The Ridiculous, Stupid And Downright Moronic . . .

[technocracy]

Ok last weekend for the first time in a long time we decided to have a relax (?!) and a break from Vientiane with a trip over to Udon to do a bit of shopping.

When my wife was pregnant we used to cross the Friendship Bridge on Saturdays morning every few weeks and it was always chaotic and stressful after several frustrating long waits I got wise and changed our appointment at the hospital to Fridays which are far less stressful. So last weekends trip I was in my mind prepared for the chaos - however my preparedness couldn't quite live up to the reality!

Rediculous .. .. so we pulled up at the FB on the Lao side and in the space of 5 minutes all our documents were stamped and we were on our way. However this wasn't a real surprise since even on the busiest of days it has never taken more than 15 minutes. Over the bridge we go to Thai immigration . . . . . . we pull up and the place is rammed cars abandoned (I wouldn't go as far as calling them 'parked') everywhere. Now first off I've never understood which imbecile designed the Thai side of the FB - a two lane road whic leads to a single file barrier and on the left of the road there is a measle 10 or so parking spaces. When I pulled up all the spaces were full and there was a queue of cars down the left lane pretty much all the way back to bridge.

My first question is why?? It's just taken me 5 minutes to cross the Lao side so what in hells name are they doing? So first window get the form for the car filled out - no problems a few minutes. Next get 2 copies of my wifes border pass - this I just don't understand - what is the bloody point? Also they only need you to do this on the weekend! Good idea the busiest time lets make another reason to queue!

So next window - Immigration - - a total of 3 open windows and 3 queues over 10 people deep! WHY? Just why the bloody hel_l does it take them so long? The communists who are supposedly over the top for bureaucracy has sent all these people through and has no queues. It takes me 45 minutes to get to the window . . . . . . . the queue is even longer than it was when I arrived. The next window took another 10 minutes . ..

The Stupid . .. . well just as a I was walking back to put the icing on the utter shambles that is the Thai FB border some gormless utter wanke_r of a Thai who decided he was far to lazy to walk or wait decided to park right outside the immigration booth blocking the road! None of the jobsworth border police could be arsed to make him move so he just blocked the road making an already rediculous situation even more rediculous. At this point I was fuming not only have I just had to wait for an hour due to complete ineptness of Thai Immigration but now this gormless fuc_kwit is holding up everyone.

The downright moronic .. .. well after that debacle I was hoping for a relaxing time wandering around shops and eat some food at the Chareonsri shopping mall. How wrong could I be! Not only was there a some mobile company showing CDMA competing with a Honda display to see who could drown each other out. The volume levels must of been 100+db. Then to top it all Robinsons were joining with this volume competition due to some second rate Thai 'stars' being in store that day. When you have a 6 month old baby this kind of aural abuse just means you cannot relax in the slightest as he had no chance of sleeping. Regardless of where you were in the shopping mall you were assaulted by the volume of some gormless bint or bloke wailing at the top of there voices. Just what is the point? In an enclosed space there just ain't no need for this kind of volume.

So safe to say it wasn't a relaxing day in the slightest!

[cloudhopper]

I've only been to Sevannakhet and enjoyed that part of Lao. What does LOS offer then that you cannot get in Vientiane that would make that kind of ordeal worth enduring? Sounds like many expats here are are considering the regional alternatives and would be interested in your take on expat life there in Lao.

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Ok last weekend for the first time in a long time we decided to have a relax (?!) and a break from Vientiane with a trip over to Udon to do a bit of shopping.

So next window - Immigration - - a total of 3 open windows and 3 queues over 10 people deep! WHY? Just why the bloody hel_l does it take them so long? The communists who are supposedly over the top for bureaucracy has sent all these people through and has no queues. It takes me 45 minutes to get to the window . . . . . . . the queue is even longer than it was when I arrived. The next window took another 10 minutes . ..

The wife & I returned to Thailand last Saturday from a drive up to the Xaysomboun area, over to Vang Vieng, and back to Vientiane.

Saturday morning seems NOT to be a good time to cross back to Nong Khai. long long lines at the two immigration booths open, this for passports, Border Pass folks went through another and faster line.

