phuketrichard

siiting in nice new empty Penang Airport waiting for flight back to Phuket.

As stated, flew down Monday afternoon, taxi to Minigood hotel,

gave them GF's passport with WP ( must have more than 6 months on it) an all relevent docs.

Got the passport back this morning at 11;30 am with 1 year multiple Non "B" visa

600 MYR

Taxi to hotel 44 MYR

taxi back 40 MYR

US letter is now valid 6 months

but still u should have checked earlier than leaving it to the last moment

As for Thai registered cars, it is possible to drive them into the no-mans-land (as long as Thailand let's you out) but to pass the

Cambodian checkpoint is more difficult and a bit risky if you do manage it. It has been explained to me that you need advance permission in

writing from a Govt. Ministry in Phnom Penh to drive a right hand drive car into Cambodia and there are quite a few checkpoints from Poipet

onwards where you would likely be checked. You do see caravans of Thai 4WD vehicles on organised rallies passing through but I guess they have

the relevant permission.

true but not true.

they wont let u in at Poi Pet with a thai licensed car but it has nothing to do with rhd or not. They just don't want you to cross,BUT if u get permission ahead of time in PP you can so that goes to show RHD has nothing to do with it.

YOU can, an i have, as have a few people i know, crossed at Osmach (south of Surin) with no trouble an u can also cross with ur car via Koh Kong but u need pay 100 baht/day

I left last Sept via poi pet with car and saw no checkpoints between SR and Poi pet on either side.

Am taking my car back in next month via Osmach

All the times i have had my car in Cambodia an that amounts to about 14 months total over the past 4 years i have never seen a checkpoint EXCEPT when leaving the country next to the border heading back to Thailand and those i just drove past. I have driven most all of the passable roads except for the far northeast

Would love to see any threads you've started on driving Thai cars in Cambodia...documents needed, etc. Especially interested in the 'advance approval from Phonom Penh and how you apply for that...

do a search as i have done a write up here and on teak door .

I have never done it the whole legit way but have been taken my car in since 2008 and only been stopped twice. I don't know anyone that has done it the legit way also but know lots of people that have taken their cars /motorcycles in with no hassles.

when u cross the border u merely drive on the other side :-)

will be drivng back next month

As for Thai registered cars, it is possible to drive them into the no-mans-land (as long as Thailand let's you out) but to pass the

Cambodian checkpoint is more difficult and a bit risky if you do manage it. It has been explained to me that you need advance permission in

writing from a Govt. Ministry in Phnom Penh to drive a right hand drive car into Cambodia and there are quite a few checkpoints from Poipet

onwards where you would likely be checked. You do see caravans of Thai 4WD vehicles on organised rallies passing through but I guess they have

the relevant permission.

true but not true.

they wont let u in at Poi Pet with a thai licensed car but it has nothing to do with rhd or not. They just don't want you to cross,BUT if u get permission ahead of time in PP you can so that goes to show RHD has nothing to do with it.

YOU can, an i have, as have a few people i know, crossed at Osmach (south of Surin) with no trouble an u can also cross with ur car via Koh Kong but u need pay 100 baht/day

I left last Sept via poi pet with car and saw no checkpoints between SR and Poi pet on either side.

Am taking my car back in next month via Osmach

All the times i have had my car in Cambodia an that amounts to about 14 months total over the past 4 years i have never seen a checkpoint EXCEPT when leaving the country next to the border heading back to Thailand and those i just drove past. I have driven most all of the passable roads except for the far northeast

U don't want to be in Nepal or northern India (unless you wish to ski) in Dec!

Japan gets cold as well

4 hours will get you lots of places

I have used Mox before as well, good service

u can always do the visa on ur own its just easier and same price for the visa ( for Penang and Phnom Penh) to use an agent

no queuing in lines, no taxi rides, no waiting, yes they charge but whats ur time worth an the taxi rides add up

also in Penang if u turn in ur passport in urself, NO WAY would you get it back before 2:30 the next day

have her get a passport, its only 1,015 baht an takes less than a week

otherwise she can only enter border area.

Northern Bali,

Heading to Doi Ang/Fang, end of this month :-)

LP, just head to the river and there are tons of them up there.

Last july i stayed at the Lao style GH, run by a really nice American young man running it for his family, right on theriver

Vientiane i stay at the Souphaphone GH. 1 block from river, 2 1/2 blocks to the fountain where all the rests are.

there is some nightlife along the river

GF??? no idea as was traveling with my daughter or gf

hey say that but it doesn't give the time,

ps '

sent ya an pm concerning sr

does anyone know if it will be at the Le Meridan again and 9 am?

PM me for the agent i use,

i spoke with him yesterday and he confrmed can get it in 1 day as long as u have all the correct paperwork.

I hated KL an much prefer Penang

Heres my trip

Northern thailand/laos/cambodia by car.

Trip up north

I liked the boat trip to the caves from LP but that 2 hours was enough for me on a slow boat :-)

Also did the slow boat from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh ( 5 hours)

You do not give a lot of information. But i think i can understand you.

Do not forgeth, Thailand is a corrupt country in SEA.

As a tourist they like that you see nothing from this, or that they pay you to find peoples, who like to be free.

About this, spend your money in Laos. Laos is not the best country too, but there you will not fall in a 90 % "take money from stupid tourists scam" as in Thailand.

...... go to the south and spend the money there.

This peoples do need our help! .....

Greetings

<deleted>!!!!

yes south thailand,

Hua Hin down to Trang you will find great beaches and islands

that sucks as they need increase rooms there first!!!

go to Penang

KL stopped issuing multi Non B visas

am heading up to Northern Thailand and back into Laos next month

last year went to Chiang khong an crossed over and will do the same border.

up to Mueng Sing, Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang Vientainne, Savannakhet and than crossed back to Thailand and than on the Cambodia south of Surin.

this time will head to the plain of jars.

I love Northern laos, roads are ok ( average about 40kms/hour :-)) and some fantastic scenery

Visas on arrival at all crossings,$35 for Americans

Summer is a great time as its low season and although might be wet at times its nice

i'd say under 25,000 (those that live here at least 8 months of more/year)

maybe half that number again only come in high season for 4 months or less

not including Burmese ?

great trip report, have not done the boat from Chaing Khong as i usually travel by car.

one thing puts me off boats & tours is being around westerner's for that long.

Pattaya to SHV via Trat,

might have to overnight at Koh Kong if traveling by bus

hmm, my trip for next month by my own car, have done parts of this before

Bangkok to Mae Sot-Mae Hong Son-Pai-Chaing Dao- Wiang Haeng- Doi Ang Khong- Mai Ai- Mae Chan- Chaing Khong where i will enter Laos.

Get to see some great villages/scenery/hill tribes and fantastic small roads. and not overrun with tourists

Beaches

Head SOUTH

did u use an agent and if so, who?

I have spoken to three different agents ( banana guest house, Jims place and Minigood hotel -where i did it before an got it back by noon) and all can guarantee back by noon so can make the 2:15 flight.

I got our single entry 3 months ago at 11:30 and they will get me by noon as they usually do

no idea where u get 50 MYR an 2:30

easy route, driven it a few times.

note that they will give u ur visa for the $20 only, no rip offs there.

Should be able to get a returning taxi for $30 max ( its $50 from PP to shv or Koh Kong)