PREM-R

14 hours ago, kotsak said:

"A Few Good Men" comes in mind..

' The truth?....... Thailand can't handle the truth!'

OP " I had been trying to 'support' Man United but the current shambles at the club, and lack of playing style, means that I am prepared to abandon them. So, who to support ?"  

 I think you should stick with United for your PL team, as you say "shambles", "lack of playing style"....... sort of links well with your "life-long" Championship team. 555

49 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

And problem fixed? Case closed?

Yep! Jobs a good'un. Thanks

Good call Ron!  I hadn't used the Opera browser for a long time and I had forgotten that it is set to "UK".  Thanks for that suggestion.

For no particular reason I decided to use Opera browser rather than Firefox, it would not let me access the site.  See attached image.  Logged in with Firefox to make this post, no problem.  Is it Opera, My computer, or Thai Visa at fault?

After the NATO summit the US President is heading to the the UK where he will be met with this........

Sort of 'Pink Floydesque'

12 hours ago, CelticTam said:

Hi, why are you going to the consulate so early? If you get there say just before 8 a.m you will be sat for hours in a long ques and probably receive number 100 plus as many of the numbers are "snatched" by the Lao guys waiting outside or by connected hotel staff. My advice is to arrive at the Consulate (not the embassy) around the back of 11 a.m. and you will be in and out in minutes, no hassle. Remember to take a copy of your passport page with the Thai exit/Lao entry stamps or they will make you go and get a copy and possibly set you back in the queue.  If you have time and the legs, I would just walk. Head to the main bus ticketing office facing the Talet Sao. You are on Rue Nongbone and just walk straight down for about 15 minutes - pass the first main intersection Rue Dongpalane. You will then  hit a second intersection: with traffic lights ,on the right hand side is a bank facing a cake shop on the other side of the road, diagonally across is a temple. Take a right at the intersection and follow the road and you will pass some IT and electrical shops and then go over the canal you will see the Pizza company at the street corner and almost immediately across the road is the Thai consulate - the Lao-Singapore college faces the Pizza company. When you have submitted your application, just walk back the way you came. All the best!

"......you will be sat for hours in a long ques and probably receive number 100 plus as many of the numbers are "snatched" by the Lao guys waiting outside or by connected hotel staff. "

 The system changed quite a long while ago, they don't issue queue numbers as you enter now, you receive your number as your receipt when you hand in your passport, the number is for collection of the passport on the afternoon of the following day.  They do not hand out passports until your number is called, queue jumpers are sent back by 'security' who check the ticket numbers of those queuing to get their passports from the window..

I find that the Tuk Tuk drivers in Vientiane always open with 50,000 Kip to go anywhere, just start to walk away and they will shout "how much you pay?"   From downtown, around the fountain area, to the Thai consulate I would offer 100 baht (about 25,000 kip) for  a single passenger use of the tuk tuk, they always have accepted.

BTW, not to be pedantic but the OP says "  I am staying in a hotel which is 2.1 km from the Thai Embassy of Laos in Vientiane."   If you are going to apply for a Thai visa you need to go to the Thai Consulate, which is not in the same place as the Embassy.  However, if you tell the Tuk Tuk " Thai Visa" he will take you to the consulate.

Hey Liam...... Don't look back in anger!

5 minutes ago, atyclb said:

free elections for thailand brought to you by the leader of the free democratic country that imprisoned tommy robinson and issued a gag order to all the uk press.

I think that, even in Thailand, if you receive a suspended sentence for a crime and then commit a similar crime again you are going to end up in jail.

30 minutes ago, mrboats said:

I am also a member of TE....it clearly states in their correspondence that you must leave the country every year or pay 1900baht for the following years extension....your last stamp in the passport also shows the expiry date of your stay

this visa is more designed for frequent travellers....not long term permenant stayers

"this visa is more designed for frequent travellers....not long term permenant stayers"

I think there are a few on this forum who will not like that opinion....Love Thilande Lite, et al.

50 minutes ago, jackdd said:

On weekends and public holidays also an extra dollar.

I wonder if it's 2 dollars on an holiday after 4pm?

No Jack, they charge just one dollar extra at weekends at all times, however, they also charge 50 baht on leaving on Saturday or Sunday for foreigners who have paid for a visa, usually you get the exit card for free but at the weekend you have to pay.  

To the OP, if you are considering arriving at the Thai side of the bridge at opening time (6.00 am) be aware that on Mondays and Thursdays there are 'Visa run' buses taking their customers to Vientiane consulate and the area around the bridge is extremely busy.   The problem is that the Thai immigration don't provide any extra staff , even though they must know that there will be a 'glut' of people passing through on these days. 

I made the mistake of going over at 6.00am last Thursday, of the six available immigration stations, only three were manned, one by what seemed to be a trainee with a senior officer standing behind him.  The whole process of exiting Thailand took about 45 minutes when it usually takes about 5 minutes.  Strangely, getting my visa on arrival at the Lao side was probably the fastest I have ever experienced, about 5 minutes from handing in my passport and papers to walking away with the visa, it often takes 15 - 30 minutes even when there does not seem to be much activity at the border, maybe the Lao immigration have extra staff on Mondays and Thursdays.

9 hours ago, NamH2O said:

After clearing Lao imigration look to the right,near car park for Public bus # 14 runs from just outside Lao immigration at the Friendship Bridge to the Talaat Sao bus station in downtown Vientiane.
There is a bus every half hour or so during daytime, takes about 30-40 mins and the fare is 5000 kip (20 baht).Not sure what time this service finishes,as I have only use it mornings.

NamH20 is correct, there is a bus to the Central bus station from the bridge, the price is now 8,000 Kip (they will take 40 baht if you don't have Kip).

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

The bridge is open until 10 pm. The buses run until then. 

Ubonjoe is also correct, the buses run while the bridge is open 6.00 am to 10.0pm

If you are getting a Lao visa on arrival pay with dollars (UK citizen 35 dollars but it varies with different nationalities) as they charge 1,500 baht ( which is more than 45 dollars) . If you arrive before 8.00am or after 4.00pm they will charge an extra dollar. 

15 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Next someone will claim the British Museum has the 'looted' Elgin Marbles.

I would send over Big Joke to collect it along with Wattana and Yingluck.

As I am in Vientiane at the moment, I'll see your Elgin marbles..... and raise you the Emerald Buddha.

3 minutes ago, nahkit said:

Nope, you're not going mad. He didn't actually post, just clicked on the "sad face" icon in response to the OP.

Phew! that's alright then...  not totally losing it.....yet!