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Post by kenste on Oct 28, 2015 14:31:07 GMT
I'm moving to Hong Kong next year and I was wondering if I could bring my erhu with me as a carry on without any issues?
I remember hearing something about a CITES certification-- is that needed in this case? If so, is it easy to get one?
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Post by davidmdahl on Oct 28, 2015 16:33:24 GMT
A CITES is only available in the country of origin. For an erhu, that is most likely to be China. The CITES is good only for a period of time, and only for entry into the country of destination. If you have a CITES for your erhu, it is not useful for taking your erhu to another country. I don't know how Hong Kong is about importing an erhu. That is probably something you would have to check with Hong Kong or Chinese authorities about. You may have more trouble bringing your erhu back home after your HK trip is done.
You might manage to separate the erhu into its components, and pack the resonator in your luggage. If it is not searched, then no problem. Frankly, I would be tempted to leave my erhus at home and buy something to get by with in HK, or a side trip to the mainland. I certainly wouldn't risk one of my best instruments in such a trip. If you want to do a lot of international traveling with an erhu, I suggest getting one that has a synthetic skin. That way you should not get hassled.
Best wishes,
David
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Post by edcat7 on Oct 29, 2015 0:06:42 GMT
Taking an erhu into HK should be OK. Taking your erhu out of the US or Canada may be a different matter. To be on the safe side you'll need a CITES Export Permit.
I agree with David, I would leave my erhu behind. There's a couple of music shops there where you might be tempted to get another one; just don't think you'll get one at a bargain.
I plan to go to HK early next year too, but only for a maximum of a month. I'm hoping to learn as much as I can about dim sum, breads and cakes. I'll bring a dizi and my liuqin.
btw. What are you going to do in HK?
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Post by kenste on Oct 29, 2015 1:51:06 GMT
Thanks for the advice both of you. I'll look into how difficult it is to get a CITES certificate.. If it's too difficult, I'll just go ahead and buy another erhu there.
Ed, if you do end up going to HK we should definitely meet up! I'm going to be attending HKU for a year as part of an international business exchange program, hopefully to get a foot in the door for APAC finance.. after a year, i'll head back to NYC until I graduate, then possibly move back to HK. What are you going to be doing there?
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Post by edcat7 on Oct 29, 2015 5:30:30 GMT
Thanks for the advice both of you. I'll look into how difficult it is to get a CITES certificate.. If it's too difficult, I'll just go ahead and buy another erhu there. Ed, if you do end up going to HK we should definitely meet up! I'm going to be attending HKU for a year as part of an international business exchange program, hopefully to get a foot in the door for APAC finance.. after a year, i'll head back to NYC until I graduate, then possibly move back to HK. What are you going to be doing there? I plan to be in HK early in the year to further my knowledge of dim sum. This will probably be my only/last chance to spend that much time there. If you should be there when I'm there I'd be happy to meet up. Ed |
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Post by meisure on Oct 30, 2015 10:20:50 GMT
You will have less issues bringing an erhu compared to a cello.
Maybe wrap your erhu snakeskin in cloth tightly, then cover in present wrapping paper. It can be x-rayed fine surely.
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Post by edcat7 on Jan 25, 2016 1:46:22 GMT
I find myself in the same predicament: I've been offered a dim sum chef job at probably the finest Chinese restaurant in the world (in London) but there is a catch. I'm going to be posted at a sister restaurant in Mykonos for six months first.
I wouldn't want even my cheapest erhu, an ebony MRX to have the snakeskin torn out. I'm tempted to buy a beater erhu but time is limited. I wonder if since I'm in the EU I can freely take my erhu within Europe?
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Post by davidmdahl on Jan 25, 2016 22:20:09 GMT
There should be governmental agencies you can ask regarding the issues for hauling an erhu around the EU. If possible though, a erhu with synthetic snakeskin would cause you less worry and less potential complications. It is hard to know if you can get one in time though.
Best wishes,
David
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Post by kenste on Jan 30, 2016 23:04:23 GMT
Congrats Ed! That's huge. Why are they making you go to the sister school in Greece though? I would've thought that the internship would have been somewhere like HK..
