Taking gifts for friends in Kolkata

cheenee jeenee · Oct 22nd, 2007, 18:36

Our family group are taking plenty of chocolates, lollies, treats and children's gifts for an under priveliged family in Kolkata.
Will we get a difficult time getting it all through customs? Are there any restrictions (apart from the obvious, drugs etc)?
Any sugestions?

nayan · Oct 22nd, 2007, 19:10

Depends on defination of plenty..... its customary to bring chocolates for all your friends and relatives when returning to India. unless it runs into 10s of kgs it wont raise an eyebrow.

ycl1688 · Oct 22nd, 2007, 19:40

why not do yourself a favor take some cash with you and distribute
them among the underpreviliged.

cheenee jeenee · Oct 24th, 2007, 04:47

Thanks for the comments. Ofcourse cash will be given but why not chocolates and gifts? Doesn't everyone deserve a treat?

Nick-H · Oct 24th, 2007, 05:21

Yes, everybody deserves a treat, especially the kids

. Take a few choccies and a toy or two.

Do remember the temperature if you are going at a hot time of year. In my city chocolates don't have much life once you get them off the plane unless you get them to a fridge pretty quickly*. Poor people don't have fridges.

Better to help them out with the necessities of life, though, rather than shower them with chocolates and 'luxury' things.

Reminds me of a girlfriend I had in London long time back: she struggled to make ends meet with three children from previous relationships and, although we used to do things like go on trips together, she hated me spending money on expensive meals for us: just made her think how much difference that money could make to her for a whole week.

Oh dear --- I hope I'm not sounding preachy here, I'm sure you've got this worked out already.

*Indian chocolate is made with a higher melting temperature

cheenee jeenee · Oct 24th, 2007, 18:29

Hi Nick-H
we are going in December so it will be 'cool in Cal' where we will off load the chocs & goodies.
Will do what we can to help with necessities of life so no sweat.
Any suggestion for a nice venu for dinner on Christmas Day in Kolkata for a group of of us? Music would be good too. Is Park Street the best bet? Age group 25-50 yrs

Oct 22nd, 2007, 18:36	#1
cheenee jeenee Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 10	Taking gifts for friends in Kolkata Our family group are taking plenty of chocolates, lollies, treats and children's gifts for an under priveliged family in Kolkata. Will we get a difficult time getting it all through customs? Are there any restrictions (apart from the obvious, drugs etc)? Any sugestions? Last edited by machadinha : Oct 22nd, 2007 at 21:33. Reason: moved thread

Oct 24th, 2007, 04:47	#4
cheenee jeenee Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 10	gifts to India Thanks for the comments. Ofcourse cash will be given but why not chocolates and gifts? Doesn't everyone deserve a treat?

Oct 24th, 2007, 05:21	#5
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 25,846	Yes, everybody deserves a treat, especially the kids . Take a few choccies and a toy or two. Do remember the temperature if you are going at a hot time of year. In my city chocolates don't have much life once you get them off the plane unless you get them to a fridge pretty quickly. Poor people don't have fridges. Better to help them out with the necessities of life, though, rather than shower them with chocolates and 'luxury' things. Reminds me of a girlfriend I had in London long time back: she struggled to make ends meet with three children from previous relationships and, although we used to do things like go on trips together, she hated me spending money on expensive meals for us: just made her think how much difference that money could make to her for a whole week. Oh dear --- I hope I'm not sounding preachy here, I'm sure you've got this worked out already. Indian chocolate is made with a higher melting temperature __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

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Oct 22nd, 2007, 19:10	#2
nayan Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: hyderabad/tokyo Posts: 698	Depends on defination of plenty..... its customary to bring chocolates for all your friends and relatives when returning to India. unless it runs into 10s of kgs it wont raise an eyebrow.

Oct 22nd, 2007, 19:40	#3
ycl1688 Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: chicago,usa Posts: 42	why not do yourself a favor take some cash with you and distribute them among the underpreviliged.

Oct 24th, 2007, 18:29	#6
cheenee jeenee Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 10	Hi Nick-H we are going in December so it will be 'cool in Cal' where we will off load the chocs & goodies. Will do what we can to help with necessities of life so no sweat. Any suggestion for a nice venu for dinner on Christmas Day in Kolkata for a group of of us? Music would be good too. Is Park Street the best bet? Age group 25-50 yrs

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