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Posted

I have read some horror stories about visa runs to both Penang and Burma - but if one has got the time and wants to make a pleasure trip for a few days, as I have done a number of times to Penang since 1975 - any nice stories? I do not really want to 'run' as I am unable to do so with my crutch . . .

Posted

I have been both to Burma/Myanmar via Ranong and to Penang via both road and air too many times to count.

I have no horror stories at all, mainly pretty good times and reports:

From Ranong you can go over to Burma on the mainland via a fishing boat or a tourist boat. You leave from Ranong pier and it does not take too much walking to do it. Just a bit down to the pier, then off the boat other end and a 100 to 200 meter easy walk to and back from the immigration office at the pier on the Burma side.

No problems staying over a day or so. Not much in the way of fancy hotels, but here are hotels to stay at and the town is a reasonably busy port town. Don't go looking for Thai style nightlife, they ain't got that. But there are restaurants and the people there are friendly, often speak English and are very interested to pass the time with you. The beer ain't half bad either, and cheap too.

I often go over to the big casino out on an island that is in Burma. You leave from a fancy pier in Ranong, the boat is a jet boat and full cabin with air and comfy chairs. Spend an hour or two hanging out in the casino or have a meal in the restaurant, pretty fancy place, not too bad. Then back in the boat to Ranong and end of story.

Regards Penang, I just got back from a visa run last week. I like Georgetown and usually stay in a decent enough hotel. I like to cruise around town in a rickshaw because my legs are totally buggered. The rickshaw drivers are friendly guys, they know the way around and they really like to have some business. Not really that cheap, I paid a negotiated rate of 20 Ringgit or about 200 Baht per hour for around-the-town tours. Good muslim and indian food in Penanag, excellent stuff.

So, no horror stories here, not now not ever before. I guess the worst was a minibus trip down to Penang once where the air did not work, my co passengers were huge and fat and sweaty and the driver was totally nuts. I got out half way down and caught a bus instead. But tha tis a common story, eh?

Cheers

Posted
I have read some horror stories about visa runs to both Penang and Burma - but if one has got the time and wants to make a pleasure trip for a few days, as I have done a number of times to Penang since 1975 - any nice stories? I do not really want to 'run' as I am unable to do so with my crutch . . .

Can't you just use the Will and the Word to kinda get yourself there instantly?

Appologies to anybody who has never read any David Eddings, although I'm pretty sure the OP has :o

I'm going to be driving from Surat Thani to Ranong on the 9th, first time I have ever done it, gonna take my bike over from KPG and have a little road trip, anyone have any advice for me?

Posted
I'm going to be driving from Surat Thani to Ranong on the 9th, first time I have ever done it, gonna take my bike over from KPG and have a little road trip, anyone have any advice for me?

keep your eyes wide open over the hill from Lung Suan ,

lots of two wheel temptation but absolutely suicidal locals on that road ,

resist the temptation and live ..........................

Posted
I have read some horror stories about visa runs to both Penang and Burma - but if one has got the time and wants to make a pleasure trip for a few days, as I have done a number of times to Penang since 1975 - any nice stories? I do not really want to 'run' as I am unable to do so with my crutch . . .

Can't you just use the Will and the Word to kinda get yourself there instantly?

Appologies to anybody who has never read any David Eddings, although I'm pretty sure the OP has :o

I'm going to be driving from Surat Thani to Ranong on the 9th, first time I have ever done it, gonna take my bike over from KPG and have a little road trip, anyone have any advice for me?

Keep a lookout for the lunatic `Visa Run` mini bus drivers.

Posted

Hi, Belgarath. I've done both trips many times, too.

For Ranong, you can take a big bus, but connection times may suck. Check with Phonthip and other cos in Nathon. Maybe stay overnight in Surat Thani. You can arrange pickup from the Ranong bus terminal with Visa Quick 09-775-8787. It also has a big boat to take you to Victoria Point (I would not advise the long-tails if your legs are not so good). My fav restaurant in town is Sophon's Hideaway, run by a Kiwi named Mark. Excellent Western and Thai food and very reasonably priced, on Ruangrat (Main) Street. The Coffee House is good for baguettes and the owner, Gilles, has a resort on the island next door (sorry, forget the name). Beaut waterfalls and parks nearby. Ranong itself is pretty lame. I always stayed at a guesthouse near Sophon's, but it's on a steep lane, so best to try for another place.

Posted
I have read some horror stories about visa runs to both Penang and Burma - but if one has got the time and wants to make a pleasure trip for a few days, as I have done a number of times to Penang since 1975 - any nice stories? I do not really want to 'run' as I am unable to do so with my crutch . . .

Can't you just use the Will and the Word to kinda get yourself there instantly?

