HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: guest@veronica.cs.wisc.edu (Guest account)
Subject: Re: Camcorder and UK Customs
Reply-To: petlock@turing.org
Organization: U of Wisconsin Madison - Computer Sciences
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 15:24:56 GMT


steve@cstr.ed.ac.uk (Steve Hiller) writes:

>I'm returning to Heathrow Airport from Australia via
>Singapore. Are there any useful tricks for getting
>a camcorder, bought on the cheap in Singapore, through
>UK customs?


Yes. Don't post your intentions to the net. But seriously:

If the UK is like the US and you don't have to see a customs officer
on the way *out* of the country, why can't you just pretend like you
bought the camcorder in the UK originally, had taken it on vacation
with you, and were just bringing it back with you?  Buying a carrying
bag for the camcorder and putting tags with your address on it on the
bag, and having some unwrapped blank (or maybe not blank) tapes
packaged with it in the bag might help.  Of course, if the thing is
obviously grey-market and the buttons are all labeled in japanese this
might not fly so well, but its worth a try.  

Given the easy avaliability of laser printers and document scanners,
you might want to print up a "UK Extended Warranty" for the thing with
the scanned-in logo of a store or chain that deals in consumer
electronics.  You could even take it with you on disk so that you
could pop into a copy shop that has computers avaliable while in
Singapore so that you can put the serial number of the camcorder into
the document.  That way, you can say, "Well, I don't have a receipt
for it, but I did purchase this extended warranty coverage and here's
part of the paperwork that they sent me."

Just my two cents.  Of course, I would never :) do anything illegal
like the things mentioned above...

>Thanks.

You're welcome.
-Tim Petlock
petlock@turing.org
From: azari@ksr.com (Nasser Azari)
Newsgroups: rec.travel
Subject: Re: restaurants in New Orleans?
Date: 22 Nov 92 18:29:32 EST
Organization: Kendall Square Research Corp.

Can someone give me info about cool places to visit in the DENVER srea.
I will spend the Thanksgiving holiday there.
Any places within a few hours drive from DENVER or a weekend trip?  
Any good eateries (preferably ethnic, not too expensive)?  
Any good ski resort? How to get discount lift tickets? A reasonable place to
stay? (not too expensive).
Any nice clubs?  
Any bands that would be playing there around that time?  

Please send me mail at azari@ksr.com

Newsgroups: rec.travel
From: jpenovic@wizard.Berkeley.EDU (Jan Penovich)
Subject: Re: The way to Key West, Fl
Reply-To: jpenovic@1.com
Organization: Encore Computer Corp., Fort Lauderdale FL
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 20:39:26 GMT

In article <83814@ut-emx.uucp>, wyf307@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Freeman
Yu-Feng Wei) writes:
> 
> Hi, there:
>         Some friends of mine and I are going to have a trip to Florida this
> late December. We have plan to visit Key West. But I was told that the road
> to Key West is damaged. Is there anybody know the detail about it? Will
> it be fine in late December?

  The road down there is fine. You'll have no more trouble
  than the normal traffic problems.

********************************************************************
TTFN,    ___           *   jpenovic@encore.com
      / /   /  /\   /  *   
     / /___/  /  \ /   *   
/___/ /   /  /    /    *   
                       *   Encore Computer Corp., Ft. Lauderdale, FL
*********************************************************************

Xref: sparky rec.travel:15628 rec.travel.air:5692
Organization: Stanford Linear Accelerator Center
Date: Tuesday, 17 Nov 1992 08:53:50 PST
From: Lois White <LMWHITE@SLACVM.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU>
Newsgroups: rec.travel,rec.travel.air
Subject: Re: URGENT: Price of film, etc.

In article <1992Nov17.085900.90612@vaxc.cc.monash.edu.au>,
arc113h@vaxc.cc.monash.edu.au (Chris Leong) says:
>
>                     Kodak Gold ASA 100 36/roll, 24/roll
>                     Fujicolor ASA 100 36/roll, 24/roll
Kodak Gold 100 is about $4-$5 for 24/roll, $6-$8 for 36/roll
Fujicolor 100 us usually cheaper than Kodak Gold

Sorry don't know about 1000, but it's going to be more expensive than 100

The low end prices are at KMart but you can probably get both Kodak and
Fujicolor for less at discount places like Price Club or Costco if you
or someone you know has a membership.
Newsgroups: rec.travel,soc.culture.indian
From: nirmal@vaxeline.ftp.com (Nirmal K. Samuel)
Subject: Re: Bad experience on Malaysia Airlines
Organization: FTP Software, Inc., Wakefield, MA
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1992 01:05:26 GMT

From the postings so far, it seems that the rudeness/courtesy that
the airline has is not a standard, but rather it depends on the
type of problem they have. It also looks to me that sometimes whoever
in charge of arranging alternatives screw up sometimes. 

