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On
one of my return journeys from Nepal I was carrying four bottles
of Khukri rum just like the one is this picture. At Narita I was
passing through security. Everything was going just fine but then
the gal doing the x-ray of my carry on got big eyed, gave me a quick
once over, picked up the phone and made a call. In maybe ten seconds
four airport security guards were upon me
"What
do you have in your bag?" one of the guards asked. I was surprised
because although polite and courteous, the guards seemed tense,
nervous and much too serious. Posture said a lot, too. "The usual
stuff," I replied. "Socks, shorts, a few clothes, shaving kit and
some rum."
You
have some weapons," the guard said. "Some very large knives." "No,
I don't. I have a pair of little scissors and some nail clippers.
Would you please open your bag?" "Sure," and I did. When the guards
saw the bottles of khukri rum they all broke up, laughing and slapping
their legs. They had been set for possible trouble and got a few
bottles of rum instead. Then with the customary Japanese politeness
they apologized.
"We
are so sorry to trouble you but the x-ray machine showed these bottles
as weapons. We thought you had four big knives you were trying to
take aboard the plane. So, sorry." So, that was the end of it and
the dangerous old desperado, Uncle Bill, boarded the plane with
the khukri rum and flew away to the US.
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