[animilius]

So, here's the deal. In a few months, I'll be traveling outside of the country in order to visit some relatives, and possibly celebrate for... Oh, you know. Three straight weeks. [Yeah, we like to par-tay, especially since this is a massive reunion.]

I'd like to bring my shinai with me to show my relatives.

Problem is : will Hong Kong customs and Thailand customs be a problem?

I've read around, and I saw the whole "PVC Pipe case" thing, and I'm going to see if that works. I'll take apart my shinai, bubble wrap them, put them in a custom ABS plastic [heavier-duty type pipe] case, and put it in the cargo bay.

Even if I'm unable to take it out of the country, it'll still make a nice carrying case. Okay, back on-topic.

Has anyone ever had any trouble leaving Canada with their shinai? If I just say "It's four pieces of bamboo with some string and leather", and show them the proof [ opening the case, hur-dur. ] will they allow me to pass customs? Furthermore, would it be a good idea to put it in the cargo bay of a plane?

I'm worried about temperature damage, and the actual damage to each individual slat. I know for a fact that each slat is flimsy on its own, [one can break one arrow, but not many, as the proverb goes] but with bubble wrap and indestructible [or damn-near it anyway] plastic, snapping shouldn't be a problem. Temperature damage - it might ice over and what-not at high altitudes, so that might be a problem.

TL;DR ver. : How do I take a shinai outside of Canada into Hong Kong, then to Thailand without having to worry about temperature damage / damage in general?