I HAVE ONLY VISITED TAIWAN ONCE AND THE CUSTOMS PEOPLE DO GET UPSET EASILY. I CAME IN FROM THE PHILIPPINES WITH A LARGE SUITCASE FULL OF SWORDS AND KNIVES. THEY SWARMED ALL OVER MY STUFF , FINALLY AN ENGLISH SPEAKER SHOWED UP AND EXPLAINED I COULD NOT BRING THEM INTO THE COUNTRY. THEY ALLOWED ME TO LEAVE THE ITEMS AT THE AIRPORT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF CUSTOMS WHERE I COULD PICK THEM UP WHEN I LEFT.
ALL WAS WELL AND I HAD A GOOD VISIT BUT DID NOT PICK UP ANY KNIVES THERE. WHEN I LEFT I WANTED MY SWORDS TO PUT IN MY LUGGAGE TO CHECK. NOT ALLOWED SO I ENDED UP STANDING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF CUSTOMS BUT BEFORE THE SECURITY CHECK WITH A PACKAGE FULL OF EDGED WEAPONS. I SAW SOME PILOTS AND CREW AND FOUND THEY WERE FLYING MY FLIGHT AND THEY VOLENTERED TO TAKE MY STUFF ON WITH THEM AND THEN GIVE IT BACK TO ME WHEN I DEBARKED. ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL BUT ONE HAS TO THINK FAST BECAUSE OFTEN LOGIC AND REGULATIONS HAVE NOTHING IN COMMON. PERHAPS IF YOU ASK THE AIRLINE IF YOU CAN CARRY A SOUVINEER OF ETHINOGRAPHIC TRIBAL ART IN YOUR CHECKED LUGGAGE EVEN THOUGH IT IS A SWORD PERHAPS THEY WOULD BE REASONABLE. GOOD LUCK
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