ScotThaiOz

I've not long returned from a border hop to Kawthaung. I did this two years ago on a minibus tour, it was cheap but a very long day so I decided to make a trip of it and enjoy a few days away with the wife.

We jumped on a bus from Phuket bus station at 10:10 am. The trip takes around six hours and costs 225 Baht. The bus was comfortable with reclining seats and a toilet. They stop half way for a food break. Rice and two choices added for 35 baht from the bain marie. Filling and quite tasty.

I'd booked into the Rueangrat Hotel for a couple of nights after a look through the options in Agoda. It was around the 800 Baht per night and conveniently located in town with restaurants, a few bars and a 7 Eleven all around. They have standard basic rooms, nice and clean with TV , Fridge, WIFI, en suite etc. A motorbike sidecar from the bus station cost me and my wife 150 Baht and took about 15 minutes through rush hour to get there.

The border hop I'd planned on doing the next day was postponed due to a big storm so a lazy day was had. Sipping beer out the front of the hotel and visiting a couple of restaurants. Very pleasant.

The next day the sun was shining so the hop was on. After a complimentary coffee and cake from the hotel lobby we wandered off for a feed before heading over the water. Afterwards we found a motorbike sidecar waiting outside the hotel and it took us down to Salah Pla, where immigration and the longtails wait, for 70 Baht each.

On arrival we were very quickly offered a longtail service over to Kawthaung for 100 Baht each. I might have been able to get 50 Baht but I couldn't be bothered haggling and the bloke who had grabbed us first was quite entertaining with his rushed manner. Also he was Myanmar and couldn't understand much of what I or the missus said. Next, I went through immigration which is on the right as you head through to the boats.

We were first on the longtail and had to wait half an hour while our boatman rounded up 6 more people. Then about 8 longtails including ourselves all started to head off. 5 minutes later we were stopping for the Myanmar people to get stamped out of Thailand. I'd needed two copies of my passport  for the trip and my wife three copies of her ID, one of each was passed over here. This stop took about 20 minutes then we were off again and about 20 minutes later we were arriving at Kawthaung.

The Myanmar immigration office is the first building to the right as you come off the pier. It was very relaxed and friendly. I handed over my passport and my second copy, my wife handed her 2nd ID copy as well. I was asked if I was staying in Myanmar and when I said I wasn't he asked for a $10US note for the Myanmar visa stamps. I hadn't bothered to get one so he charged me 400 Baht instead. For around 60 Baht more I'd saved myself the hassle of running around to get a US $10 and the Baht notes didn't need to be pristine. My wife was charged 30 Baht. My passport was then stamped in and out of Myanmar and handed back to me.

There was no action around the longtails so we headed past the luggage check x-ray machine and into the town. There is a nice cafe just across the road where we sat down and had a couple of big cold bottles of Myanmar beer for 65 Baht each and watched the hustle and bustle. Nice beer!

Eventually our boatman tracked us down. We took our time finishing our beers as we weren't bothered which boat we returned on and weren't buying into his rushed agenda. He caught up with us as we headed to the pier and off we went again, well 10 minutes later, after he'd filled his boat up.

There were a couple of stops on the return, similar to the trip out. My wife handed in her last ID copy at one of them. At none of these stops was I asked for any money as I'd read some others had been previously, this was a Sunday too so no weekend tariff.

On return I passed immigration with ease and a with a friendly smile from the passport stamper and that was that.

One thing to consider, if you're a bit unsteady on your feet, be aware that to get on and off the longtails you'll probably have to cross over a few boat to get to yours. Could be tricky for some.

All in all not a bad trip. I'd happily do that again rather than the minibus run.