Wednesday, August 04, 2010

Question of the Day: Is there any way of getting magazines safely through Kuwait’s Customs?


Like many women I adore magazines. Whenever I travel I always head straight to the duty free and get my hands on my beloved Glamour and sometimes Elle, InStyle, World of Interiors and occasionally Cosmopolitan. I never buy any of these magazines in Kuwait since all of them have black markers on women wearing exposed clothing and worse, torn out pages. What’s even more irritating is that even home décor magazines have black markers crossing out nude statues and paintings.


I asked a few people about alternative ways to get my favorite magazines through Kuwait’s Customs without having them censored to nonsensical pieces. A colleague of mine who downloads soft copy versions of her favorite magazines suggested I do the same, but I prefer flipping through a magazine rather than scrolling down it. When I asked her if there’s any way of getting the real deal in Kuwait without putting my magazines through the black marker, pages ripped out episode, she replied, “My cousin used to know someone in Camp Doha. He mailed the magazines he wanted under the name of the person he knows who’s in the US military base and that person handed it over to him.”


Since I don’t know anyone in any US military base in Kuwait – and the whole process is a bit too hairy for me – or Kuwait’s Customs for that matter, I was wondering if there’s any possible way of getting my fave magazines to my door without having them go through any unnecessary inspection.


Many people told me that my request is impossible. Then again, I know that I’m not the only person who has this specific want – especially since my magazines are for my personal usage and their content isn’t tasteless or vulgar (and I don’t believe anything in this world is impossible).


Do you have a solution to my query?


Download MP3's...

Phoenix - If I Ever Feel Better

Whispers ft. Kathy Diamond - Aeroplane

Zwicker Ft. Heidi Happy - Who You Are

Marc Antoine And Patti Austen - Could You Be Loved

at 8:30 AM

12 Comments

  1. Blogger Jacqui posted at 10:06 AM  
    Only solution I could suggest would be getting an #iPad and downloading an app called Zinio you can still flip through your magazine although it'll be available digitally and fast.
  2. Blogger Jacqui posted at 10:06 AM  
    Other than that I don't think there is any other way for it.
  3. Blogger Erzulie posted at 10:12 AM  
    jacqui: yeah that's what was suggested to me (to get the soft copy version) but i want the real thing! there just has to be a way :(
  4. Anonymous Anonymous posted at 3:08 PM  
    Nothing beats flipping the pages of a magazine, but go for the online version. At least it's more environmentally friendly.
  5. Anonymous Anonymous posted at 5:47 PM  
    have them sent to an aramex shop&ship account.
  6. Blogger Erzulie posted at 8:32 AM  
    anonymous 1: you're right about the environment bit, but it's just one more printed magazine (better than printing the soft copy version as someone suggested to me) and plus, i usually cut out pictures, articles, etc...

    anonymous 2: does that guarantee that it won't be censored? i need to know...
  7. Anonymous Anonymous posted at 10:38 PM  
    Erzulie I have annual subscriptions to my favorite magazines (including InStyle, Self, Architectural Digest and cooking mags) sent to my US Shop and Ship box with my mail courier. They come to me safe and untouched here in Kuwait. I've never had a problem in all the years I've been doing this. So worth the shipping fees and it ends up being almost the same price as what the mauled versions go for here in Kuwait. And the annual subscriptions are so cheap anyway - most are under 20 bucks. Go for it, you'll be glad you did.
  8. Blogger Flamingoliya posted at 5:39 PM  
    one of my ever lasting questions. I posted it here:

    http://kwsgs.blogspot.com/2010/08/censored-magazines.html

    if you don't mind.
  9. Blogger Erzulie posted at 9:05 AM  
    ms. baker: you know what, i think i might just do that. i was going to call them up to ask about it (the whole censorship bit) but you've reassured me, thank you!

    flamingoliya: of course not :)
  10. Anonymous q8othug posted at 12:16 PM  
    i would go with Mrs. baker's solution as it's the easiest way to do it

    thanks for the music again and again, cant wait to hear them (at office, forgot my headphones)

    just out curiosity: how big is your music collection :>
  11. Blogger MBH posted at 6:26 PM  
    I know a lady that takes orders for stuff and ships them through the US Army mail, which doesn't pass by Kuwait's customs.

    I can't publish her email publicly, so if you're interested drop me an email and I'll send you her contact info.
  12. Blogger Erzulie posted at 2:00 PM  
    q80: i think i am going w/ ms. baker's suggestion & i aim for an endless not big music collection :>

    MBH: thanks!

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