Jeff's Travel Stories
The first time I saw this trick was in Syria. When you enter the country, there are small signs posted (so they say) and small print on the visa form (never saw it), stating all foreign currency must be declared. The first I heard of this was in a discussion over tea with some locals in Syria. I was a little taken aback. I had a lot of Turkish and US cash as I had driven a car to the Syrian border and bused into Syria. I had a lot more cash than I normally would. According to the Syrians, any currency not declared would be seized. Great. Before I left, I hid my currency in various nooks and crannies all over my backpack. My pack had some great hiding spots and someone unfamiliar with backpacks might not figure it out, so I was hopeful.
Hammadiyya
The famous souk in Damascus
At departure, there are huge signs everywhere, stated all undeclared currency will be seized! When they found out I didn’t declare any currency, they gleefully began the search. They managed to go through all the standard pockets, stopping to play with my swiss army knife and some of my other gear, having a good laugh in anticipation of some riches. Then a stroke of luck occurred! An American appeared next to me, was also being searched and they found his money almost instantly. A large commotion ensued, as the American guy (rightfully) was incensed. As I had a bit of Turkish and Arabic knowledge, and my pack seemed small and complicated, they gave up on me, concentrated on the American, and asked me to “translate”. Not much I could do, in the end, we left together, me with all my hidden cash, the poor U.S. guy with nothing.
I also experienced a similar spin on this in Russia. What they seem to do, is at random, not hand out the currency declaration form to people, on entry. I figure about 1 in 5, or more. If you don’t get one or ask for one, tough luck. I was traveling the Trans-Siberia with Greg Gerard. Before leaving Russia we realized the scam as Greg had a declaration form and I didn’t. Luckily we together had spent half our monies, so I “gave” all my monies to Greg, Thus on paper he was OK, officially having as much as he declared on entry, no more. I had none, as much my non-declaration. It didn’t phase them at all at exit, as there are plenty more tourists coming. I am sure this is done country wide, so all customs people can share equally. Just one big currency non-declaration co-op. Easier money than wheat farming I guess.
/groups/jeffstravelstories/search/index.rss?sort=modifiedDate&sortDirection=reverse&tag=crimelist/groups/jeffstravelstories/search/?sort=modifiedDate&sortDirection=reverse&tag=crimeBe careful out there!CustomTagSidebarCustomTagSidebar?sort=modifiedDate&sortDirection=reverse&tag=crime0/groups/jeffstravelstories/sidebar/CustomTagSidebarmodifiedDate5CustomTagSidebarreversecrimeBe careful out there!custom/groups/jeffstravelstories/search/index.rss?tag=hotlist/groups/jeffstravelstories/search/?tag=hotWhat’s HotHotListHot!?tag=hot5/groups/jeffstravelstories/sidebar/HotListjeffjeff2011-01-25 20:57:02+00:002011-01-25 20:57:02updated4Added tag - hotjeffjeff2011-01-12 20:49:16+00:002011-01-12 20:49:16addTag3jeffjeff2011-01-12 20:48:44+00:002011-01-12 20:48:44updated2First createdjeffjeff2011-01-12 20:48:29+00:002011-01-12 20:48:29created1weblog2011-01-25T20:57:02+00:00groups/jeffstravelstories/weblog/6ec66FalseSome Favorite Travel Photos/groups/jeffstravelstories/weblog/6ec66/Some_Favorite_Travel_Photos.htmljeff4 updatesSome Favorite Travel Photos
Falsejeff2011-01-25T20:57:02+00:00jeffjeff2011-01-09 18:13:44+00:002011-01-09 18:13:44updated9jeffjeff2011-01-07 15:33:10+00:002011-01-07 15:33:10updated8Added tag - hotjeffjeff2011-01-07 15:33:08+00:002011-01-07 15:33:08addTag7Added tag - turkeyjeffjeff2011-01-05 21:44:26+00:002011-01-05 21:44:26addTag6jeffjeff2011-01-01 16:48:03+00:002011-01-01 16:48:03updated5jeffjeff2011-01-01 16:47:48+00:002011-01-01 16:47:48updated4jeffjeff2011-01-01 16:46:03+00:002011-01-01 16:46:03updated3jeffjeff2011-01-01 15:58:42+00:002011-01-01 15:58:42updated2First createdjeffjeff2011-01-01 15:57:33+00:002011-01-01 15:57:33created1weblog2011-01-09T18:13:44+00:00groups/jeffstravelstories/weblog/a5bc0FalseTurkish Drunk Driving Test/groups/jeffstravelstories/weblog/a5bc0/Turkish_Drunk_Driving_Test.htmljeff9 updatesTurkish Drunk Driving Test
