hey ther.....everbody

I would like to know what all items I should take while travelling to India for a visit. I mean you all know we have to take a hell lots of gifts for everybody in the family & relatives...... I have sorted out something & would like to know, would I be allowed to take this things clearing the custom people....

(1) 2 Digital Cameras plus one of mine for my use....

(2) 2 Mobile Phones.... ofcource world range onces

(3) around 2 small household appliances (electrical - convertable in India)

I am not going to take all of them.... but really think of taking around 3 out of them... plus a camera for me. I am wondering how much electrical gadgets are we allowed to clear the custom......

Thanks in advance..... any help would be really appreciated.

Hemang

Honestly if I were you I'll not take anything from here. For Eg: you are taking Cell phones to India. My information says that Nokia or Motorola does not make cellphones here in Canada, while in India Nokia and Motorola assemble cellphones in Chennai. They are also introducing the next generation models in India. The weather is India is quite humid. The products are designed for that conditions, while you take a phone designed for Canadian conditions I do not know how it will handle all the dust and pollution. My apartment friend visited India in December 2006. He thought he took the latest phone to India from Canada. When he landed in Chennai airport and pulled out his phone and compared what the auto/taxi or even the grocery delivery guy was having he was at shock. The cell phone models, features are advanced and prices are comparable or even less in India.

In regards to taking the electrical ware or cameras what will happen if they have a short circuit or a equipment malfunction ?. Your relatives will simply throw the stuff out. If they buy locally and the stuff they want they can get local warranty. I think the current luggage allowance is 23 Kgs per bag. How much are your going to carry ?.

Hence my advice is to take the $ and give it your family and relatives to buy stuff that they need. Even better if you give the $'s to your parents they will deposit it in local bank FD's or even Post Office saving schemes and the current rates are +10% for senior citizens. Lastly you can always transfer this monies to Canada when you need it as Indian FOREX reserves is US$200 Billion and they do not ask questions.

My two cents for your dilemma.

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Speech by Thomas Friedman of The New York Times....

"When we were young kids growing up in America, we were told to eat our
vegetables at dinner and not leave them. Mothers said, 'think of the
starving children in India and finish the dinner.' And now I tell my
children: 'Finish your maths homework. Think of the children in India
who would make you starve, if you don't.'"