sorry to post twice in a row, but had to add this:

while crossing the bridge back to Thailand, two boys walked by me, each carrying a large full black plastic bag. Before you can say, "crap!" they tossed the bags over the side of the bridge, on down to the brown water. The bags dislodged their garbage on the way down, as if to dramatize the filthy act. I chastised the boys as harshly as I could in the circumstance, but of course it was some adult who told them to do that, and the boys scurried off, as chastised boys will do.

Shame on the Burmese shop keepers or border guards, or whomever it was, for trashing the river more than it is already.

You don't have to be a first world country to appreciate the importance of clean rivers.

Maybe you should have taken them aside for a quiet word rather than chastise them !!

Maybe a donation of a lighter would have been a better solution , then they could have set fire to the bags of crap and burnt it. No one would have noticed that .

Anything less than chastizement wouldn't have gotten their attention. After tossing the large bags of trash in to the river, they quickly walked back to the Burmese side without even a backward glance.

I just returned from Krabi. Asians down there are tossing trash willy nilly - particularly fishermen and maybe also tourist boats and others. I say 'Asians' because it's very doubtful that farang are tossing trash around like there's no tomorrow.

On a stretch of beach fronting several 5-star BIG NAME resorts, there were broken bottles, brown glass, every square meter, all with their sharp ends facing up. It almost looked intentional. Does the local hospital privately pay locals to seed the beach with such a plethora of broken bottles (in order to get more rich peoples' gashed feet to stitch up)? Doubtful, but still the mind reels.

For those with visa issues don’t forget, this saturday the 7th, is the first saturday of the month and the good immigration people from Mae Sai will be camped out at Central Plaza for your convenience.

They seem to enjoy a day away from the office as much as we enjoy having them in town for the day. A good deal for everyone.

sorry to post twice in a row, but had to add this:

while crossing the bridge back to Thailand, two boys walked by me, each carrying a large full black plastic bag. Before you can say, "crap!" they tossed the bags over the side of the bridge, on down to the brown water. The bags dislodged their garbage on the way down, as if to dramatize the filthy act. I chastised the boys as harshly as I could in the circumstance, but of course it was some adult who told them to do that, and the boys scurried off, as chastised boys will do.

Shame on the Burmese shop keepers or border guards, or whomever it was, for trashing the river more than it is already.

You don't have to be a first world country to appreciate the importance of clean rivers.

Maybe you should have taken them aside for a quiet word rather than chastise them !!

Maybe a donation of a lighter would have been a better solution , then they could have set fire to the bags of crap and burnt it. No one would have noticed that .

Anything less than chastizement wouldn't have gotten their attention. After tossing the large bags of trash in to the river, they quickly walked back to the Burmese side without even a backward glance.

I just returned from Krabi. Asians down there are tossing trash willy nilly - particularly fishermen and maybe also tourist boats and others. I say 'Asians' because it's very doubtful that farang are tossing trash around like there's no tomorrow.

On a stretch of beach fronting several 5-star BIG NAME resorts, there were broken bottles, brown glass, every square meter, all with their sharp ends facing up. It almost looked intentional. Does the local hospital privately pay locals to seed the beach with such a plethora of broken bottles (in order to get more rich peoples' gashed feet to stitch up)? Doubtful, but still the mind reels.

I have seen the trash in many local tribe villages , but what do you expect if they do not have any garbage processing facilities?

If anyone likes wood carvings, here's a place in Tachilek to go to:

Erawan Hotel, is located near the bridge. Cross bridge, take a right. At about 120 meters, take a left. It's a couple doors down on the left side (on the way to the local market).

The small hotel is packed with well-crafted wood carvings, all natural and shellacked, none painted. Probably teak with perhaps some maka wood items (my guess). Part of the collection is life-sized goddess pieces, each carved out of one solid piece of wood. There could be 200 items in there, with a guesstimate value of a quarter million bucks. Tell 'em the farang with the bicycle recommended it. Plus, it's a nice, low cost place to stay.

Just heard some bad flooding at the Maisai border.

Any further news?

More on this.

