Sungai Kolok Border

[crystaldive]

Greets One & All,

Got back couple of days ago from my trip to the Deeeep South. On arrival at Sungai Kolok border it was dark and just got out of the mini-van and walked 50 yards and I was in - easy.

Spent the usual two very quiet days in Kota Bharu, filling up on McDonalds vanilla shakes (get it together McThailand!!) and then headed back to Thailand.

Back in Sungai, this time it's the afternoon (daylight) and to be honest I could really sense the atmosphere. Went to the nearest mini-van stand to the border, booked my ticket to Hat Yai and sat down with a coffee to wait for 45mins.

Having got chatting to the owner of the cafe we were chatting about the troubles, Muslim feelings etc. (by the way, told him I was a Canadian, not English!). After a few minutes he decided it was a better idea for me to sit inside rather than be in view of the main street!!! Drive-by shootings and all that!

He told me that things will get a lot worse before they get better. Shame really, the beaches in Narathiwat Province are awesome and persoanally I LOVE Muslim food!

Now as tough as I like to think I am, I was crapping myself for 45mins until I could leave. Although the people I was with were friendly enough, I wouldn't recommend anyone take this route for visa runs. I was stuck because all my papers were written F.A.O consulate in KB.

I've never felt that way in all the years I've been here!

On a quick personal note, big shout to lopburi3 and The Dr. - Your previous concerns were much appreciated. The atmos down there is very unsettling!

Still, I'm not dead, so that's surely got to be a good thing!

[lopburi3]

Good indeed and thanks for the update.

[Thetyim]

Well done and welcome back

By the way was it raining down there ?

[Backpack_thailand]

No rain, it was <deleted> HOT, HOT, HOT! Hotter in Malaysia at present than in LOS!

[Gazza]

Thanks for the update. I know what you mean about the beaches. No tourists (even before the probs), no banana boats or jet skis, no touts, no charge for sitting under umbrellas etc. I'm not even a beach-type person and found it a refreshing change from the concrete ugliness of towns and cities.

Hope they can sort out the troubles down there because I can't wait to get back down there.