We were flying to Auckland, New Zealand, via Sydney airport. Looking back now we can laugh, but at the time we were worried and somewhat confused.
Preparing and packing:
We knew flying to New Zealand wouldn’t be easy. I was very nervous about getting caught at customs for some silly stupid reason.
To start with, it would be an overall 15 hour flight. And we were loaded with Christmas gifts. Would these gifts be a problem going through customs? And was there anything else we had perhaps we had overlooked? So we read all the flight rules.
Besides what we had, we borrow an old flight suitcase with two wheels, from a friend. I must say we searched through each and every bit of our luggage before packing, to see if there was anything that shouldn’t be there.
Our children in New Zealand had said to buy a small bar of chocolate each, and declare it as food when necessary. Surely, everything would be okay.
Now we were off:
Everything went well as we left Johannesburg and the flight was a breeze.
Before entering Sydney airport, we filled in the requested forms. Everything went well, until we got to customs.
I went through easily. I had my camera and computer with me, because I was hoping to keep up with my blogging, since we would be in New Zealand for near on 2.5 months. That was no problem for me.
Then what?
But turning around I couldn’t find my husband. That’s strange….
Oh, there he was, going through the detector arch. Hey, but why were they making him go through it several times. Now I was getting worried. Then it came to me. He had a metal pin in his shoulder socket. Surely he would tell them it was from a lift shaft accident he had many years ago.
No. Something was really wrong. They were bringing him over to a side counter and called me to join him. What now?
The customs offer was looking through his carry bag! Gosh, this is ridiculous, thought I.
The guy was looking in this pocket and then that pocket. Let me explain… my husband’s carry bag is somewhat like a computer bag, with many pockets, big and small.
After a while the customs officer was getting frustrated. Unknown to us, he had seen something on the Xray detector, but couldn’t find what he was looking for now. And of cause my husband and I were getting more and more worried. What could be the matter?
Haaah! At last the customs offer pulled out a tiny metal pocket knife. Can you believe it?! He said it was in a tight little corner in one of the smaller pockets. What was it doing there?
It turns out, my husband generally used it when travelling on the Johannesburg inter buses. You know, been a South African man, they love eating their biltong! And he had missed finding it before packing.
My husband has a throat and hearing impediment, so I said to the customs, “Throw it away”. But that wasn’t good enough. No, he had to record it, before he would allow us to catch our next flight. So now we go down in history as bad guys, with a serious offence. Shame on us!
Ok, now we get on the flight to Auckland, New Zealand.
We had a lovely flight and enjoyed a lovely meal on the plane.
Watching the lights over the northern part of New Zealand, it looked like a fairy land. So beautiful! “Like they were putting out Christmas lights to welcome us,” said I to my husband.
But unknown to us there was a mauri guy and his mother sitting just in front of us. They chuckled. And startled us… the chap says “Yip, it’s just for you!” We laughed, thinking this was a good omen.
Aaah… But we didn’t know what was in store for us at customs.
Oh yes, everything went well and were just really to go through the big sliding to meet our family… when all of a sudden, here comes a policewoman with her small light beige Labrador dog. They seemed to have come from nowhere!
She asks me, have we got anything to declare. “Yes” says I, “some chocolates.”
But she doesn’t seem to register what I’ve said. She is more concerned with the fact her dog has turned quickly from me and is now declaring there is something wrong with my husband.
Oh, not again, thinks I. This is too much.
And… can you believe it? The dog puts his nose straight on a spot on my husband’s pants, without hesitation…. went right there, first shot.
It was a spot of gravy from the meal we had had on the plane!
We all laughed when my husband said what it was from. But for a moment it was scary, because we had really though we had escaped customs after all!
Without another word we were dismissed and with a great sigh, passed through the sliding doors.
But that’s not all,
Leaving the airport and travelling through Auckland in our children’s car, police cars started passing us, one after the other, with their sirens on.
Our son told us long afterwards, that he had been very embarrassed. Because all along, he had been telling us New Zealand is crime free, and here were the police chasing around Auckland, like they were chasing drug loads.
I must end by saying,
That only happens in the big cities. The country towns are crime free and the country is very beautiful. The streets are clean and well kept. And… the people very friendly and helpful. It’s a great place to live. No wonder they guard it so well !!
Have you ever had a funny experience at an airport?