Appologies to anybody who has never read any David Eddings, although I'm pretty sure the OP has :o

I'm going to be driving from Surat Thani to Ranong on the 9th, first time I have ever done it, gonna take my bike over from KPG and have a little road trip, anyone have any advice for me?

Done it once with the car. Its a ok trip. We arrived night-time very tired but on the way home i relized that it is a beutiful road, curves and hills countryside between ranong and choumpun. Advise with bike would off course be "take your time". Meaning that if rain comes, take a break or even an extra hotelnight. Dont ruch it. Personaly i would drive to for instans choumpon the first day and take a hotel there. Then you have a nice 3-4 hour slow, nice morningdrive on a beutiful landscape road to Ranong. Do the visathing and make a similar slowride back. Also a thing i read from posts from people on the mainland is to have some small money like 200 baht+driverslicense in the pocket. If the police stop you, you dont want to take out a wallet filled with tousands. You simply take 200 baht from the pocket and say thats all you have, to the policemen that stand along the road to increase there income. And off course, helmet,valid insurance and driverslicence. Have a nice trip. :D

Posted
I have read some horror stories about visa runs to both Penang and Burma - but if one has got the time and wants to make a pleasure trip for a few days, as I have done a number of times to Penang since 1975 - any nice stories? I do not really want to 'run' as I am unable to do so with my crutch . . .

Can't you just use the Will and the Word to kinda get yourself there instantly?

Appologies to anybody who has never read any David Eddings, although I'm pretty sure the OP has :o

I'm going to be driving from Surat Thani to Ranong on the 9th, first time I have ever done it, gonna take my bike over from KPG and have a little road trip, anyone have any advice for me?

Yeah, I have been up and down that road dozens of times.

Once you come off the main highway out of Surat, onto the mountain road, just watch your riding style. The road is good surface but it has many curves and bends several of which are blind top-of-the-hill jobs. Lots of dogs, kids, other vehicles, etc so do take care.

But, it is an exceptional ride on a bike, up over the mountain this side and down the other, stunning scenery, some great off-the-road side trips you can do to rivers and valleys and stuff.

Take good care, eh?

Posted (edited)

Well I got back safe although a little sunburned!

I got the 11pm boat across to Surat Thani, that was a mistake as I was only halfway along the mountain road when darkness fell, this is not a fun road in the dark on a bike, especially when it's your first trip along it.

On the way back I drove that road at lunchtime, almost no traffic, amazing drive absolutely amazing, one of those very cool life experiences happened also. There I am playing tunes with the gears and exhaust on my little CBR around those nice banked turns and I think to myself hang on, why can I hear two identical engine sounds? I glance in my rear view mirror and there is a Thai guy on a red CBR right behind me, first traffic I have seen in 10 minutes. He pulls alongside and we both grin at each other and off we go, not racing just enjoying the drive, sweeping curves and amazing scenery, we drive for about 20km, sometimes me in front and sometimes him, sometimes side by side. He finally turned off the road onto a dirt track and waved goodbye. Very cool, something I will remember forever.

Would I do it again? Maybe, but it's been 2 decades since I last took a road trip on a bike and my body just aint upto it like it used to be, it was a little painful but a lot of fun.

Edited by mac.wheeler
Posted
Well I got back safe although a little sunburned!

I got the 11pm boat across to Surat Thani, that was a mistake as I was only halfway along the mountain road when darkness fell, this is not a fun road in the dark on a bike, especially when it's your first trip along it.

On the way back I drove that road at lunchtime, almost no traffic, amazing drive absolutely amazing, one of those very cool life experiences happened also. There I am playing tunes with the gears and exhaust on my little CBR around those nice banked turns and I think to myself hang on, why can I hear two identical engine sounds? I glance in my rear view mirror and there is a Thai guy on a red CBR right behind me, first traffic I have seen in 10 minutes. He pulls alongside and we both grin at each other and off we go, not racing just enjoying the drive, sweeping curves and amazing scenery, we drive for about 20km, sometimes me in front and sometimes him, sometimes side by side. He finally turned off the road onto a dirt track and waved goodbye. Very cool, something I will remember forever.

Would I do it again? Maybe, but it's been 2 decades since I last took a road trip on a bike and my body just aint upto it like it used to be, it was a little painful but a lot of fun.

Sounds great! I had the similar experience when i did it with the car, also got there in darkness and did not enjoy it at all. Until the next day when i drov home in daylight. It is amazing nature and i bet the roads are nice with a motorbike. A get a bit jealous when a read about your amazing visatrip, fantastic how great it can be!!

I actually did a penangtrip this week with my own car. Not that great nature but did alot of stops along the way in small thaiplaces where nobody spoke englich, but everybody smiled, and it was also a great trip. Roadtrips are fun, but i miss to do it on bikes. You got me inspired to rent a bigger bike and do next trip like that.

Did you by the way take any nice pictures on this roadtrip, dont hersitate to post them here!!

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