Brown out Samui

[ChouDoufu]

time to leave. i've got about 75kg of stuff (clothes and books mostly, plus one laptop)

that i'd like to send on to china. no need for air shipment. 2-4 weeks would be fine

as i will be bicycling to my new location.

any recommendations and/or warnings?

[garyh]

Why not get a trailer for the bike? (meant to be serious reply)

[harrry]

Maybe it will be best to take the laptop with you.

[ChouDoufu]

i've done the trailer thing.....the entire perimeter of australia.

75kg is a bit too much for a bicycle trailer. or i'm too old.

i expect rough roads (or no roads in places), rain and mud.

better to post/ship the laptop with insurance.

i may send the laptop air express or dhl, with the remainder

going surface. wonder if i could hire a tuktuk to kunming?

[harrry]

i've done the trailer thing.....the entire perimeter of australia.

75kg is a bit too much for a bicycle trailer. or i'm too old.

i expect rough roads (or no roads in places), rain and mud.

better to post/ship the laptop with insurance.

i may send the laptop air express or dhl, with the remainder

going surface. wonder if i could hire a tuktuk to kunming?

Reason I suggested taking it was the possible duty they will charge on import to china if it is not with you.

It may be worth taking a day trip to ChiengSaen and checking on the charge to send the heavy stuff by boat and pick it up at the chinese port.

You have gathered some possessions since you came havent you.

Edited July 2, 2010 by harrry

[ChouDoufu]

i don't expect any duties, as i will be arriving on a work visa.

just sending household goods, and the laptop is over 6 months old.

a laptop would not survive the route i'm taking.

heck, i may not survive.

if you don't count the laptop and coffee maker, i've got less now

than when i arrived. and that's a good thing.

Edited July 2, 2010 by ChouDoufu

[F4UCorsair]

Well you get 10 out of 10 for an adventurous spirit!!

[slapout]

The Thai postal service ship by ocean for heavy boxes. We just shipped 22 kilo to US for 3300 baht (one box) You may want to look at this route if someone will be there to take delivery.

[blakegeee]

Ya Seamail/Surface is a good idea. They quote 2-3 months, but going to China is not likely to be even 2 months. It might not actually go by boat anyways I guess. Could end up going by land but only guessing.

[ChouDoufu]

fedex place near the night market seems to be the best option. packages up to 44 kg are

195/kg, 45-70 kg is 175/kg. smaller boxes are weighed together to calculate the rate.

works out about same to ship surface with thai post (2 months...maybe) or air with

fedex (4-5 days). but fedex will provide the boxes, and pickup your shipment. they will also

hold a package for a specified time prior to shipment.

my estimated shipment of 65kg to kunming with $500 insurance will cost 11,500 baht.

[jazzbo]

Whatever you with with your laptop, I would buy one of those Seagate 600GB or so Travel drives and back-up EVERYTHING -- then take that drive with you on your bicycle ... I've heard they have laptops already in PR China if needs be.

[ChouDoufu]

success! found a dozen or so shipping companies in the ban tawai area.

one of them is a chinese company with regularly-scheduled trucks

running between bangkok and kunming. and they advertise right here on

thaivisa.

http://classifieds.thaivisa.com/miscellaneous/others/logistics-40465.html

they'll pick up my stuff (perhaps because i don't have that much), and

deliver to their distribution center near kunming railway station where

they will hold goods for up to one month.

the cost will be less than half that of thai post or fedex.

bad news. import duties on laptops are 40% regardless of visa type.

i'll just take the laptop on the bicycle until mengla, then can ems

it at china post. no duties on laptops/electronics when carried in.

i have three usb flash drives as multiple backups.

the road through laos is fine, other than 30km of road constuction.

it's not until yunnan that the conditions get bad....

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/07/13/china.landslide.deaths/