The only way to get the attention of top executives to the fact that
one has been treated badly, is to arrange a campaign. I am sure in bad
situations like this, there would be enough passengers, who would sign
any form that you write !!! In-flight, you could get paper & pencil and
start writing & collecting signatures... This will certainly get the
attention of crew....

It is because most of the indians, put up with problems, that these
airlines do not pay attention.  If they do no pay enough attention to 
the 'birdies' which fly to Madras from Singaport/K.Lumpur, I can 
understand that - because I have seen how rude some of the passengers
are to the crew.  But, they should respect the educated crowd that
travels from States.  I have written a feedback during one occasion
and got a response back...

-nirmal
Newsgroups: rec.travel
From: henry@ADS.COM (Henry Mensch)
Subject: Re: VAT refunds ?
Organization: Advanced Decision Systems; a div of Booz, Allen & Hamilton
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 11:12:16 GMT

proberts@informix.com (Paul Roberts) wrote: 
->For what it is worth, I had no problems getting a VAT refund on a
->shortwave radio I bought in London a few years ago. Got the form
->from the shop, had it stamped at Heathrow (they tale a look to see
->that you really are exporting the product), mailed it back to the
->store, waited, wrote to the store politiely asking them to get a
->move on after about two months, the store send me a cheque. I think
->I got about 25 pounds back.

i think the original author feels the VAT scheme is a scam because you
have to make non-trivial purchases in order to see any benefit (the
price of a shortwave radio qualifies it as a non-trivial purchase) ...
several trivial or sorta-trivial purchases which add up to a
non-trivial amount won't see the VAT refund, full stop.  furthermore,
a cheque for UKL25 is pretty worthless when  your bank will charge up
to that much (in USD, of course) to collect the cheque!

--
# henry mensch / booz, allen & hamilton, inc.  / <henry@ads.com>
# "fight the real enemy."  -- sinead o'connor, and many others.
#     for information on the league for programming freedom, 
#                     write to lpf@uunet.uu.net
Newsgroups: rec.travel
From: doucas@cerberus.bhpese.oz.au (Chris Doucas)
Subject: Re: Australia: Car advice needed
Organization: BHP Information Technology
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1992 23:59:39 GMT
Followup-To: rec.travel

In article <92314.153750IACSAW@ASUACAD.BITNET>, Sheila Walters
<IACSAW@ASUACAD.BITNET> wrote:
> 
> We were in Australia for 5 months in 1987.  I don't know how much
> things have changed, but it was definitely cheaper to buy a car and
> resell it at the end of the period.  Our car dealer agreed to buy it
> back, setting the price in advance--assuming no accidents.  We were
> advised by friends in OZ not to buy a car in a city such as Sydney
> because we were going to be living in a rural area where the roads
> were not as good and the city cars might not come with heavy duty
> shocks, roo bars, etc.  We did wait; the only problem we had was
> in the smaller town there was not many cars with an automatic
> transmission to choose from.


Sheila, (and others)

Prices of cars in australia are absolutely disgusting  --  this from an ex
Canadian, now Aussie citizen! Also the quality of local(Holden, Ford,
Mitsubishi, Commodore) are usually suspect as well. Toyota is not looking
back, nor will be for some time!

Sydney does have the variety and competitive prices. But if you are going
to be in rural areas, reserves, national parks, etc  -- a 4x4 or jeep may
be what you need. The best highway is 1st from Sydney to
Newcastle/Cessnock, 2nd from Sydney to Canberra. So-so parts from Newcastle
up the coast. Anywhere else you take your chances.

Yes, buying a car and selling it later is popular, except for the time
convenience. Generally, cars will cost close to double that from Canada/US.
Rental cars are expensive too.

If you know alot about car mechanics, good prices can be had at car
auctions where usually government/business cars are sold. Going thru a
dealer to buy and sell, you lose twice on their middleman commission which
you pay.

Big note: 2% tax on  sale transactions, yearly rego stickers(1,2,3,4...by
month) are due on the  month designated on the sticker. This involves a
garage inspection to verify your car's road worthiness, plus any work to
make your car 'worthy', plus insurance(green slip), plus RTA admin charge
for new sticker.

