It took Billo 8 weeks to arrive from Canada to Islamabad but the final four days were the ones worthy of a Hollywood block buster flick....there was the tragedy (when the @&%$$ Customs people opened the container at the Karachi port and removed Billo from out of the container where I had secured her so the loading / unloading of the container plus the rough sea wouldn't rock her too much resulting in any damage. They took her out and then put her back after verifying the engine / chassis number.
1. I had paid $950 more for her to be brought to Islamabad and customs cleared in Islamabad so I'd be there when the container is opened.
- The sons of bit$@# threw everything else they removed on top of the car.
This resulted in a broken windscreen, damage to the right fender, the W decklid, the truck art on the side and more.
Then there is the humour part..the best joke being..."How can you say it is a Volkswagen? Is it written on it?" (as in the monograms etc on the body)
There is suspense...the highs and the lows of getting my hopes high one moment and then crashing as we'd hit a snag after another...
There is drama, there are villains (actually quite a few) and there is a heroine too....
The important thing is that Billo is back. It wouldn't have been possible without the unflinching support of my friends Sameer, Romano, Nafees Sahib and Naseem Mughal in Karachi. Sameer and Romano spent the last four days beating it out in the extremely dusty conditions at the dryport while Nafees sahib and Naseem Mughal were on the phone arranging appointments and reading out from import manuals to quote to the stubborn customs officials.
I owe you big time guys and while you'll throw something at me for saying this but it would not have been possible in the short time it took us to get Billo out of the customs pound. You are friends I am proud to have. While in the Customs yard I am sure the 7 series Beamers and Mercs kept Billo good company but she is happy to be home.
Pictures to follow shortly.
Cheers!