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CHIANG RAI, Aug 4- Heavy incessant overnight rain triggered a flash flood and overflowing waterways affecting riverside houses and business areas along the Thailand-Myanmar border in Mae Sai district of Thailand’s northernmost province.

Currently, the water level in the Sai River, which borders Thailand and Myanmar, has reached 2.48 metres, exceeding its critical level of 1.90 metres.

The torrential, rising river water has forced Thai and Myanmar business operators to hurriedly move and evacuate their belongings and goods to higher ground.

Meanwhile, traffic on a road along the Sai River in Baan Sailomjoy and Baan Koh Sai villages was disrupted and 20 shops were temporarily closed as floodwater rose to one metre deep.

To prevent water from overflowing into the prime business area, Mae Sai municipal workers were expediting the building of a temporary sandbag dyke beneath the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge.

Responding to the situation, the Chiang Rai disaster prevention and mitigation office warned residents in at-risk areas along foothills and near waterways to beware of possible flash flood, forest run-off and mudslide as well as to closely follow official warning announcements. (MCOT online news)

http://www.mcot.net/cfcustom/cache_page/396790.html

A VIP pass is a temporary entry to Burma that doesn't involve using you passport.

Present your passport to Thai immigration with 2 photocopies of the main page and 100B.

They keep your passport and you pick it up when you come back.

Not sure where Thais go for a pass now, it used to be to the left of the border post.

The VIP pass doesn't allow for an overnight stay.

It's allowable for Americans, but not sure about Brits and other nationalities. Better to check ahead.

You'll need two photocopies of your passport's main page only. You can get the copies at a shop just to the left of the Thai-side Imm office at the bridge. If using this method, be sure to tell them clearly at the Thai imm office that you don't want a stamp in your passport (as you hand the officer your passport and photocopies). Otherwise, they'll perfunctorily put a stamp in it, and it can't be undone. If using this mode, you have to pay the Bt.500 on the Burmese side. $10 won't work.

So is the total cost 100 THB + 10 USD (or 600 THB if forced to pay 500 THB to enter Tachilek)? Does the VIP pass save time overall, or does the application process take additional time? What exactly are the advantages?

I think the main advantage to those of us who have a year long extension of stay, is that we don’t invalidate our original visa and don’t need a reentry which costs 1900 baht.

Today was about the 8th time I went to Mae Sai for a visarun and it was the most terrible run I have had.

Maybe because it was on a weekend day, it was so crowded that the walking paths at the market were congested. It was also the first time they didn't want a 10 USD bill but 500 baht. I couldn't convince him by telling I was going to shop. The man was very grumpy and asked if I was going to stay the night in Tachilek, I said "No". He said:" Then you must pay 500 baht"

Maybe because (political) things have changed in Myan Mar, or maybe I was relatively late (2.30) and he didn't believe me I was going to shop, but I couldn't persuade him with my charmes which usually works at the Myan Mar border...555

I didn't even know that staying in Tachilek was allowed.

You can stay up to 15 days. You need to tell them otherwise you will only get the same day visa.

When staying overnight in Tachilek how is the visa / stamp different to the regular 2 stamps (in to and out of Burma) different? I plan to stay 1 night in Tachilek but only have room for the in and out stamps (plus the same for the Thai side, of course).

Would really appreciate if someone can help with this.

There is no difference between overnight stay or just day in/out.

A guy I know just opened a hotel up in Mae Sai, details in the link below.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Eight-Maesai-Chiang-Rai/163787917040579

So how is the weather up in Mae Sai?

More important, how is the river level in Mae Sai now? There has been a lot of rain lately, any chance of the border closing?

In previous years I've seen the car parks on both sides of the river underwater and the border still open.

I couldn't envisage the river ever getting high enough to close the bridge.

I was there during the weekend. River was high, but not as high as a year or two ago. Center of the tourist market in Tachilek had about 5 inches in parts. Few people know this, but there is white water about 6 km upriver from the bridge, and another place about 5 km downriver. Too bad there's scant little white water on the Mae Kok. The only little bit I've found is about 10 Km up river from 'My Dream' g.h. and it runs for about 700 meters. Did you know many rivers have pages on Wikipedia, but Mae Kok doesn't have one. If anyone wants to start a page there, let me know. I know how to add to a listing at Wiki, but don't know how to start a new topic.