Yes, most cars tend to be standard shift, and many still use leaded petrol.
Newer cars, from 1986, tend to be automatic transmission and use unleaded
petrol. Average now of 70-72 cents per litre. 
>              ______________________________________________________________
Regards,      | BHP Information Technology | eMAIL:
-------       | PO Box 216                 |  doucas@cerberus.bhpese.oz.au 
              | Hamilton, NSW              | FAX:                PHONE:  
the Duke..    | Australia 2303             |  +(63) 49 40 2165 / ..40 2135 

   
                 >> A Fool With A Tool Is Still A Fool ! << 
Newsgroups: rec.travel
From: jchokey@leland.Stanford.EDU (James Alexander Chokey)
Subject: B&B's in King's Weir or Dartmouth in Devon, England?
Organization: DSG, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 92 06:50:40 GMT


	Well, I guess the subject line does say it all, but I feel obliged
to elaborate just a little bit.  I'm looking for a B&B or some other 
fairly cozy place to stay in either King's Weir or Dartmouth.  (They're right
across the river from each other).  
	Since they're not a commonly touristed site, I haven't been able to
find anything about places to stay there in any travel books that I have 
access to.  Any assistance you can provide would be appreciated.

	I'd prefer that you responded via e-mail, but if you would rather
post, that's fine too.


	--  Jim C. <jchokey@leland.stanford.edu>


Newsgroups: rec.travel
From: brentw@coopsol.com (Brent Williams)
Subject: Re: Customs (bringing thing out and into the US)
Organization: Cooperative Solutions, Inc.
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 92 00:08:02 GMT

josh@Happy-Man.com (Joshua_Putnam) writes:

>For larger items, you can register them with Customs in
>advance so you have gov't-certified proof the items were in
>the U.S. already.  It's free and doesn't take long -- they
>just note the serial numbers and stamp the form.

The last time I cleared customs with a LOT of computer equipment 
(I was doing demos at a trade show) they explained to me that 
this is not 100% accurate.  They said that the pre-declaration that
you fill out is only a precursor to a full customs declaration.
In other words, if I am bringing in hugely expensive things, they 
may ask for duties anyway, until I can prove myself innocent.
They mentioned a $10,000 limit for computer equipment.  I suspect that
they are trying to guard against the following case: guy pre-declares
"8 carat diamond ring" which is actually a cubic zirconium.  Then he 
goes to Switzerland, buys an 8-carat real diamond, swaps the stone, 
then tries to get back through customs.

Anyway, this is unlikely to apply to the original guy's question about
going through customs with a Walkman, but it may apply to business 
travelers carrying equipment through for tradeshows.


-brent

-- 
Brent Williams/Cooperative Solutions Inc., San Jose CA   (408) 377-0300
brentw@coopsol.com
Cooperative Solutions makes Ellipse, a development environment for
industrial strength graphical client/server business applications.
From: sebring@daehall7.Eng.Sun.COM (Nancy Howes)
Newsgroups: rec.travel
Subject: Need Info About Africa
Date: 19 Nov 1992 19:28:49 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.  Mt. View, Ca.
Distribution: usa
Reply-To: sebring@daehall7.Eng.Sun.COM (Nancy Howes)
NNTP-Posting-Host: daehall7



I am planning a trip to Africa. Can anyone recommend any books
that refer to the continent as a whole? I am just starting the
research, have no idea where I want to go, when a good time
to go is, etc. I'd be interested in hearing from anyone about
must sees or countries that are more interesting than others,
or countries to stay away from. 
Thanks,
Nancy
sebring@sun.com
From: steve@cstr.ed.ac.uk (Steve Hiller)
Newsgroups: rec.travel
Subject: Camcorder and UK Customs
Date: 19 Nov 92 09:55:40 GMT
Organization: Centre for Speech Technology Research, Edinburgh University

I'm returning to Heathrow Airport from Australia via
Singapore. Are there any useful tricks for getting
a camcorder, bought on the cheap in Singapore, through
UK customs?

Thanks.
Newsgroups: rec.travel
From: dbrus.Unify.Com.jenny@unify.uucp (Jennifer Zheng)
Subject: China, anyone?
Reply-To: dbrus.Unify.Com.jenny@unify.uucp (Jennifer Zheng)
Organization: Unify Corporation, Sacramento, CA, USA
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 92 00:32:53 GMT

Greetings,

I'm going to travel around China around January/February, and wonder
if I might overlap w/ others in the netland.  If you don't mind one more
companion, or at least an encounter, please contact me.  I'll be at
(916) 649-3576 through mid/late December.  I don't have an itinerary
as of yet.

Also, recommendation of good books on traveling to China will be
highly appreciated!

