Hello all , several of you wanted the shipping info on getting the bike to
South America and a little news to boot so here ya are,
From Cambodia I went directly to Bangkok as I had already spent a week
organizing the shipment of my bike out of SE Asia beforehand so that
everything would go smoothly upon my arrival. But when I got there I got the
same surprise that many other verteran SE Asian bikers like Daniel Vetter
and Phillip Janowski have had many times. Just like them I was told at the
last minute that I would have to pay three times more than I was originally
qouted and had to take my bike out of the crate, reasemable everything and
make plans to ship from another Country!
Both Daniel and Phillip had warned me but since my trip was ending in
Thailand, how could I justify riding anther 1200 KMS to Kuala Lumpor? In the
end I had an extra two weeks holiday in four different places in Southern
Thailand and still had 500$ left over in my pocket from the money that I
saved!
Port Klang, Malaysia is the only reasonable place in SE Asia to ship to
or from. Singapore is a poor second alternative because of extra costs like
mandatory insurance and higher living costs. Many of the other poorer
Countries lack the infratrature to compete with these more modern Countries.
And while Thailand gives the illusion of being practical, the customs system
is too costly and complicated to be seriously considered. Customs wanted 50$
just to stamp my Carnet!
Total shipping costs to Rio de Janeiro were only 230$ but it costs me
another 450$ to get the bike released in Rio. I considered this reasonable
as everyone that goes into Buenos Aries is paying much more. I knew that
Brazil was a poor option since it does not honor the Carnet system and many
others have had bigger problems. Chile is the only reasonable place in all
of South America to ship to when using a boat. But I choose Rio becuase I
wanted to use it as a base while exploring South America and used this time
to learn Portuguess as well. It took 9 days to clear the bike as I told the
agent that was helping me that there was no hurry. Of the 450$ that I payed
to clear the bike in Brazil, 200$ went to the agent. This was the first time
I ever used an agent because the Brazilian Customs system is very
beuacratic. I was given 90 days and can get another 90 days if I desire at
no extra cost.
Rio deJaneiro is not an overland friendly place: There is no parking
except in the more expensive hotels. All of the ugly things that Rio is
notorious for seem to jump out at you and assualt your sences; the poverty,
the favelas and the general vibe that some serious crime is present. As you
enter the city through the Zona Norte off the main highway it feels like
your driving through a war zone.
But it is a city that takes time to know and it really grows on you.
While I didnt like Rio at first, by the end of the second week I was hooked
on the life style of the Cariocas: The beaches, music, food and the never
ending "festas" or parties that are going on around the clock. Oh, did I
forget all the hour glass-shaped figures that walk by every 10 seconds? Oh
Brazil, I love you!
All the best, Dan
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