Also-- On my last few flights between NYC and California i've just been bringing my erhu on as a carry on. Haven't been asked any questions and no one has taken a look at it.
Is this an option when I fly to HK? Or will they be stricter? It would make things a great deal simpler..
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Post by edcat7 on Jan 31, 2016 0:01:10 GMT
Congrats Ed! That's huge. Why are they making you go to the sister school in Greece though? I would've thought that the internship would have been somewhere like HK.. Also-- On my last few flights between NYC and California i've just been bringing my erhu on as a carry on. Haven't been asked any questions and no one has taken a look at it. Is this an option when I fly to HK? Or will they be stricter? It would make things a great deal simpler.. Thanks but it will be anything except a holiday, the work is tough (no day off between June and August) and living conditions spartan, I don't even know if there will be wifi in the shared domitory. It just occurred to me that any HK customs officer checking your erhu will be most impressed; a Westerner liking Chinese culture enough to learn the erhu. Returning to the US may be different though. |
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Post by krzysztof on Feb 1, 2016 17:22:56 GMT
Maybe you can get a cheap erhu shipped with CITES to Greece for 6 months...and sell it on after you finish there?
Do women have to declare their snakeskin Prada shoes or purse going in airport?!
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Post by edcat7 on Feb 1, 2016 19:29:58 GMT
Maybe you can get a cheap erhu shipped with CITES to Greece for 6 months...and sell it on after you finish there? Do women have to declare their snakeskin Prada shoes or purse going in airport?! Good point. I just contacted SW of Easonmusic and enquired about their budget eco erhu. Since I pre-paid for 8 Skype lessons a long while ago it may seem I need not pay any more for it. Now can I receive it before I go? |
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Post by krzysztof on Feb 1, 2016 22:12:47 GMT
Hoping so. You seem good at erhu. Maybe 8 skype lessons can currency convert to 1x eco erhu!
Can you learn Greek as well as erhu and cook. I learn erhu and find the tuning is bad real fast. I still need practice in silent or bad vegetables will be thrown.
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Post by edcat7 on Mar 12, 2016 5:37:54 GMT
I'm at Athens Airport waiting for an interconnecting flight. Aegean Airlines has a keenly enforced baggage policy which meant both my erhu and guitar in soft gig bag had to go in the hold. It would be interesting to see if they are playable afterwards.
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Post by kenste on Mar 12, 2016 17:53:23 GMT
LOL! Best of luck Ed-- let us know how it goes
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Post by krzysztof on Mar 13, 2016 22:11:01 GMT
Good luck to you and learning Greek!
I am happy to buy a second cheap erhu to try practicing. Today I almost make a full bow without frightening anybody.
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Post by kenste on Mar 14, 2016 5:12:39 GMT
What happened to your first one krzysztof?
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Post by krzysztof on Mar 14, 2016 10:29:54 GMT
My first one i sold to somebody. More stupid than me.
I could not get a note out of it. I tried for days and it would not sound. I broke strings after string trying to tune up. When the buyer bought it, they told me they were really impressed and very thankful I sold it to them.
I could not understand why.
But then I am being lucky to borrow a good erhu and I see now that there was no erquan on the first erhu. This is why it did not sound. This. cheap one will need some work but the borrowed one is great. Technicals are difficult to learn by myself even if I like the noise I make.
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Post by edcat7 on Mar 14, 2016 13:14:36 GMT
Erhu and guitar arrived safely in Mykonos. The hard part is finding someone to appreciate the music.
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Post by davidmdahl on Mar 21, 2016 2:25:13 GMT
<snip> But then I am being lucky to borrow a good erhu and I see now that there was no erquan on the first erhu. This is why it did not sound. <snip> I suspect that you mean that there was no qianjin. Yes, this is an important part of the erhu that is critical to good sound and tuning. The felt or foam pad under the strings between the bridge and bass is also sometimes missing. That needs to be there and adjusted properly as well. Best wishes, David |
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