Marc stood by with his camera ensuring we had a video record. We couldn't have moved the crates without him.
With the bikes boxed we returned to the office to pay. Since my volumetric measurement was bigger than the mass I paid about $575USD for my shipping together with $230USD for my air ticket.
Having arrived in Bangkok, culture shock is an apt word. Compared to Pakistan, India and Nepal everything is much cleaner, the roads are much better and so is the driving. We rode to our guest house in a taxi travelling at 120kph down a perfect motorway whilst listening to country music.
We all agree that we feel lost without the bikes though. Despite the mechanical trouble and stress mine gives me it must be truly boring to be a backpacker. We should be able to pick them up on Monday Yn Shallah. I'm gonna spend the weekend shopping for new goodies. Woo!
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment