Posting Paul's sargots: a tale of untamed bureaucracy.

Paul was asked by his mum to get some sargots – little cymbals which belly dancers put on their fingers and use during a belly dance. In Alexandria's market we find some for 10 Egyptian pounds. Later in Aswan we go to post them (it took a while to find some envelopes).

The man at the front desk studies the envelope and, seeing that it's not just paper needs to open it. The sargots are released. He consults a man behind him at a desk and comes back. “You need to see customs,” he says, “take the next road to the right.” After a few misfires we get to customs, a two minute walk away. Customs Guy explains that we need a small box so that Customs can examine the contents, check that there's no antiquities inside and seal it shut with packing wire for Paul to post. They do this for 8 Egyptian pounds. As an alternative, a prepaid bag from the post office would be fine. “Check the postal price before you come back,” he adds.

Back to the post office.

We ask for a bag and, after some chasing around, we get one. Post Office Man also digs up an old stapler box to put the sargots in. The cost to New Zealand? A lot of searching of price tables. 146 Egyptian pounds by airmail. Ouch. How about by surface mail? A different person searches a different price chart. 110 Egyptian pounds.

After speaking to no less than ten different people at the post office, Paul still has is sargots with him. He was able to carry them out of Egypt in his bag through the land border without any customs checks.