Up to date trip for a new visa

[lanzalad 128]

My visa trip to Laos.

 

Well after all the changes to the regulations on stamps and visas my last visa finished early after heading off to china, so on my return I only got a 30 days stamp which didn’t bother me and I know at some point I’d need to get another visa but at the start of this week I was just thinking of heading to the border for another 30 day stamp but on that day I decided on this option immigration cancelled the 30 day land crossing stamp.

 

So in the end I’ve headed up to Laos.

 

We had planned to drive thru the night but on the night I didn’t get too much sleep the day before and I was shattered to we said I’d get a few hours then we’d set off but we ended up sleeping in till 4am.

 

I jumped up and realized what we’d done so I headed for the kettle and made a cuppa and got Puang cracking on sorting the last few things out and I packed up the truck.

 

We had a good start and the sun came up around an hour or so into the journey, I decided to forget about taking it easy and I put my food down and before I know it we was hitting Udon Thani within 7 hours.

 

 

So while we was there we headed to Puangs house to have a good look around as she has not lived in it for more than 10 years and to say the least it needs rebuilding but we had already planned on stopping in udon at a place we know on farang street.

 

So after catching up with her family and 8 bottles of booze later we headed to the hotel which was fully booked so while I was crawling down the street in the truck Puang was asking in the hotels for a room and everywhere was fully booked but we managed to get the last room in top mansion, by this time I was shattered and just needed some sleep so I opened my laptop to find out that a few people we know are staying in udon.

 

 

We the next morning Puang called her son and asked him to for breakfast with us and we picked him up and headed to the buffet next to top mansion and I see Tarl walking down the street with his good lady so we pulled up and asked them if they wanted to have breakfast with us so we all headed in and spent a few hours catching up as we always seam to cross paths and never get the chance to meet up.

 

 

We had planned on having her property walls built around the property as it seams to be a free for all with anything on her property and in the rainy season the street turns into a river and ends up flooding the garden.

 

Also with all the flooding the house has become unstable with the water washing the soil away from the sides and then getting under the house.

 

So with me knowing all about this and the way it should be done I needed to get my point over to the building team that this is how its going to be done.

 

So we all sat down and I told them that we need to dig big foundations to do a good job and I was told they know what they are doing so I said ok then dig down while we are in Laos and we’ll see when we get back as its not a cheap job or should I say a full price job done cheap as we will not be around.

 

I’ve seen this many times on properties in Thailand and its something I know all about and its not going to be out of my control if we are paying.

 

 

So everything was clear and we headed to the friendship bridge at the Laos / Thai border, we found a parking place just before the border and parked up the truck for 3 days at the cost of 200 per day.

 

So we headed to immigration and as soon as we was seen heading to the border we was told not easy to do and cost us 700 baht me and Puang just walked past every one and she did her exit card and I headed to the over stay desk showed the officer my passport he stamped me out and added an over stamp for only 12 hours over stay at the cost of 500 baht, I’d been told many times that immigration don’t change for the first day you over stay well yes you do get changed.

 

So we headed for the bus over the friendship bridge at a cost of 20 baht each that takes you to the Laos immigration.

 

When you get off the bus there’s an exchange right next to you and I needed 36 dollars as if you pay in baht for some reason it cost you 500 baht more and again here many people trying to get you to get them to do it for you and its easy don’t let them, I headed to the first window and got a visa on arrival form, filled it in and in 20 minutes had the visa in my passport along with my entry stamp.

 

 

 

I did see many getting the e entry card and heading for the turn styles after getting the visa a guy that I was chatting to tell me it’s a big scam to you now in Laos already with your stamp and told me to follow him.

 

 

Well so I did and we headed over the car park where the buses was waiting so we jumped on the bus and headed into the center on Vientiane for 20 baht, at this point I said to Puang about the man asking us for 700 baht just to drive us in Vientiane and we did it for 40 baht each.

 

Well the bus pulls into the main bus station in Vientiane and I’m the first off the bus, well I tried to get off the bus I was met with about 10 tuk tuk drivers all anting my fare to my hotel.

 

They was shouting out prices at me in Thai baht and down bidding each other but I wasn’t having any of it and told Puang to talk and follow me and get away from the bus station.

 

As we was walking a away one man stated around 700 and came down to 500 but I know it was far too much so we walked on and everyone was calling out prices but no one know where I was going…!

