Our stuff has arrived – yippee!! Aboard the Southern Lily and within a week. Very efficient service. I’d recommend NZ Van lines for relocating world wide. They packed everything really well (care of “Mr Tape Man” who covered everything in parcel tape inches thick!) and plenty of bubble wrap and corrugated cardboard. I was actually amazed when we got word that our container had arrived in the country. Thought it was too good to be true. As Adam was off work he managed to snap a photo of the Southern Lily, with the containers on, during its short stay in Apia port. A day or two later and he was down at the port to meet the customs man and go through our stuff.
The car took up most of the container but was well secured and arrived in one piece. It didn’t take long (just a bit of money) to get it registered and on the road. They have abolished the customs import duty but you still have to pay excise tax and VAGST. This cost us WST$3000. To get number plates and registration/warrant of fitness for a year cost another WST$400. All in all cheaper than buying a car here as they are very expensive. We had the car valeted and the engine steam cleaned before we put it on the ship so customs were most impressed and wrote it off as a new car (it is actually 8 years old!) We have already had offers from people wanting to buy it and it’s becoming known as our car no matter where it’s parked around town or on USP campus!
As for the rest of our goods, they were crated into the back of the container. After inspecting maybe 6 boxes (inspection consists of opening a few boxes and asking what is in there) our goods were approved. Door to door service was what we were promised therefore all of the 44 boxes and wrapped items were loaded onto a ute with one Samoan guy sitting on the back holding the bikes down! Everything arrived at our house no problem though. See Flickr for some photos of the ship and the container.
It is really nice to have some familiar home comforts around. Have managed to unpack everything and have no boxes left inside. As I now have baking things I have managed 2 banana cakes (well it’s a must when you are in Samoa!), some chocolate chip cookies and have whipped up some EasiYo icecream which is also to be thoroughly recommended. It tastes great and is low in fat. Cheaper than Tip Top over here that’s for sure. Feel free to send more sachets if you feel like it! There’s also a photo of this on Flickr.
Ah home sweet home ………
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