r2i forum

MC 2 Panayur;18208The usual questions are what to take/leave behind, is it better to keep it to the minimum and buy everything brand new there. It's a vast area that I'm not going to develop here, we would rather decide depending upon the charge they quote what to take or not but the minimum items would be: two LCD TV ( 1 brand new 42 ''), dish washer, cooking range, sofa set, two desktops, 1laptop, clothes, toys for the kids etc..
Keep u posted.[/quote]

MC2P,

Nice and detailed post. It sure is inspiring to those planning to R2I w/ older kids.

I too must try and see if I can get a shipping agent to visit and estimate the size of the container that I might need.

Thanks for posting -- DL

nand;18273Panayur - congrats and keep posting. I am intrigued. I am sometimes apprehensive planning going from california to bangalore with KG going kids, which is really like moving from madras to bangalore or something in terms of how common it is. Your case is a lot more challenging. Grown up, francophone kids. Culture shock, language shock all rolled into one. I hope it is smooth and you and your family succeeds - it gives me confidence!! keep it up.

Couple of questions:
1. Where is panayur? How much is land out there right now? and would you have internet, shopping, travel connectivity etc. from there?
2. If you dont mind sharing - what was/is the motivation for what people would consider a drastic move?[/quote]


Hi Nand, thanks for getting interested in my posts, i thought may be I was putting too much of details, on second thought I believe sharing our motivations could be helpful so I will continue if you don't mind :emwink:.
Answers:

1. Panayur is on the ECR before the toll gate to Pondicherry on the beach side we bought our land. The current value of a ground is 42 lakhs (last week transaction price same street, called Sea Shore Town actually I like this name very much).
For Shopping malls you need to go to Adyar (8kms) but for day to day life everything is available at Panayur, spice shop, butcher, fish market etc. Quiet a lots of schools are around within 10kms. Internet connection is good my father in law is connected most of the day, no electricity problems so far (our house was only completed in Sep 2006).

2. The main motivation is essentially providing the double culture exposure to my kids, I had when i left to France when I was 16 years old, I wanted to give them the same opportunities. For the moment they are no different to a standard french kid, the indian side is lacking to my taste as we speak French at home no other indian community nearby.
Of course the current indian economy results do have their importance on our decision as well. I definetely believe when my little boys will turn 25 India would have better opportunities than in Europe. By that time I do not want them to be strangers in India. Anyway it's a kind of job hedging position for them, am I being too technical here? :emsmilep:.
The other reason is that we can afford a servant and a driver which I can't permit myself even with my comfortable salary.
Savings did not really come into account as I was going to be working as Senior Consultant from Chennai (maintaining a better standard of life probably) for the European Union. However selling my house in South of France would definetely privide us a financial buffer against uncertainties in life.

MC 2 Panayur;18393Hi Nand, thanks for getting interested in my posts, i thought may be I was putting too much of details, on second thought I believe sharing our motivations could be helpful so I will continue if you don't mind :emwink:.
Answers:

1. Panayur is on the ECR before the toll gate to Pondicherry on the beach side we bought our land. The current value of a ground is 42 lakhs (last week transaction price same street, called Sea Shore Town actually I like this name very much).
For Shopping malls you need to go to Adyar (8kms) but for day to day life everything is available at Panayur, spice shop, butcher, fish market etc. Quiet a lots of schools are around within 10kms. Internet connection is good my father in law is connected most of the day, no electricity problems so far (our house was only completed in Sep 2006).

2. The main motivation is essentially providing the double culture exposure to my kids, I had when i left to France when I was 16 years old, I wanted to give them the same opportunities. For the moment they are no different to a standard french kid, the indian side is lacking to my taste as we speak French at home no other indian community nearby.
Of course the current indian economy results do have their importance on our decision as well. I definetely believe when my little boys will turn 25 India would have better opportunities than in Europe. By that time I do not want them to be strangers in India. Anyway it's a kind of job hedging position for them, am I being too technical here? :emsmilep:.
The other reason is that we can afford a servant and a driver which I can't permit myself even with my comfortable salary.
Savings did not really come into account as I was going to be working as Senior Consultant from Chennai (maintaining a better standard of life probably) for the European Union. However selling my house in South of France would definetely privide us a financial buffer against uncertainties in life.[/quote]

MC 2 Panayur;24166Hi there,

Should I say we have been busy since I last put my article? A lots of positive things have happened too, to start workwise the work permit has been finally dispatched to the local authorities ( iam going back home for market prospection), more importantly we are signing the sale deed in 10 days time. Good that I should be making approximately 150% of the purchase price which should be useful for some business plan back home:emwink:.

Monday is the big day container people are coming, we have required they did all the work hopefully everything would go smoothly.

We have planned to go to Lourdes we have been there many times each trip is so enjoyable, we should be visiting Disneland for three days before our departure planned for June 2007.

We have bought Karcher cleaning machine, nice big umbrella to put on the terrasse of our house 3m X 4m, fishing rods, nice barbecue (could be used with a gas cylinder), aquarium with fittings.

We are thinking about buying may buy a brand new sony 40inches full hd which costs less than us$2000, I would be interested to know your opinions about the customs duty i may have to pay on the brand new considering I am bringing a two and half year old lcd tv and a 4 year old normal cathodic tv.

Anyone has returned recently to Chennai ? CAn anyome describe going through the Customs process on container arrival?

One main question I would require your advice please, as the container will be arriving probably two to three weeks after our arrival should we declare ourselves as TR at the Airport arrival ? What if we do not declare ourselves at arrival and only do on collecting the container? Please reply.[/quote]

Panayur:

Nice post and very detailed. way to go. congratulations on your R2I. I notice that you had a 20' inch container. Can you list the big items that you took on it just for us all to get an idea of how much it could take? Some of the things I noticed you mentioning are barbeque, aquarium, TV etc.

thanks