 

I see’s a tuk tuk drive on a corner so I got Puang to ask him how much and he said 160 baht we paid it and we know it was too much but it was roasting hot and I just wanted to get to the hotel by now.

 

So we checked in to the hotel, which I found on line on agoda, but I didn’t per book it, as I know there’s many hotels and we had the pick of them but this seamed to be a nice place.

 

http://www.agoda.com...oddbUAPA&cklg=1

 

 

We both had a shower and headed out for some food, I didn’t want to eat any native cuisine and I wanted to stick to my farang food so we had pizza and pasta from “The Pizza Company” I’ve had many pizzas from this company in patts so I know what I’m getting and it was just the ticket for me and Puang.

 

 

 

By this time it was knocking on and we both needed an early start in the morning so we both headed back to the hotel for a 6:30 start the next morning.

 

Puang woke me up and she was already to head down for breakfast to I had a quick shower and got my papers together and had breakfast which was 2 slices of toast scrambled eggs a mixed fruit with tea or coffee.

 

Ok there no choice for the farang food for breakfast but it was just fine for me.

 

So we set off to the Thai consult, which is NOT to be mistaken for the Thai embassy as many find out.

I was chatting to few people to find out many had headed to the embassy and then come to the consult, two different buildings both at other ends of town…

Now the queue was one of the biggest ones I’ve waited in, it was almost at the end of the street and I would say almost the length of LK Metro, we got there before 8am and left just after midday just to submit the application for a visa.

 

Now here's the bit that gets you a visa.

 

Fill in the application form and anything you leave blank ask them about it before its fully submitted.

 

Take a copy of your house/condo book or rental agreement ( proof of where you stay in thailand )

 

I took a print out of my UK bank account showing i had funds to cover my stay in thailand without working.

 

My Thai bank book plus a copy plus an old flight invoice which i changed the date for the end of my proposed new visa.

 

The rules have changed and you need to show you can finance your stay in the land of smiles.

 

On our way back to the hotel i looked over the road and there was the British embassy so i called in and just out of interest I asked them if they issue UK passports and yes but only by posting the application on to the UK and the embassy staff can only issue an emergency travel document or a one year extension on a passport thats got 6 months or less and has not expired more than 3 months.

 

 

 

To Be Continued..

Edited July 9, 2014 by lanzalad

[Kev 178]

Hey lanzalad sounds like a good TR and would be interested to know how much the wall costs you per meter, thanks for writing up.

[lanzalad 128]

Vientiane

well I'm now back in thailand with my double entry visa and looking back its been a good adventure heading into Laos and spending a few days in Vientiane.

Many people i've chatted to has told me the Vientiane is a dump, there's nothing to do and expensive, well i think its a good place easy to get around no hassles not too much traffic and good food and i'd say the prices are over all the same as thailand.

My next visit to Vientiane in January i'll be spending at least a week there.

The Visa

i ended up getting a double entry tourist visa which takes me to the beginning of january, many got knocked back for the visas they was applying for or was down graded.

Many applied for the ED visa and was given a single entry tourist visa, i don't know how they do this or why but i heard many saying they didn't get the visa... I guess this is down to the new rules and maybe many didn't even know about the changes as many was heading into Thailand on there first visit after sending time in Laos.

There was many Russians applying for the visas which made up around 40% of the 700 on the day that applied for visas.

It seams to be that if you can show that you can support your stay in the land of smiles by showing your bank statements and proof of where your staying then you will get the visa even 4,5,6, times in a row as long as you have the funds..

I chatted to many about getting the visa back to back and its all to do with showing funds..

Here's a few more shots..

[lanzalad 128]

Hey lanzalad sounds like a good TR and would be interested to know how much the wall costs you per meter, thanks for writing up.

 

Hey we got cracking on the walls yesterday and we got a lot done one of the guys turned up drunk and asked to be paid before.. i was having none of it and i told puang to tell him to piss off and not come back.

 

So it was me, puang and her brother and his lady all day yesterday.

 

Now puangs family are at up there in high places in udon i was told i didn't have any problem doing up the house and in the morning we cleared all the garden and then we cracked on digging the holes for the post and concreting all day with one of the main men calling around and having a few beers with us after.

 

i'll keep it up to date and i'll post more photo's later today.

Edited July 9, 2014 by lanzalad

[papillon 695]

Lots of good info in this report. Please continue if you're not wearing a concrete overcoat...

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

He isn't. I had lunch with him and his wife yesterday.

 

Evil