grain

You say: Out of the last ten trips to Lao I’d had the cops try to shake me down for money many times So did they actually shake you down or did they merely try? If you did have to pay them money, then how much did you pay? I saw a video on FB recently of cops in Vientiane trying to shake down a couple of backpackers on a rented mc, it was an attempt by the cops, the 2 European backpackers argued the toss with the cops and after a few minutes the cops told them to piss off. So I get the feeling the Lao cops try this mickey mouse stuff but if you hold your ground they drop it fast.

Many thanks Sydebolle for all that very detailed information. Very much appreciated. I do own my car myself, it is in my name. My Thai partner will be traveling with me. There may be another couple, an Aussie with a Thai wife. But I don't see any need to include them in all the documentation. They can hop out the car and cross the border in the usual way and I'll met them after they have cleared immigration. As for Cambodia. I've driven in several times in different cars at different points of entry. I entered 2 or 3 times from Trat to Koh Kong, and about 3 or 4 times from Surin to Siem Reap (via Osmach). The procedure is so simple compared to Lao. Last time I drove into Cambodia was probably about 1 year before the pandemic lockdowns, so unless there has been some changes, which I doubt, this is what one does. At the Thai border there's an office that deals with motor vehicles, close to the office that does your passport. You need to get your exit stamp in your passport like usual, then go to the vehicle office with your PP and the car blue book. Fill in a form or 2, no charge that I can remember. Then you keep your copy of the vehicle export form as you'll need that when you return. All that took about 30 minutes last time I did it at Chong Chom. Then you drive down to the Cambodian border and do the same thing again. Fill in your forms for your PP to enter Cambodia and get your visa and pay the visa fee, then drive down a bit further to the vehicle office and show them your blue book and your form from Thailand and fill in some more forms there. Again I can't remember if I had to pay for this, I might have been asked for a tip and gave $5, can't remember. Then off you go. Every time I drove into Cambodia I always returned via the same entry point. I was always asked by the Cambodians if I was coming back via the same border crossing and said that I was. I believe if you want to enter via one point and depart at another, then there may be extra forms. On this I'm not sure, but someone will no doubt post here soon explaining further. When it was time for me to return to Thailand I just drove back to the Cambodians and returned the form with them, got my PP stamped out, then drove to Thailand border and returned forms to them, did my PP and went home. Every time I drove into Cambodia it wasn't for long, usually we stayed about 1 week. Hope this helps. If you have any questions feel free to ask.

Same in Cambodia. Same in Vietnam.

My car's got Chonburi plates but I moved to Korat about 7 years ago and since then have been renewing it in Korat. I'm off to Australia next week, for 3 months, so when I return I'll check with the Pakthong Chai transport office. Thanks for the info.

Many thanks ZZZZZ, so in my case I live in Pakthong Chai, Korat, so first I have to go to my local transport office in Pakthong chai, that's where I pay my rego every year. And I'll get the car PP there? Is that correct? And the temp permit and insurance I do that at the border at the time I'm actually leaving Thailand and entering Lao? Is that correct?

OK thanks, some useful info here. Now some further questions for you: 1) "the Thai car department, where you pay your car tax, A car out passport" Is this at the Thai border? What is the car tax? And how much is the car tax? How much does the car out PP cost? 2) I don't have an international driving license but do have a current Thailand D/L. So I believe that is legal for driving in Lao? 3) "Do be careful were you park" Careful where? At the border area or in Lao in general?

Next Nov I want to go to Pakse and 4000 Islands for approx 1 week. I'd like to drive my car from Ubon across into Lao, and return to Thailand the same way. I've never driven my car into Lao before but have taken it into Cambodia several times. It's my own car, registered in my name and I have the current documentation (blue book + insurance) So what's the procedure? Is it fairly straight forward (as it is for driving into Cambodia)? Anyway I need to know about in advance?

"Lure" and "Hub" they just love using those 2 words 😆

Next Nov I want to go to Pakse and 4000 Islands for approx 1 week. I'd like to drive my car from Ubon across into Lao, and return to Thailand the same way. I've never driven my car into Lao before but have taken it into Cambodia several times. It's my own car, registered in my name and I have the current documentation (blue book + insurance) So what's the procedure? Is it fairly straight forward (as it is for driving into Cambodia)? Anyway I need to know about in advance?

