Thai gov. to tax (remitted) income from abroad for tax residents starting 2024 - Part II

[millwall_fan]

Mrs Millwall_fan and I are planning on taking junior Millwall_fan away for a few days next week. I've always fancied going to Kengtung up in the Shan state, above the Burmese border from Tachilke. Once one of the remotest outposts of the British Empire. Has anyone been there recently? It looks like the Princess or the Private hotels are the best in town. Does anyone have any experience of either? or anywhere else? any other tips? How does my wife get across the border? ID card or passport?

Any info, however sketchy would be appreciated! Kengtung seems to be one place the internet has by-passed. Which seems like a good reason to go there!!

[jayjay0]

Three years ago.

Unimpressed.

The poverty is bad and the residents seem like a sad group.

The hotel we stayed at the first night would not except Burmese money they took Thai money. The city had no power from 6:30 or 7:00 in the morning until; about 6:30 at night. This was because the reservoir was to low. Might be OK now.

We moved on the next day to Monglar on the Chinese border. I found it to be a interesting city. How ever I was under the weather and did not get to see that much of it. Wouldn't mind spending a few days there. Supposedly a Gambling mecca for Chinese. They only took Chinese money. I had enough until they asked for a big deposit on the hotel keys. Finally with the help of a fellow watching the proceedings they took a US $100 bill.

On the way back we stoped for a night in the same hotel in Kengtung. We got the same room as before. The bathroom waste tissue basket had not been emptied. I managed to get them to take Burmese money this time.

Beautiful Country.

Send me a message if you would like more info. I could meet up with you at your place of business. I believe I live close to it. It is in the Loi Kroh area.

[Ricardo]

I vaguely remember a few visit-reports, in the Chiang Rai sub-forum, possibly in the Mae-Sai/Tackilek border-crossing posted-thread, sorry I can't be more specific, old age affecting the brain-cells, I fear.

The Lonely-Planet book also had (in my 6-year-old edition) about a page on trips to Kengtung, and on to Mengla, which might be useful, although again I have a vague memory of hearing that Harry, of Harry's Guest-House & Trekking which they recommend, had now passed-away. They do say there is more info, as one might expect, in the LP Myanmar guidebook, on Kengtung and the surrounding area.

[Mickeem]

I vaguely remember a few visit-reports, in the Chiang Rai sub-forum, possibly in the Mae-Sai/Tackilek border-crossing posted-thread, sorry I can't be more specific, old age affecting the brain-cells, I fear.

The Lonely-Planet book also had (in my 6-year-old edition) about a page on trips to Kengtung, and on to Mengla, which might be useful, although again I have a vague memory of hearing that Harry, of Harry's Guest-House & Trekking which they recommend, had now passed-away. They do say there is more info, as one might expect, in the LP Myanmar guidebook, on Kengtung and the surrounding area.

Also be aware that now you HAVE to take an English speaking guide with you at 1000B per day + lodgings and food

[jayjay0]

I vaguely remember a few visit-reports, in the Chiang Rai sub-forum, possibly in the Mae-Sai/Tackilek border-crossing posted-thread, sorry I can't be more specific, old age affecting the brain-cells, I fear.

The Lonely-Planet book also had (in my 6-year-old edition) about a page on trips to Kengtung, and on to Mengla, which might be useful, although again I have a vague memory of hearing that Harry, of Harry's Guest-House & Trekking which they recommend, had now passed-away. They do say there is more info, as one might expect, in the LP Myanmar guidebook, on Kengtung and the surrounding area.

Also be aware that now you HAVE to take an English speaking guide with you at 1000B per day + lodgings and food

I was unaware of that. We had hired a fellow in Maisie for 2,200 baht a day plus expenses. He spoke good English plus some sort of mixture of languages that every body seemed to understand.

It was a good thing we did he had to have every body's papers and every time we came to a check point he was in charge we just bided are time. There was one check point about a hundred miles in and another in-between Kengtong and Monglar. I think there was a bottle of whiskey passed hands at that one. Also there was another unofficial one set up by one of the residents. 2oo baht. Not worth arguing about especially as you will probably lose the argument any how.

A friend of mine took a bus to Kengtong and told me the driver held all there papers on the trip.

I found the people to be friendly but they seemed to me to have a hopeless attitude. As I said the country was Beautiful.

[el jefe]

About three years ago, four of us hired a private car, arranged at the immigration office in Tachilek), to take us to Kyiang Tung. Pretty scary drive thru the mountains in a right hand side drive car driving on the right.

We spent a few nights in Kyiang Tong, hired a guide for day trips as you weren't allowed to do overnight trips to villages. I'm sure that hasn't changed. Stayed in local guest houses, most of which are sub-standard but we wanted as little of our money to go to the junta so we refused to stay in the govt-run hotel. As stated, limited electricity.

The people were extremely friendly. The poverty is less than you find in much of Laos or Cambodia.

We went on to spend a day in Mong La. The casinos were closed and I haven't heard that they have re-opened. Supposedly a dispute between the Chinese who run the casinos and the Myanmar general in charge of the area as to who skims the most. Mong La seemed like one big brothel with a lot of very bored hookers. Excellent food in the night market though. But without the casino business, which has moved to other Chinese border areas, I'm not sure how long Mong La can continue to exist.

Lots of checkpoints along both roads. It's very difficult to do any exploring except in "approved" areas.

I also tried cycling from Tachilek to Kyiang Tung and almost wound up in a Myanmar prison, but that's a long story.

Pedr, I hope this helps. PM me if you want more info.

[anonymouse]

As other posters have written not much to do or see in the area. Personally I would fly in to Rangoon and take the very slow train up to Mandalay and then visit the Shan states and the towns around there I did it a few years ago and would love to do it again.

You've got away mildly by the way, I mentioned taking my kids across the border at Mai Sai for a day trip In the Chiang Rai forum a year or so back and I got told what a really terrible parent I was for contemplating such an idea.

[millwall_fan]

Many thanks to those of you who have managed to reply with really useful info! I've always wanted to go to Kengtung and indeed Mongla - with its ghost town casinos! But with your advice Jayjay0, El Jefe, Mickeem and Ricardo, vve've decided that it's not a trip to take our three year old on! I really appreciate your advice, and have acted on it!! Mrs millwall_fan and i are currently considering other options and she (sorry, we) will come up with a new plan!!

Edited January 15, 2011 by cdnvic
flame removed - be nice

[jayjay0]

Many thanks to those of you who have managed to reply with really useful info! I've always wanted to go to Kengtung and indeed Mongla - with its ghost town casinos! But with your advice Jayjay0, El Jefe, Mickeem and Ricardo, vve've decided that it's not a trip to take our three year old on! I really appreciate your advice, and have acted on it!! Mrs millwall_fan and i are currently considering other options and she (sorry, we) will come up with a new plan!!

Its a shame one boring little <deleted> had to make one of his predictably negative comments about The Olde Bell but we've come to expect that from him!!

Try Angkor Wat in Cambodia children welcome. They even let me in twice.