Packaged snacks could destroy Australia. This had never occurred to me until I arrived at the Sydney airport this morning. After queuing to get a stamp in my passport, I mobbed with all the other recent arrivals into the baggage claim hall and then after that the Quarantine hall. Notice I do not refer to this as Customs. Other countries refer to this as Customs, a process whereby officials can search your bags and charge an extra custom if they find excessive amounts of alcohol, cigarettes or foreign currency. The proper disposal or declaration of fresh fruit, raw meat and soil specimens is a secondary purpose. In Sydney, these things are reversed. The predominant goal of Quarantine officials is to make sure that nothing potentially hazardous makes it into Australia. And by hazardous, I mean not only obvious things like animals, bushes, and mexican jumping beans but also food of any kind. Like trail mix. The Quarantine offensive begins on the plane. There is a special video whi...
2021 and I'm still trying to remember which box I packed my sense of adventure in. Weaving and baking and walking the dogs until I can find it.