I always get advice from fellow travelers about what I can bring back in my luggage. I realizing that custom regulations are very stringent in some parts of the world like for Australians where the soil on people’s shoes is reportedly checked and shoes can be confiscated (so I’ve been told). Because of experience, Australians are rightfully cautions about what they take home.
Then there are those troubled souls who seem to invent things to worry about. “Can you take that sarong through customs without washing it?” “You can’t take vanilla beans back into the US!” I take what feels right, don’t bring back anything illegal, and if an item falls into the gray area, I put it in with hopes I’ll get it home. Generally, things that fall into that category are herbs and spices for cooking or the tequila I’ve brought back from Mexico.
Yes, I’m overpacked my backpack and brought back more than my allowance of tequila feeling like I couldn’t make up my mind an both were such good values, it was worth a try. “Red” light or “green” light, I’m prepared to stop and reveal the contents of my pack and take it as only a small inconvenience of travel. Well, with the exception of when my “Leatherman” tool was stolen. That was going too far!
Then I read this story about what they found in luggage in Thailand! Amazing! Ten percent of the entire remaining population of this species!
10% of Remaining Species Found
Yes please, check the luggage!