Right on. Years ago when I was living down South some expats did this for the local orphanage, then after they handed the large sum of money raised to the boss, the expats found out they had bought a new fridge and a TV for the staff lunch room, plus other stuff, and very little, if anything went to the orphans. So after that they decided never to hand over cash, but buy things like packets of baby formulae and diaper's and food for the kids to use. But then it was later found out some of the orphanage staff were selling these products off to the local market.

My phone is dual sim, every year I buy one of these DTAC sims from Shopee just for the unlimited data, so one sim is set to calls/text, the other sim set to data. But the most recent one I got from Shopee a few weeks ago also has unlimited calls and text to all Thai carriers for one year, so now that sim is set to both data + calls & text. My old sim remains in the phone because that's the number many people have, including official things like banking.

I deal with Korat and it's one month in advance. My ext always expires on 31 July each year, so I always renew sometime in the first week of July.

They're always calling the police. I've seen people having sex on secluded beaches late at night in Thailand and in Australia, I've seen people naked in hotels and apartments because they haven't closed the curtains, I couldn't give a hoot. They're not harming me and it's none of my business. But Thais are forever getting their knickers in a twist.

Strict Muslims will only eat at Muslim managed halal restaurants regardless of whatever nonsense "hubs' the Thais come up with.

It's the fear of Westerners that has continued since the 1800s. I wish someone would explain to the Thais that the age of European colonization has finished. The British, French, Belgians, Dutch, Germans are no longer grabbing colonies in SEA. Thailand has nothing to fear from Europeans.

Over the years there have been scores of tourists who have either died or been seriously injured from slipping at Hin Lad Waterfall, yet they continue to promote it as one of the island's main tourist attractions. Surely it can't be too difficult to construct some safety rails and a viewing platform at the top with a railing for everyone who wants to take selfies there.

agreed, we generally lose power for a few hours in those strong winds, but some heavy rain would be wonderful.

Well I certainly hope so. We're in Nakhon Ratchasima and we haven't seen any rain for months, it's so dry and dusty everywhere, really horrible at the present time, a few days of tropical downpours would be most welcome, wash all the dirt and dust away....bring it on!

The thing with the slap-on-the-wrist and a 500Bt fine crowd is there are soooooooooooooo many of them. If they all got what they really deserve, which is 3,6,12,18 months behind bars, the Thai prisons would be so overcrowded it would be ridiculous, they'd be stacked up to the ceilings. I'm sure the judges are aware of this. There are just too many miscreants for the Thai system to effectively deal with.

You can drive for 3 months in WA with a foreign d/l including a Thai one, I'm not sure about other states. If you Google for driving info in the state/states you plan to visit you'll soon find the regulations.

If I was you I'd listen to the missis and go by car.

Agree entirely, in TKD every pattern, every move, starts with a defensive move - a block first, followed by a strike, in TKD they never attack first, unless it's in tournaments. But always better to avoid, and if one doesn't feel capable of winning get away. When we were teens we often prevented fights by psyching out someone. One time this big rocker was going to fight our friend Clive, it was getting close to starting, I went stood next to the big Rocker and said to him softly...Jesus mate, you're not going to fight him are you? Watch out for his head, he's fast, and when you're on the ground watch for his boots, he's a nasty bastard. And I saw the doubt come into the big rocker's face, he was having second thoughts. It's over then, beat the guy with the brain (and BS because Clive couldn't fight his way out a wet paper bag) 😄

I been in many punch ups and brawls in my younger days, but I'm in my mid-70s now and as gentle as a lamb. Nose has been broken twice, the 2 smallest fingers on both hands are twisted from being broken by landing badly places punches, plus I have cracks in a couple of ribs. Other than that I've been fortunate that I've never been glassed or badly stomped in bar fights. I learned boxing as a boy at the local youth club, and got to green belt in TKD, which helped me out. I was never a bully or a hooligan that went looking for trouble but if anyone started something then I gleefully jumped in. These days however I just smile and walk away if anyone gives me some lip, I know I no longer have the speed or strength. It makes me laugh whenever I watch those videos of old guys trying to fight and getting knocked flat on their backs in two seconds. I think you silly old fools, don't you realize those days are gone for good.

These Christian groups come and go, there used to be one with a HQ in that little soi off Pothole, directly behind Bua Khao. Some years ago they were giving money to the local gals so they didn't have to sell their bodies, so many bargals popped in there on their way to work and picked up a bit extra. And there often used to be a group of young singing bible bashers outside Central.

Bit harsh putting the blame on the local chickens 😂