This should be quite an informative write up for anyone needing a 3 month visa for Thailand. Having recently set up The Stratton ABC Foundation and finally got registered it was time for me to end my current Visa and change for Non- immigrant B.
Armed with the nessecary paperwork; in this case the Foundation registration paperwork,(copies); my passport and 2 passport photos and a letter from the Foundation stating my need to come to Thailand to fulfil my obligations to the Foundation, I headed off to Vientiane, with my friend Somboon, early Tuesday evening.
The day before I had booked seats on a minibus to Nongkhai,(1200 baht per person), through Queen Bee Tours, on Moon Muang Rd, Chiang Mai.
We were due to meet the Mini bus driver at 7pm. One of our neighbours kindly gave us a lift into town and we were there at half past 6. Just as well we were early because I had actually forgotten the passport photos and had time to get them done at the Fuji shop just up the road from Queen Bee,( 100 baht for 6).
The minibus arrived just after 7 and it was clear that it was going to be full. Indeed, after picking up two more from a hotel on the way to the minibuses travel office, the bus was so full there was one person sitting in the middle in the ‘cab’ of the bus.
The wait at the Aya Service office, close to the train station, was probably the most annoying part of the trip. we seemed to be there for an age, processing everyones ticket , etc. It was after 8pm before we finally left Chiang Mai.
Despite the lack of leg room, I have to say that the bus was very comfortable and the driver very sensible. So many Thai bus drivers seem to think they are in a Grand prix….but this one was very good and I felt totally safe.
There were a couple of short fuel stops on the way where we got to stretch our legs and use the toilet and at around 5.30am we were at Nong Khai for breakfast by the river, at Ruen Rim Nam, before carrying on to The Friendship Bridge just up the road.
Getting out of Thailand was quick for me but I had to wait about half an hour for Boon to get the nesseccary forms done and completed for him to get a 3 day pass.
We then joined the bridge bus to the Lao immigration point.
Luckily, while I was waiting for Boon I had managed to get the two white forms needed for the entry visa into Lao from a bus tour worker who had a surplus. having filled them out while waiting for Boon I was able to join the entry queue with no further delay.
It was, however, quite a long queue and the total wait for handing in my passport with payment(1500), and getting the passport back was a little over an hour.
Still Boon had been busy whilst waiting for me and had arranged a taxi direct to the Thai Consulate for a very reasonable 300 baht.
At the Embassy before 9 we were all done there by just before 10.
We chose to go over the road to what appears to be a newly opened restaurant/bar.
The food was excellent and the prices very reasonable, as their sign says. We paid around 380 baht for 3 dishes and 2 iced teas and 1 iced coffee.
The servings were very generous and the service very good.
We then took a tuk tuk to Avenue Lane Xang, about 10 minutes ride, where we had stayed in a very nice hotel last time we visited Vientiane.
Unfortunately when we enquired the hotel was full. So we took the short walk across the road to The Kham Khoun Hotel and got a twin air-con room, with TV and shower room for 700 baht, breakfast included.
We showered and slept for a while before taking a walk down to the Monument to relax in the shade.
Still tired from the travelling we returned to the hotel for a very good steak dinner and a quiet night in.
Our friend Marc, one of our first customers in our guest house days, who is currently working as an english teacher in Vientiane, popped in to say hello, which was nice.
We also met his lovely girlfriend Ivana.
The next morning we were up reasonably early for breakfast, which was ok but I won’t rave over it.
We were just killing time really and took a walk around the nearby market and then back down to the Monument for a while, before heading back to the Hotel to check out before midday.
Then it was over to the Consulate again where we returned to the restaurant opposite for lunch, before joining the queue of people waiting to collect their passports and Visas, when the Consulate opened at 1pm.
That process was very quick and we were out by 1.30pm. A tuk tuk ride back to the hotel where we then booked tickets for the VIP bus back to Chiang Mai. this was also 1200 baht per person; but this included transport to Vientiane bus station and the international bus from Vientiane to Udonthani where we boarded the VIP bus.
The international bus left Vientianne at 4pm and we got to Udon at around 6.30, having an hour and a halfs wait for the VIP bus which left at 8pm.
There was a twenty minute stop at Phitsanulok, with free food included in the bus ticket price; again I’ll not say too much about the food, just that I didn’t partake.
The bus was very comfortable and again the drive was not as reckless as I have known such journeys in the past. I managed to sleep quite well.
The only problem was a toilet trip I had to make shortly before arriving at Chiang Mai. When I pressed the flush water poured out at great speed shooting out of the toilet and soaking my trousers. It threatened to flood the bus for a while. God knows what the other passengers thought when I came out!
We arrived back in Chiang Mai Arcade bus station at 6.30am and got a taxi home to Mae Salab for 250 baht.
I’d slept so well on the bus I was even able to complete the morning school run to Sarapee.
For more photos please visit our photobucket album here.
As we needed to return to the motorbike market to complete the paperwork for the orange Wave we had agreed to meet Ally there at around 9am.
Taking the right hand turn towardds Ban Huaw Kaow, Ally first took us to what she called , ‘the alternative hot springs’. There is a Hot springs further up the main road, at Pong Nam Rorn, with a market and several food and drink outlets , which is used as a tour rest stop.
The water is, without a doubt, extremely hot , but is also disgustingly black in most of the pools and stinks to high heaven.
We were met enthusiastically by the owners golden labrador who refused to stop barking until we’d all said hello.
All caffeined up, on we went, wending our way through the hills working our way over to our main destination of Doi Khun Tan National Park. It was a long and beautiful ride. On the way we made a slight detour to our surprise lunch destination,(thanks again Ally), Tharntong Kitchen, at Tharntong Lodges. This wonderful place, nestled up in the mountain forests, with a mountain stream running through it, has been beautifully landscaped and has many wood cabins spotted around in which you can stay if you wish. With the cheapest room being 1,200 baht a night , its out of my usual budget; but for the stunning surroundings and excellent facilities, including top notch food, I’d say its worth it.
Treating myself to wild pig in red curry sauce, (120 baht..excellent quality and good portion),
e you’ll get to say hello to the resident cockatoo who is extremely friendly and poses well for the camera. He was most gentle when taking the fruit that Ally offered.
Another long, but very enjoyable ride, through more stunning scenery.
This relatively modest compound holds some beautiful Temple buildings.
What a beautiful spot, its like something out of The Railway Children, with palm trees. Lovingly landscaped and manicured, you feel you are waiting in somebodies garden rather than a station. We came across a group of farang who had been staying in lodges and had a little gripe about how long they had been waiting for the train to come. I could only remark about what a wonderful place to have to wait.
We stayed for coffee and saw their train arrive, exiting the tunnel from the mountain, that looks too small from the platform.
We had had a long ride through the day, so from here it was basically continuing on to meet the Highway 11 at Mae Ta, where we also visited the train station. Although not in quite such a stunning location, this station was equally well cared for and landscaped, where waiting for a train could only be a joy.
