自從九一一恐怖襲擊之後，未曾踏足過紐約市，因為入境檢查過於繁複，使我遊興大減。今次舊地重遊，是應邀參加老同事八十歲的生日會，盛情難卻。
老伴提議我驅車前往，我欣然接受。大概十個小時的車程，可用兩天的時間去完成，是我能力範圍之內的事。半途停在某個有趣的地方過一夜，清早起來再繼續行程，亦算是件賞心悅事。
隣居一位老先生曾經在紐約市近郊居住過五年，對於往返多倫多和紐約市兩地的陸路交通瞭如指掌。他建議我們利用京士頓市(Kingston)附近的Ivy Lea大橋過境。他說那裡交通疏落，幾乎不需輪候就可通過；而靠近尼加拉大瀑布的彩虹橋(Rainbow Bridge)，是多數人熟識的熱門關口，過境時每每大擺車龍，等上一兩個小時都是司空見慣的事。我言聽計從，就按照着他的指示起程。
由Ivy Lea大橋過境的時候，正如所料，遊人都是疏疏落落的，不費半點氣力就輪到我們查關。檢查員是一個沒有半點笑容和語氣嚴肅的家伙。開口就問此行目的何在，我照答如儀；他繼續問我倆的關係何屬，我答是夫妻。他打開護照看時，很不客氣要內子除下太陽眼鏡，以便看清楚她的廬山面目。他繼續問有什麼樣品要報關，我輕鬆地說沒有，以為這樣就算是功德完滿。誰知那家伙意猶未盡，還要我打開車尾箱。我基於禮貌正打算下車幫幫忙，誰料他喝令我止步，眼光充滿了疑惑和恐怕我的行動對他有所不利的樣子。
原來真正的麻煩到這裡才開始。他首先搜出三件預先包裝好了的禮物，我說都是不值錢的東西。如果需要，我可出示收據。他未徵求我們的同意就拆開其中一件，檢查後沒表示什麼就把它擱置在一邊，繼續左搜右索。當他看見一個購物袋裡面有小玻璃瓶載了少許草本的東西時，我連忙解釋說是烹調用的香料。想不到他却因此老羞成怒，怪我開始時沒有詳盡呈報所携的一切禮品。我想來想去，發覺一切都不是什麼違禁品，又何必如此繁瑣？他那傲慢的態度，給我留下了一個很壞的印象。
到很多國家去旅遊，海關人員都笑容可掬地歡迎你駕臨。美國海關人員就缺乏了這種風度。美國旅遊業近年都往下滑，不知是否與此有關？
2010/7/25 (2010/8/5 現代日報)
Hi David,
ReplyDelete哈哈 估唔到中國在進步, 美國佬在退步!
馮
David:
ReplyDeleteUnless I do not have other choices..... US is the last damned country I would go and spend any money in it!
Edmond
David:
ReplyDeleteThat's New York for you. Come to Hawaii instead. It only takes about nine hours of flying, not two days on land.
When you encounter the US police in the future, the first thing not to do is hide your two hands. Then don't get off the car until told too. Why? Because they often get shot at.
No, there's no reason why that cop was that rude even though the US is currently at war with the terrorists.
Joe
舅父,來香港啦！香港有好多人歡迎你們。
ReplyDeleteDavid,
ReplyDeleteYour unpleasant encounter is peanut compared to some mainlander woman, who for not reason got badly beaten at Portland Airport some years ago.
I flew to Toronto two years ago via Minneapolis and my suitcases were deliberately damaged during some security checking, even though I did not lock them. All I got was a piece of notice inside my bags saying my luggage had been searched and they took no responsibility for any damages.
You are right, U.S.A. is never my favourite place for vacation or for any visit for that matter because wherever I land on or pass through any U.S. customs, I feel I am a criminal subject to interrogation and intimidation.
Well, you have been to all corners of the world, so your judgement on how friendly a country is could not be wrong.
Chan-nel