Gent0

Lemmings.......death is natures's way of telling you to Slow Down ...!

Last week on Sunday 11th Jan I drove across the Thai border at Sadao on my way to Penang to apply for an ED Visa for my 13 year old son (he will be 14 yrs on the 5th Jan).My son attends an international school and they provided me with all the necessary paperwork

In Sadao it was very busy at the immigration, long queues. I was behind my son when he presented his British passport to a female officer, she spent about 30 seconds and then slammed the passport down and told us that we must go to the overstay office,

We found the office where there were two female officers, one behind a desk and the other dressed in an almost black uniform and wearing a side arm.

My son spoke to them politely in Thai, They asked me why my son had overstayed for so long I started to explain that I understood that he was young enought to have overstay exemption and that we were on our way to Penang to apply for his Visa....they were already shouting at us before I could finish my sentence, The Officer at the desk was frantically thumping calculator keys and presented to me a figure of 52,500 baht and told me I must pay that for 105 days of overstay ! I explained again that my son was only 13 ....trying very hard not to lose my cool as I am obviously aware of the 20.000 baht limit on that length of OS. They carried on shouting in Thai and English and the woman at the desk made a stamp in my sons passport for overstay and wrote in 105 days (this was calculated from his last entry 30 August 2013.......she lost 365 days in her excitement)

Anyway the officer in black told me that there are 'new rules' and now my son has a black mark in his passport that would affect him when he applied for re entry....I was overwhelmed at their unpleasantness.

That was it they said no more about money so I picked up the passport and left .....to start at the back of a long queue again.

We successfully obtained his Visa in Penang and went back through Sadao (my kid was terrified and asked if we could find another border post) but I had no time. The young officer on re entry was very pleasant and chatted to my son in Thai he said nothing about the overstay stamp and stamped us in with a smile.

Wow...looks like Bernie Ecclestone will not be driving himself around at the next Russian Grand Prix !!!

I am surprised that 'Song Serm' ferry's from Nathon (very first Jetty on the sea side before Seatran) have not been mentioned.......I have lived in Samui for over 8 years and I travel to Koh Phanagn often

and I have always had good and friendly service from them, .......11.30 am and another at 5.30 pm (possibly an early morning trip)

They have two very new boats and relaxed accomodation . If you go to Nathon and pay your ticket always go to the small ticket desk in the far RH corner on the sea side ....200 bht and kids can go cheaper, It takes about 45 minutes to Phangan.........'whats the hurry'?

I would rate them as the best (non greedy) carrier ....less crowded and more helpful

Don't all get so excited....he is going to appear in a 'Forest Gump' outfit.............

Thank you 'Admin' for presenting this story.

I did see that there were at least two positive comments.

As for the rest I can now begin to understand why the new Thailand regime are making big strides to enforce more selective immigration rules.

I would ask those TV members that make such negative and discriminating comments to remember that they are guests in this country, you are living here amongst many sensitive and decent people .......if you take a little time to learn about the Thai culture and religion.

Where you come from is obviously not perfect, but if you are happy to live here then why not make an effort to support ....even the smallest projects.

No I am not talking about financially..... just some good advice if needed.

Constructive criticism goes a long way and in fact is the only criticism worth hearing.

So where does that leave the people travelling on Nigh Buses?.......They will all have to 'disembark'....line up to be shot

Freedas Muslim Restaurant Main street in Hua Thanon