Also, if you look at the watershed basin of the Chao Praya river, it includes the Ping River, and blasts right through the center of Thailand, yet there's a small watershed area bordering its northernmost region. That's the Mae Kok, going east to the Mekong.

You can see how high the water is here but the bridge is well clear.

You can see how high the water is here but the bridge is well clear.

Thanks for the picture Scea. It helps with visualizing what conditions are really like when the river is high. While it is bad news for vendors and shop owners on the lower levels, it would take a lot to disrupt cross boarder traffic.

To the best of my knowledge the border has only ever closed for political reasons.

Just did a visa run today. Decided to ride the Green Bus van service instead of driving...here's a "trip report" for anyone interested.

1. Got to old CR bus station about 9;15. Van was just pulling out but another one appeared five minutes later.(The sign says departs every 30 mins from 6;30 am but seems that they just leave as they fill them up which didn't even take 30 mins) Lady ticket seller suggested i sit in front passenger seat as i was only farang and of course the biggest. Van stopped a few times to let people off and for police to check locals id's but ignored me as I guess i don't look like a burmese drug smuggler or refugee. Van fare was 46 baht. Driver was excellent and it was comfortable in the front. Back looked a bit crowded as they fill every seat....from leaving CR bus station to arrival at Mae Sai bus station was 1 hour and ten minutes. Fortunately i had my mp3 with earphones as thai gal sitting beside me talked nonstop on her cell phone the entire trip (what the hell do they talk about for so long?)

2. Van goes to bus station in Mae Sai where you can immediately get on a red songtaeow that will stop at immigration if you need and also goes all the way to the bridge. Fare is 15 or 20 baht. Walked across bridge out of thailand into burma as usual. Two burmese guys sitting at table in uniforms. Gave them my passport and they stamped then laid a nice crispy ten dollar US bill on the table in front of them. I was expecting them to say no must have 500 baht as i have read here from others that they no longer take the ten USD but they picked the ten up and put it in the drawer with no complaint and only asked me if i wanted to go shopping or back into thailand..i said back to thailand..the entire process from leaving thailand to reentry with new 90 days on my non imm B visa was less than ten minutes.

3. Catch red songtaeow near the bridge back to Mae Sai bus station...again fare is 15 or 20 baht. Again got there just as one of the green vans was ready to go but only one empty seat in the very back so told the guy i would wait for next one which again pulled up about five mins later...and once again i got the front passenger seat. Took about 20 minutes for the other seats to fill up and then we left...stops again at the police checkpoints but they only half hearted checked some of the ID's. Time from mae sai bus station back to CR old bus station ...flat one hour.

All in all a pleasant easy way to do a visa run without the expense or aggravation of driving yourself. The green bus/van company seems to be a very well run operation with nice vans , well maintaned and the drivers i had were both excellent.

Just did a visa run today. Decided to ride the Green Bus van service instead of driving...here's a "trip report" for anyone interested.

1. Got to old CR bus station about 9;15. Van was just pulling out but another one appeared five minutes later.(The sign says departs every 30 mins from 6;30 am but seems that they just leave as they fill them up which didn't even take 30 mins) Lady ticket seller suggested i sit in front passenger seat as i was only farang and of course the biggest. Van stopped a few times to let people off and for police to check locals id's but ignored me as I guess i don't look like a burmese drug smuggler or refugee. Van fare was 46 baht. Driver was excellent and it was comfortable in the front. Back looked a bit crowded as they fill every seat....from leaving CR bus station to arrival at Mae Sai bus station was 1 hour and ten minutes. Fortunately i had my mp3 with earphones as thai gal sitting beside me talked nonstop on her cell phone the entire trip (what the hell do they talk about for so long?)

2. Van goes to bus station in Mae Sai where you can immediately get on a red songtaeow that will stop at immigration if you need and also goes all the way to the bridge. Fare is 15 or 20 baht. Walked across bridge out of thailand into burma as usual. Two burmese guys sitting at table in uniforms. Gave them my passport and they stamped then laid a nice crispy ten dollar US bill on the table in front of them. I was expecting them to say no must have 500 baht as i have read here from others that they no longer take the ten USD but they picked the ten up and put it in the drawer with no complaint and only asked me if i wanted to go shopping or back into thailand..i said back to thailand..the entire process from leaving thailand to reentry with new 90 days on my non imm B visa was less than ten minutes.

