Kathmandu update

2215 march ten, two-thousand ten.

Landed uneventfully in Nepal and collected all 12 checkin boxes. Boxes slightly bruised, but nothing spectacular. Somehow loaded onto 2 carts by a zealous porter looking for a good tip. Tried to push past in the express line and stopped by customs people. The papers that I provided didn't seem to satisfy the customes person so had to keep all the check ins in holding. So I was taken to a customs holding area where the stuff was being held until the customs officer could come deal with it in the morning. It was a good thing, I've been here before otherwise, I'd have a lot of trouble accepting the fact that the only colateral I'd get was a ghetto sheet of recycled grade paper that had my name on it. My name which they thought was Canadian/Canadienne as per my passport. 

 

So I exit the terminal and greeted by Dr. Shakya, Nat, Justina, Sandip. Although previously warned by my mother, not to worry, I was diappointed that all this stuff was held up. After meeting a Nepali person we walk right back into the terminal and start asking everyone around what can be done to reclaim the equipment now. I think part of this tactic is to ensure as much ppl know about the equipment that has been heldup as possible so that the ppl that seized the equipment would not be able to secretly make off with the equipment which has occured in the past on countless occassions. It turns out that nothing can be done til the next day. Go back to hospital and hang out catch up for a bit til 0100. By this time, I don't think i've slept over 10hrs in the last 3days.

 

Back at the hospital in the AM 0830 to figure out our tactic for getting equipment back. Return to customs cargo area to reclaim baggage with hospital administrator. Enter into a dicey, dusty warehouse were TONS of suitcases, cargo is kept in holding. we are first greated by a bargaining representative who makes us wait for about 30min and then asks for 600NRps. Apparently this is standard procedure.  I'm ushered in 2ft past the restricted access gates by our bargaining rep to take a look if I cansee my baggage. not able to see much, i reply no. so the next step is to locat luggage, the photos i took and the room where they were held is shown to them and they collect them. another 1.5hr later, the luggage enters the restricted access zone. i'm asked to sign papers and then the boxes are pushed out ofthe restricted zone by eager porters. all the while boxes, andskidsof other held up materials are beingpushedand carted out of this area - everything from treking equipment, coputers, animal anitbiotics, clothing from china are found inthis area. I am now told that half theprocess iscomplete. Here I was thinking that it would all be over. But the bargaining has just begun. I am told that they want us to pay 25000NRps for the goods. Talking with the administrator we decide ona bargaining goal of 15000NRps. We're told to wait.

 

Meanwhil the floors are slowly becoming cleaned with the plethora of boxes being pushed along the floors. It is also important to note that fragile although spelt correctly on boxes is clearly not comprehended. "Breekbaar - Fragile" with the universal glass symbol can be seen on some items that look like they just came out of war. My boxes are in decent shape with minimal holes and scratches; but have definitely been tossed around. In order to increase unloading efficiency, porters load skids to approximately 10 feet with whateer they can take out on the pump cart. a trail of the product they are shipping follows like a crumtrail of a young child enjoying a cookie. In this case, the crums are flat screen monitors. They are kicked along to their unlaoding destination where the 10ft stack is promptly toppled over to create a big pile flat screen monitor rumble. the pump cart is returned while a group of eager porters reorganize the product in their own personal way. stacks of 5, 3,1exist in whatseem to be a formation to create steps. Not sure if they were just bored. As the stack gets taller with subsequent skids that come out, the formation of hte steps start to make sense as these are actually used as steps to get product tothe uppermost part of their piles unreachable on ground.

 

About 2hrs later the bargaining has completed with the bargaining repfinally agreeing to 15000NRps. Theequpiment like every other box inthe cargo area is ripped open exposing it's contents for the scavenging of local authorities for approval. Since we clearly made know our donations were for charities, there wasn't toomuch trouble caused in the search.

 

We finally made it back to the hospital 6hrs after with all the goods in hand with  15600Rps in damage. We find out after the transaction that customs duty only charged us 1695NRps. But this is the way this country works.

 

today we opened all the equipment and had the Capitol Enterprises rep come to help out as well.

 

really ipressed by the International Friendship Childrens Hospital with many clients lining the doors for good consultations. many depressing things to report, but ppl are trying hard here to make things work. It was also nice to see my buddy's donated head lamp still in use for oral exams.

 

Anyway, it for now. next week will be imprementing all the equipment and donating the rest of the stuff to ENPHO and UMH. Been a long week with never more than 6hrs sleep but so much to do.

 

Dogs are awake @ 0530 so better get some shuteye. more later...