How to post a parcel from India

Wrap your items in a strong bag - preferably an old concrete sack picked up at the river and washed.

Don't forget to include name of sender with address and phone number inside.

Take parcel to local tailor to have it stitched into white cotton.

Write your name, address, and phone number on outside. Also address of sender, also with phone number. Write the contents description and value on the cotton as well.

Take it to the post office in Mapusa. Don't mind standing in a queue for one hour because everyone is very patient.

When you finally get to the counter don't be surprised when you are instructed to hand over two copies of your passport and to fill in two copies of customs declaration form. Of course you didn't bring your passport so you must return and try again. 

March assertively behind the counter and go straight to the Postmaster where you advise him to put up a poster explaining the parcel-posting regulations to foreigners. He will politely agree to your request, "of course Madam". 

In your determination to get this done in one day you will ask the tuk tuk driver to wait till you collect your passport. Your sister will be utterly exhausted and will go home to lie down. 

Off you will go with the tuk tuk driver to a closer post office at Calangute. 

Delighted to find that this post office is almost empty you will think "Hooray ...this will be done quickly.."

When asking at the desk the clerk will say brusquely, there is no post today, there is a strike, come back tomorrow! 

And anyway you need to get passport photocopies. The shop is just up there on the left. The tuk tuk driver and you will go to find the shop but it is closed.  Off you may go to Myron, the phone shop, and get your 4 copies for 20 rupees (20p). You will know which one is your tuk tuk because he has a bunch of green chillies and a lemon decorating the front of his machine. 

Go back home and lie down for a rest and try again tomorrow.