30 minutes or so in the line we're only about five people back from the window when two Thai or Lao guys jumped the queue. I really don't like queue jumpers so mentioned this to my wife, Thai. She duly went into her dragon lady act and started to chew them out. They looked back and sort of cringed a bit, happily the Thai guy handing out arrival cards also saw them and waved them to the back of the now longer line, a bus had just arrived. The older queue jumper made an unkind comment as he passed us, the wife asked "what'd you say?" And probably best that he didn't repeat it or we would have really had a fist up....

Queue jumpers loose again!!

Mac

[Heng]

Glad I don't have to put up with stuff like that. Sounds like torture.

[technocracy]

I've only been to Sevannakhet and enjoyed that part of Lao. What does LOS offer then that you cannot get in Vientiane that would make that kind of ordeal worth enduring? Sounds like many expats here are are considering the regional alternatives and would be interested in your take on expat life there in Lao.

Like I say we just fancied a change of scenary and go some different shops - the Morning Market is all good and well but since we hadn't left Laos for 3 months prior we just wanted a day of something different.

Otherwise the only other reason we go over to Nong Khai is a visit to Tesco - to stock up on the large tubs of washing powder and conditioner etc since you can't get them here. The Tesco in Nong Khai is densely populated by Lao folks at the weekend there is even Lao signs in store!

Oh yeah on the queue jumpers one tried it on me at the 3rd window . . fortunately I speak Lao well enough to tell them sling their hook to the back of the queue . . when it comes from a falang the shocked look on their face is priceless!

Edited September 6, 2008 by technocracy

[RakJungTorlae]

Chill

[technocracy]

Chill

Well that was the whole idea of the day - sadly it just wasn't the case.

[RakJungTorlae]

Chill

Well that was the whole idea of the day - sadly it just wasn't the case.

Should always make the best of your situation, just open a beer and turn on some tunes next time. .

[Kees5]

Chill

Well that was the whole idea of the day - sadly it just wasn't the case.

Mr T, you almost make me nostalgic. We lived in VT for over three years, and only escaped the workers paradise a few months ago. Indeed, Saturday mornings are the periods to avoid. On the Lao side, providing you got a KohToh plate, all is fine, since they treat you as 'diplomatic or 'official', but the Thai side is murder. And queue jumpers shout be shot.

The funny thing is the Lao have computerised, and once you're in their system, both person and car, you're dealt with really fast, but the Thai and their paperwork take ages.

Robinsons mall on Saturday isn't really worth the long wait at the border. Instead, go to Dieter's cafe and dely, next street along, for a good german meal and supply of good brown bread.

But I agree, sometimes you need to escape from the socialist fortress.

We went back from LOS to Laos for a brief visit recently. Because it was a first visit with our Thai car, it took an hour 15 mins (Wednesday afternoon) to cross the bridge. But our return at Savannahket took less then 10 minutes total on Sunday morning. Hardly a soul to be seen.

[RakJungTorlae]

Chill

Well that was the whole idea of the day - sadly it just wasn't the case.

Mr T, you almost make me nostalgic. We lived in VT for over three years, and only escaped the workers paradise a few months ago. Indeed, Saturday mornings are the periods to avoid. On the Lao side, providing you got a KohToh plate, all is fine, since they treat you as 'diplomatic or 'official', but the Thai side is murder. And queue jumpers shout be shot.

The funny thing is the Lao have computerised, and once you're in their system, both person and car, you're dealt with really fast, but the Thai and their paperwork take ages.

Robinsons mall on Saturday isn't really worth the long wait at the border. Instead, go to Dieter's cafe and dely, next street along, for a good german meal and supply of good brown bread.

But I agree, sometimes you need to escape from the socialist fortress.

We went back from LOS to Laos for a brief visit recently. Because it was a first visit with our Thai car, it took an hour 15 mins (Wednesday afternoon) to cross the bridge. But our return at Savannahket took less then 10 minutes total on Sunday morning. Hardly a soul to be seen.

Sounds ummm hectic. Why not cross there at night time. say around 4 am. Would be less of a waiting line..