Next Week's Border Run Mae Sai

[adjan jb]

I'm going to Mae Sai tomorow. Hope there won't be any problem.

Otherwise I'll go to Chiang Saen or Chiang Khong (I have a car).

[Limbo]

I'm going to Mae Sai tomorow. Hope there won't be any problem.

Otherwise I'll go to Chiang Saen or Chiang Khong (I have a car).

Don't worry, there will be no problems according to a well-informed Thai source who would be the first to know if there would be. I phoned him five minutes ago.

The Chiang Saen alternative is not in Ban Sobrak at the Golden Triangle but in Chiang Saen itself.

It starts at the Immigration Office where you will get a note that you are not on the 'blacklist'.

You proceed twohundred meters to the little immigration boot at the river.

The officer will stamp you out and show you which boat to take to the casino.

You will be back in about 45 minutes. Fare 500 Baht.A nice and fast ride on the Mekong!

The Immigration Office is located at the main street of Chiang Saen, halfway between the river and he museum. Coming from the river at your left on a corner.

Good luck!

Limbo

PS: No joke! The best 'moo khrob' of the province you will find about five hundred meters from the corner of the police station towards Ban Sobrak (at the street along the river).

A simple shop, with a noodle stall in front. Enjoy!

[tijnebijn]

I have to cross the border the 10th of November .

In this province there is not much turbulence , but after reading that today the situation got even more turbulent

I will be surprised any border checkpoint will stay open in the near future .

I guess it will get very busy at Chiang Khong .....................................

[Ulysses G.]

I'm going to Mae Sai tomorow. Hope there won't be any problem.

Otherwise I'll go to Chiang Saen or Chiang Khong (I have a car).

Don't worry. If you get stuck on the other side, we will send in the Marines. It is not every Frenchman who is a personal freind of George Bush!

[adjan jb]

Don't worry. If you get stuck on the other side, we will send in the Marines. It is not every Frenchman who is a personal freind of George Bush!

I don't like Burmese beers (I mean I don't like the ones I've tried) but I wouldn't mind getting stuck in Laos. A few days.

[Ulysses G.]

A few ice cold, Beer Laos would go down well with some French food gazing out on the river.

[lazeeboy]

A few ice cold, Beer Laos would go down well with some French food gazing out on the river.

after the junta has finish doubt they will have a border much less let you in .

[mcgriffith]

Read this post from the Chiang Rai forum from today regarding the border crossing at Tachilek:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...t&p=1563034

McG

[johnsjourney]

Did the Mae Sai visa run today. No problem, much quieter on both sides than I remember, market fine on the Thai side but all market shops appeared to be closed in Tachileik, though that was just the view from the Customs area. I didn't think it sensible to go in as things are at the moment. There appeared to have been a massive flood last night, sandbags appeared to have saved the market, it could be the reason the shops were closed but I doubt it. A couple of small floods for the bus on the way up but river levels falling back during the day.

Sadly no Burmese monks at all, and few apparently Burmese people at all, though those I did see mostly seemed happy.

[johnsjourney]

Did the Mae Sai visa run today. No problem, much quieter on both sides than I remember, market fine on the Thai side but all market shops appeared to be closed in Tachileik, though that was just the view from the Customs area. I didn't think it sensible to go in as things are at the moment. There appeared to have been a massive flood last night, sandbags appeared to have saved the market, it could be the reason the shops were closed but I doubt it. A couple of small floods for the bus on the way up but river levels falling back during the day.

Sadly no Burmese monks at all, and few apparently Burmese people at all, though those I did see mostly seemed happy.

That was for Friday 28th

[realthaideal]

"...and few apparently Burmese people at all, though those I did see mostly seemed happy."

I forgot to mention this aspect of things as well. Though I did do a mad dash and was in/out in 10-15 min flat, there was an eery quietness about things. Not the usual cars in and out across the bridge. Not the vendors of chips, crabs, and whatever else they have there in that short jaunt. Few Burmese traders anywhere. All I really saw sere 2 kids hustling for change - the usual little ones (saw them huffing (inhalants/propellants/glue etc) from a bag once this last year, so sad). Even with things as 'normal' there, it felt very abnormal. Glad you got in n out safely n quickly.

[Ulysses G.]

A few ice cold, Beer Laos would go down well with some French food gazing out on the river.

after the junta has finish doubt they will have a border much less let you in .

ajarn jb and I are talking about LAOS here. Where are you talking about?

[adjan jb]

I got back onto the Mae Sai side within less than 15 minutes from getting stamped out. Easily the fastest border run ever - outside of the 11 hours of bus riding.

I think I did better. Maybe 8 minutes. There was no other Farang when I walked through the Thai immigration (later I've seen a few). On the Burmese side, they first took my money (500 bahts), then my picture.

"Do you want to go shopping ? " the officer asked me.

"No sir, I want to go home"

He looked at my passport. "Home ? You mean France ?"

"No sir, I mean home"

He stamped my passport.

Got out of their filfthy little office. Gave some coins to a beggar and almost ran back to the funny side (where my GF and my son were safely waiting in a restaurant). I can't tell you if the market was closed or open. I didn't even take a look but the first big music/dvd shop (with orange walls ?) on the right hand side (when coming from Los) was closed.

This is probably a non report.

[mcgriffith]

No, it's a good report. You got in, you got out, and no mortar shells fell anywhere nearby (see Maejo Man's photo and commentary on the Chiang Rai forum yesterday Sat. re: his visit in Feb 07). Welcome home!