Happy traveling,
--jen

Btw, I'm most interested in less traveled or remote parts, but any
info will be welcome as I haven't seen much of China anyway.

B. Jennifer Zheng       Ride thy bike; run thy race.                        ||
Another century, another paradise.               ---  __~o      ~o          ||
jenny@unify.com         (916) 649-3576        ----   _`\<,      <|\         ||
6/18 down, 18/2 to go!                          --- ( )/( )     / >         ||
From: 76702.1202@CompuServe.COM (Charlie Smith)
Newsgroups: rec.travel
Subject: y
Date: 17 Nov 1992 09:01:58 -0600
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu

STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Marshall Islands
============================================================
Marshall Islands - Consular Information Sheet
 November 13, 1992

Embassy Location:  The U.S. Embassy is located in Majuro, c/o P.O. 
Box 1379 - telephone: (011) 692-4011.

Country Description:  The Republic of the Marshall Islands is a 
parliamentary democracy, constitutionally in free association with 
the United States.  It has a developing agrarian economy.  Tourist 
facilities are not widely available.

Entry Requirements:  Proof of U.S. citizenship, sufficient funds 
for the intended stay, and an onward/return ticket are required for 
a stay of up to 30 days.  Further specific information is available 
through the Office of the Representative for the Marshall Islands, 
Suite 1004, 1901 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006 - 
telephone: (202) 234-5414.

Medical Facilities:  Health facilities in the Republic of the 
Marshall Islands are adequate for routine medical problems, but may 
be limited in availability and quality.  Doctors and hospitals often 
expect immediate cash payment for health services.  U.S. medical 
insurance is not always available outside the United States.  In 
some cases supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas 
coverage has proved useful.  The international travelers hotline of 
the Centers for Disease Control at (404) 332-4559 has additional 
useful health information.

Information on Crime:  The crime rate in the Republic of the 
Marshall Islands is low.  Useful information on guarding valuables 
and protecting personal security while traveling abroad is provided 
in the Department of State pamphlet, "A Safe Trip Abroad".  It is 
available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government 
Printing Office, Washington D.C. 20402.

Drug Penalties:  Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in 
illegal drugs are strict, and convicted offenders can expect jail 
sentences and fines.

Registration:  Americans who register at the U.S. Embassy in Majuro 
can obtain updated information on travel and security within the 
area.

 No. 92-103
From: 76702.1202@CompuServe.COM (Charlie Smith)
Newsgroups: rec.travel
Subject: *NEW* TRAVEL INFORMATION -- Hong Kong
Date: 16 Nov 1992 14:27:52 -0600
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu

STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Hong Kong
============================================================
Hong Kong - Consular Information Sheet
 November 13, 1992

Consulate Location:  The American Consulate General is located at 
26 Garden Road in Hong Kong.  The mailing address is; Box 30, FPO AP 
96522-0002; tel (852) 523-9011.

Country Description:  Hong Kong, a British Crown Colony, is made up 
of three geographic areas:  The New Territories, Kowloon peninsula 
and Hong Kong island.  It is a cosmopolitan, and highly developed 
state.  It will revert to China on July 1, 1997.  Tourist facilities 
and services are widely available.

Entry Requirements:  Passports and onward/return transportation by 
sea/air are required.  A visa is not required for tourist visits of 
up to 30 days; the period of time may be extended.  A departure tax 
of $19 must be paid at the airport.  Visas are required to work or 
study.  For other types of travel, the visitor can consult the 
British Embassy at 3100 Massachusetts Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. 
20008, (202)462-1340, or British Consulates in Los Angeles, Atlanta, 
Chicago, Boston, New York or Cleveland.

Medical Facilities:  Good medical facilities are available and 
there are many western-trained physicians.  Information on health 
matters can be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control's 
international travelers hotline, telephone (404) 332-4559.  Doctors 
and hospitals may not accept credit cards but require immediate cash 
payment for health services.  U.S. medical insurance is not always 
valid outside the United States.  Supplemental medical insurance 
with specific overseas coverage has proved useful.

Information on Crime:  Major crime is not a problem for most 
travelers in Hong Kong.  Petty crime such as pickpocketing is 
common.  Useful information on guarding valuables and protecting 
personal security while traveling abroad is provided in the 
Department of State pamphlet, "A Safe Trip Abroad".  It is available 
from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing 
Office, Washington D.C. 20402.

Drug Penalties:  Penalties for possession, use and trafficking in 
illegal drugs are strict, and convicted offenders can expect lengthy 
jail sentences and fines.