3. Catch red songtaeow near the bridge back to Mae Sai bus station...again fare is 15 or 20 baht. Again got there just as one of the green vans was ready to go but only one empty seat in the very back so told the guy i would wait for next one which again pulled up about five mins later...and once again i got the front passenger seat. Took about 20 minutes for the other seats to fill up and then we left...stops again at the police checkpoints but they only half hearted checked some of the ID's. Time from mae sai bus station back to CR old bus station ...flat one hour.

All in all a pleasant easy way to do a visa run without the expense or aggravation of driving yourself. The green bus/van company seems to be a very well run operation with nice vans , well maintaned and the drivers i had were both excellent.

Good to know, thanks for the info, good report.

Rgds

Wora.

That is how to do a trip report pomchop. Actually made me think about using that bus for a second or two

Good work Pomchop.

Good work Pomchop.

thanks..i still can't quite understand why some people get refused on the 10$ usd bill and have to pay 500 baht...ten bucks is about 300 baht so you would think the burmese would insist on 500 baht?..or that they would collect 500 baht, put that in THEIR pocket and put a ten bill in the cash drawer? Anyway...in spite of other's experience i have yet to EVER have them refuse the ten dollar bill....about $6 usd difference Per person per day would add up very very quickly there....

That's my take on the situation exactly. I used to buy a 10USD off the lady with the stall in front of the bank for 400B but one day she wanted 450 so I never bothered after that.

I never had USD refused either but I've seen it happen to others.

That's my take on the situation exactly. I used to buy a 10USD off the lady with the stall in front of the bank for 400B but one day she wanted 450 so I never bothered after that.

I never had USD refused either but I've seen it happen to others.

I have only crossed over a half dozen times on a VIP pass and have tried the 10USD each time and they have always refused it. I don’t know, maybe the bills I produced were not new enough as I brought them from the home country.

in the last few years a have been many (25 - ...?) times to tachileik. only twice i could

not pay with usd. once it was a bank holiday, the other time on a weekend (!?).

about the weekend i am not sure, maybe it was also a holiday ... normaly i don't

to the trip to maei saai on a weekend !

That's my take on the situation exactly. I used to buy a 10USD off the lady with the stall in front of the bank for 400B but one day she wanted 450 so I never bothered after that.

I never had USD refused either but I've seen it happen to others.

I have only crossed over a half dozen times on a VIP pass and have tried the 10USD each time and they have always refused it. I don’t know, maybe the bills I produced were not new enough as I brought them from the home country.

I suppose it helps if you don't look like you've printed them yourself as well.....

That's my take on the situation exactly. I used to buy a 10USD off the lady with the stall in front of the bank for 400B but one day she wanted 450 so I never bothered after that.

I never had USD refused either but I've seen it happen to others.

I have only crossed over a half dozen times on a VIP pass and have tried the 10USD each time and they have always refused it. I don’t know, maybe the bills I produced were not new enough as I brought them from the home country.

I suppose it helps if you don't look like you've printed them yourself as well.....

i keep a small stack of crispy new $10 US bills that i get from my bank in america...just for the visa runs....

The problem with the front seat is if a monk/s comes along. You will be moved into the back.

That's my take on the situation exactly. I used to buy a 10USD off the lady with the stall in front of the bank for 400B but one day she wanted 450 so I never bothered after that.

I never had USD refused either but I've seen it happen to others.

I have only crossed over a half dozen times on a VIP pass and have tried the 10USD each time and they have always refused it. I don’t know, maybe the bills I produced were not new enough as I brought them from the home country.

I suppose it helps if you don't look like you've printed them yourself as well.....

i keep a small stack of crispy new $10 US bills that i get from my bank in america...just for the visa runs....

Not much I can do about my looks but I might try going to the bank on my next visit home, to see if I can obtain some crisp uncirculated bills.