A Tourist Steam Engine in Turkey
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[image]While living in Istanbul, I need...Falsejeff2011-01-09T18:13:44+00:00jeffjeff2011-01-06 23:02:06+00:002011-01-06 23:02:06updated17Added tag - hotjeffjeff2011-01-06 01:05:34+00:002011-01-06 01:05:34addTag16Removed tag - hotjeffjeff2011-01-06 01:04:45+00:002011-01-06 01:04:45removeTag15jeffjeff2011-01-06 01:04:45+00:002011-01-06 01:04:45updated14Added tag - hotjeffjeff2011-01-06 01:04:44+00:002011-01-06 01:04:44addTag13Added tag - indiajeffjeff2011-01-05 21:44:09+00:002011-01-05 21:44:09addTag12Added tag - south americajeffjeff2011-01-05 21:44:05+00:002011-01-05 21:44:05addTag11Added tag - illnessjeffjeff2011-01-05 21:43:46+00:002011-01-05 21:43:46addTag10Added tag - sarsjeffjeff2011-01-05 21:43:35+00:002011-01-05 21:43:35addTag9Added tag - asiajeffjeff2011-01-05 21:43:32+00:002011-01-05 21:43:32addTag8Added tag - africajeffjeff2011-01-05 21:43:28+00:002011-01-05 21:43:28addTag7jeffjeff2011-01-01 16:44:28+00:002011-01-01 16:44:28updated6jeffjeff2011-01-01 16:26:37+00:002011-01-01 16:26:37updated5jeffjeff2011-01-01 16:26:01+00:002011-01-01 16:26:01updated4jeffjeff2011-01-01 16:24:41+00:002011-01-01 16:24:41updated3jeffjeff2011-01-01 15:58:18+00:002011-01-01 15:58:18updated2First createdjeffjeff2011-01-01 15:57:45+00:002011-01-01 15:57:45created1weblog2011-01-06T23:02:06+00:00groups/jeffstravelstories/weblog/678d9FalseOf Lice and Flem (Phlegm)/groups/jeffstravelstories/weblog/678d9/Of_Lice_and_Flem_Phlegm.htmljeff17 updatesOf Lice and Flem (Phlegm)
[shapeimage_1.png]Travel can be tough, different food, different bugs, different diseases. To me this is what makes travel interesting.
...Falsejeff2011-01-06T23:02:06+00:00jeffjeff2011-01-06 22:22:29+00:002011-01-06 22:22:29updated10Added tag - hotjeffjeff2011-01-06 22:22:28+00:002011-01-06 22:22:28addTag9jeffjeff2011-01-05 21:25:05+00:002011-01-05 21:25:05updated8Added tag - indonesiajeffjeff2011-01-05 21:25:02+00:002011-01-05 21:25:02addTag7Added tag - lesothojeffjeff2011-01-05 21:24:58+00:002011-01-05 21:24:58addTag6Added tag - visajeffjeff2011-01-05 21:24:54+00:002011-01-05 21:24:54addTag5Added tag - bribejeffjeff2011-01-05 21:24:50+00:002011-01-05 21:24:50addTag4Added tag - central americajeffjeff2011-01-05 21:24:46+00:002011-01-05 21:24:46addTag3jeffjeff2011-01-05 21:24:26+00:002011-01-05 21:24:26updated2First createdjeffjeff2011-01-05 21:17:23+00:002011-01-05 21:17:23created1weblog2011-01-06T22:22:29+00:00groups/jeffstravelstories/weblog/01cf1FalseEntries, Exits & Bribes/groups/jeffstravelstories/weblog/01cf1/Entries_Exits__Bribes.htmljeff10 updatesEntries, Exits & Bribes
I have been involved with quite a few bribes while traveling. I remember always having bribe money tucked in my sock for the year I lived in Turk...Falsejeff2011-01-06T22:22:29+00:00Added tag - hotjeffjeff2011-01-06 01:04:56+00:002011-01-06 01:04:56addTag7jeffjeff2011-01-05 21:36:41+00:002011-01-05 21:36:41updated6Added tag - zimbabwejeffjeff2011-01-05 21:36:40+00:002011-01-05 21:36:40addTag5Added tag - coincidencejeffjeff2011-01-05 21:36:21+00:002011-01-05 21:36:21addTag4Added tag - australiajeffjeff2011-01-05 21:36:14+00:002011-01-05 21:36:14addTag3jeffjeff2011-01-05 21:34:09+00:002011-01-05 21:34:09updated2First createdjeffjeff2011-01-05 21:31:02+00:002011-01-05 21:31:02created1weblog2011-01-05T21:36:41+00:00groups/jeffstravelstories/weblog/3cc1eFalseTravel Coincidences/groups/jeffstravelstories/weblog/3cc1e/Travel_Coincidences.htmljeff7 updatesTravel Coincidences
Everyone has their travel coincidence stories. It was quite common to meet someone on one side of a continent and then not knowing anything abou...Falsejeff2011-01-05T21:36:41+00:00hot/groups/jeffstravelstories/search/index.rss?sort=modifiedDate&kind=all&sortDirection=reverse&excludePages=wiki/welcomelist/groups/jeffstravelstories/search/?sort=modifiedDate&kind=all&sortDirection=reverse&excludePages=wiki/welcomeRecent ChangesRecentChangesListUpdates?sort=modifiedDate&kind=all&sortDirection=reverse&excludePages=wiki/welcome0/groups/jeffstravelstories/sidebar/RecentChangesListmodifiedDateallRecent ChangesRecentChangesListUpdateswiki/welcomeNo recent changes.reverse5search
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