Quarantine for Pets:  Hong Kong has strict regulations on the 
importation of animals into the colony.  Dogs and cats must spend a 
minimum of six months in quarantine before admittance.

Registration:  Americans who register at the U.S. Consulate General 
can obtain updated information on travel and security within the 
area.

 No. 92-098

Newsgroups: rec.travel
From: tchristen01@cc.curtin.edu.au
Subject: Re: Rent a car/dent/wreck in Perth
Organization: Curtin University of Technology
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 01:54:12 GMT

Svein-Ivar,

In your recent post about Rent a car/dent/wreck in the Perth
Area, AUS? on X-NEWS: vax7 rec.travel: 22451 you wrote;

>How much does it cost to rent a small/medium sized car for a week with
>unlimited milage and insurance included in the Perth area? I guess Budget, 
>Hertz and those companies are rather expensive so I will appreciate tips 
>on their cheaper competitors in the rent-a-dent/wreck business too.

Here are a couple of quotes that I received today.

BAYSWATER CAR RENTAL (09 - 221 1122) 
160 Adelaide Terrace, Perth
Suzuki (3 door)		$A20 per day - includes insurance & 100km per day
Ford (small 4 door)	$A26 per day - " "
nb. These cars are about 1 year old.

SMALL CAR RENTAL (09 - 361 4496)
14 Great Eastern Highway, Riverdale (suburb close to the domestic and
international terminal)
Ford (small 4 door)	$A22 per day - includes insurance
Holden (medium 4 door)	$A30 per day - " "

HAWTHORN HIRE CARS (09 - 446 922)
Unit 12, 83 Hector Street, Osborne Park (15 minutes drive from city)
small 4 door		$A130 per week - includes insurance
nb. This is more the rent-a-roughie type operation.

Svein-Ivar, all operators require a deposit of between $A100 - $A200,
and in some cases there may be an addition holiday surcharge for the
christmas holiday period.  During the holiday period there is a large
demand on hire cars, consequently you may need to contract a few oper-
ators to get a car at the price and period that you want.

All operators are quick to ask whether the car will be used for metro-
politan or country travel.  Tarrifs for driving outside the Perth 
metropolitan area are higher.


>Thanks in advance,
>Svein-Ivar

Steve
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
    _--_|\      * Mr. Steven Christensen
   /      \     * School of Psychology, Curtin University of Technology
 **\_.--._/     * Perth. Western Australia 6001.  Tel: (+61 9) 351 2758
         v      * Internet: Christensen_SA@cc.curtin.edu.au

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
From: IQM254@URIACC.URI.EDU (Donna Kaplan, Academic Advisor, Study Abroad)
Newsgroups: rec.travel
Subject: (none)
Date: 18 Nov 1992 09:58:33 -0600
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu

I would like to subscribe to the network which lists current U.S. State Departm
ent travel advisories.  Thank You,
                                  Donna Kaplan
                                  University of Rhode Island
From: J.Osborne@cam.compserv.utas.edu.au
Subject: Re: Hong Kong Travel Tips Wanted
Organization: University of Tasmania
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 92 05:50:59 GMT

In article <1992Nov20.153557.9947@mdd.comm.mot.com> mitchell@mdd.comm.mot.com
(Bill Mitchell) writes:


(lots of things deleted)

Bill Mitchell knows his stuff! Thoroughly endorse his list (and I used to live
in HK).

Jo
From: cstadgs@csv.warwick.ac.uk (Mr R J Tinsley)
Newsgroups: rec.travel
Subject: Re: How do you take medication into a foreign country?
Date: 17 Nov 1992 20:19:28 -0000
Organization: Computing Services, University of Warwick, UK
NNTP-Posting-Host: lily.csv.warwick.ac.uk


Just a brief comment, as this is my first post, but from my (5 months)
experience of travelling in Africa, reliable supplies of major American/
European brand-name drugs were legally available over-the-counter
in all the large cities (anti-biotics, codiene etc.).

So if the medication you require is not too obscure, how about just asking
your GP for a list of the drugs you need, along with suitable alternatives,
and purchasing them over there?

Bob
Newsgroups: rec.travel
From: polikoff@torch.asel.udel.edu (Jim Polikoff)
Subject: Bahamas Info Wanted
Organization: AI duPont Institute
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 17:36:43 GMT


My SO and I are taking a trip to the Bahamas from Dec 3 - Dec 11.
We will be staying in the Cable Beach area (near Nassau).
Any tips or suggestions for places to go, things to do,
places to eat, or whatever will be appereciated.

Thanks in advance,
-Jim

Newsgroups: rec.travel