I reached Blore on sunday early morning. Got our baggages and started pushing the cart toward the green channel screening machine and was abt to load the baggages on the belt. From nowhere two guys appeared and started pushing the cart away from me saying that they will take care of it. I was totally caught offguard. I started chasing them and my wife was getting the signature from the customs guy. The guy who was supposed to help me to put the baggage on the belt also started walking with me. That was choatic. I yelled at my wife to keep the kids with her. The guys started saying that they want dollars. They know how to distract.

One thing I observed. They can quickly make out who is an NRI, who is a desi returning after a few months abroad. I was so pissed off. Then my wife joined me with the kids. She was told by the customs guy that the signed paper need to be shown to someone before getting out of the airpot. I did not see anyone who would see the signed paper. I was hopping mad and decided that I need to teach these three a lesson. I also noticed that they did not carry any ID cards or name tags. Anyway our car was there and the driver opened the trunk. Again another three appeared from nowhere and try to load the baggage to the trunk. I told them f**k off (I speak fluent kannada).

Now we r ready to go. The three who managed to push the cart away from the customs were waiting for the dollars. We just sat in the car. The guy tapped on the window. I asked what the hell u want and who the hell r u. They asked for the dollars. I told them since the customs guy has signed the paper we are just fine and take this Rs. 10 for pshing the cart all the way. And also asked for their ID cards and who they were and waht they were doing inside the airport at the customs area.

They never expected this. I also had some choicest words in kannada for them. So they took the 10 rupee note and vanished back into the airport so that they dont miss out on other NRIs.

Is there any security at the airport? I dont think so. Customs officers are hand in glove with these dalals. These are the parasites/viruses that give a bitter pill to the visiting NRIs.

So folks, be careful. Let no one touch your baggage. Tell them f**k off. U r not carrying something contraband that u need their help in getting away from customs.

DIO

DIO,
I was in B'lore airport 6 months back and saw the parasites. These people (inside customs) are appointed people by the govt. of India to serve us FREE but they demand money to do a work. Did you notice that if your baggage was oversized then the people there mark that luggage with an "X" by chalk piece? This means that, that luggage will have to be carried by the parasites and shown to a customs official and who then will decide if to ask you for money. In my case, an accompanying member was a Canadian Citizen and hence i was not harrased by the customs officials. Another accompanying member with me (an Indian Citizen) made a deal with the parasite for Rs. 50 to carry our luggage and load it into an AC Van that was waiting. But i took pity on the parasite and "shooed" him away when the member who paid rs. 50 was not looking and carried the luggage to the van myself. Bangalore airport is so small (esp. the arrival) that when you come outside it is just like coming from a house. There is parking space for 5 or 6 cars and then the common road starts without a fence or a barrier. Chennai airport is much more better.
Also outside the airport, there is a foreign colabrated coffee shop in which a coffee is Rs. 25 a cup (cheapest) and it sucks big time . Just behind that is another local coffee shop which sells coffee for Rs. 6. During departure, a multi millionare friend of mine bought me the Rs. 25 cup of coffee and only when i finished drinking it did i find the Rs. 6 per cup coffee shop. Bangalore airport has to be remodelled. Just imagine how Narayana moorthy/ Premji would be using this airport.
But the parasites can be "shooed"away and they pose no risk to passengers. But B'lore airport is a very small and very bad airport. Only the immigration counters are many and they are also efficient. Just see the trouble that you have when coming back. Also DIO remeber, in Air France, when flying out of Banaglore, you will have to pay Rs. 1000 for every 1 KG. (yes. One Kilo) excess luggage and so be very careful that your suitcase is not overweight. It is not the $30 flat rate for a over weight piece of luggage in Canada.
As you travelled in Air France, did you like their stale bread?. OTOH, if you pre order your food, then you can get good meals. We ordered Musims meals and hence they came with Rice and Fish but it was not that good. Also in Air France, there is no need to reconfirm your return ticket.
TK A

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I am a Gents and not a Ladies.

Welcome to India in the 21 st century.

An eye opener for all the homesick desis in Canada and the Canada bashers.

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You know you are a desi when ........ You spew forth the virtues of India, but don't want to live there...............You've never had a tanning salon membership

My experience was twice in Bangalore when returning from USA. I was told that the baggage gets the X mark at the destination itself ( I travelled in Lufthansa). I had to pay some money so that I don't get harrassed further.
I noticed this happens only in Bangalore, not in Chennai, Delhi or Mumbi, where I have been.

Quote:

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Originally posted by Loser

Welcome to OBC LAND (formerly known as India) in the 21 st century.

An eye opener for all the homesick desis in Canada and the Canada bashers.

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"Aur Vaise Bhi, Sharafat ki jab kapde utarti hai, sabse zyaada mazaa shareefon ko hi aati hai"....(From The Dirty Picture)

Warning !! SCAM ALERT !!
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This is a Useful Health related Tip
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Please visit
http://www.cmje.org/religious-texts/quran/verses/009-qmt.php for some interesting Information ! (Especially 009.005 )

A foreigners expirience in Bombay airport http://musictravel.free.fr/articles/omipindia/omipindia.htm

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You know you are a desi when ........ You spew forth the virtues of India, but don't want to live there...............You've never had a tanning salon membership

Comparing Mumbai from my visit in 1996 to my visit in 2005, things have certainly improved. The immigration and customs are streamlined and are very efficient. Nobody harasses you. Any airport employee (atleast the ones I perceived to be one) answers your question reasonably.

I kept several $1 USD bills in my wallet. There are loaders and unloaders of suitcases in the shuttle bus. I tipped the guy a dollar after unloading the luggage and that's about all.

While Mumbai can be a thousand times better, considering it's the gateway to most international travellers, it certainly has improved.

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Dimple2001