Gifts

[HaraldS]

After all the great advice that I received regarding courtesy flags, I now hope some some more good answers. I'm wondering what little gifts are best to be taken a long on a world cruise. What is easy to stowe, reasonable in cost and in high demand in remote places?

And thanks again for the input on courtesy flags; I took your advice and got some via ebay (haven't arrived yet) and we got some blank material to try our artistic side.

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[snowleopard]

look up the Blue Water Letter in this month's YM. they talk about bartering in the marquesas.

i've heard that boxes of cheap ballpoints are always welcome in the 3rd world. consider also having a load of T shirts printed with your boat name etc.

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[AndrewB]

Ball-pens, fish hooks, fishing line for children in third-world countries. T-shirts are also popular (I've not carried them myself, but been given a couple by Americans who had me marked as third-world). Be careful not to over-do handouts as it encourages a begging culture.

Old yachting magazines for small favours from other yachties. British courtesy ensigns or whisky for slightly larger favours (watch out for restrictions on importing whisky in some places). My own club burgee (specially welcome when royal) for other clubs.

 

[mike_bryon]

An Italian circumnavigated on a very modest budget and boat which was registered in Rome. He took as gifts a box of candles which had been blessed in Vatican city. When visiting the islands of the south pacific he present a candle to each community and was treated like a VIP.



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[Anonymous]

Harald, My father used to buy large quantities of Dunhill International at true duty free prices 20,000 or even 50,000, I think, and arranged a couple of lockers that could be sealed by customs as a 'bonded store' - only a few places wanted to seal it, and then only for the opportunity of a pack of smokes! Smoking is much more common in the developing countries and people who smoke cheap filthy tobacco really appreciate good quality. NB - I am an ex-smoker and near rabid anti-smoker, but will probably carry cigs for small 'thank-yous' when we set off. You can toss a pack of 20 cigs with a smile without any embarrassment almost anywhere except the UK, US and the Nordic countries and a whole carton eases the formalities with officials.

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[mike_bryon]

I forgot to add that we take children's books in English that we buy from charity shops for a few pence each. Once our children have finished with them they give them to the library or school - so far they have always been well received especially in small island communities.

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