Did Border Run At Mai Sai

[thaibeachlovers]

For anyone wanting to do an easy border run, Mae Sai has to be the place.

I went up on a bus from Chiang Mai. Arrived at the Mae Sai bus station and took a 15 baht songtheaw to the border. Walked to immigration and departed Thailand. Walked over the bridge to Burma and was directed to a door with a red curtain. Inside were two officials. One took my passport and 500 baht. NB they do not accept US$ anymore. He put a card in the passport and I went to the other official. He used the computer to take my details and a photo with the webcam. Went back to the first official, who asked me if I wanted to go "shopping". I did, so he gave me part of the card and kept my passport. I exited the room and went on into Burma.

Spent an hour in the market ( you can use baht to buy stuff ) then went back to the immigration building. Went to the other side of the road, gave my card to the official, who gave me my passport. Departed Burma, crossed the bridge, collected an immigration card from an official and filled it out. Went to the window clearly marked Passports, gave my passport to the official, he used the computer to take my details and a photo, got my passport back, checked the date valid to and reentered Thailand. Customs put all my bags through the X ray machine on the way.

Total cost, not counting the buses to get to the border and back - 500 baht.

NO:

passport photos or copy required

tea money

hassle ( except from the cigarette/ viagra touts )

I went to Burma at 1330 and came back an hour later. There was no queue either way.

[Kananga]

Does that mean that you are in effect handing 500baht straight into the hands of the junta in exchange for making your own life a little bit easier?

Thanks for the report, however personally I think I'll give that one a miss.

[apetley]

Does that mean that you are in effect handing 500baht straight into the hands of the junta in exchange for making your own life a little bit easier?

Thanks for the report, however personally I think I'll give that one a miss.

Cost of the Burmese stamps has always been 500 bht or 10 usd at whatever crossing point you use. Cheaper than the cost of visas for Cambodia and Laos.

[Semper]

Does that mean that you are in effect handing 500baht straight into the hands of the junta in exchange for making your own life a little bit easier?

Thanks for the report, however personally I think I'll give that one a miss.

Cost of the Burmese stamps has always been 500 bht or 10 usd at whatever crossing point you use. Cheaper than the cost of visas for Cambodia and Laos.

A few years ago it was $5.

[edwinchester]

Does that mean that you are in effect handing 500baht straight into the hands of the junta in exchange for making your own life a little bit easier?

Thanks for the report, however personally I think I'll give that one a miss.

Cost of the Burmese stamps has always been 500 bht or 10 usd at whatever crossing point you use. Cheaper than the cost of visas for Cambodia and Laos.

A few years ago it was $5.

There's inflation for you although I have been doing visa runs for more than a few years and its always been 10 usd or 500 bht. Still cheaper than Laos or Cambo visas and the demand for tea money.

As an aside, as Kananga seems to have such strong feelings against the Burmese junta I look forward to reading about his or her coorespodence with various Thai companies and their dealings with the junta, former Thai pm and his soft loans with Burma and current Thai pm avoiding discussions with 'The Lady'. Or is it just easier to take a cheap shot at someone on an anonomous forum who is just doing something required of them by Thai visa demands?

[Kananga]

Does that mean that you are in effect handing 500baht straight into the hands of the junta in exchange for making your own life a little bit easier?

Thanks for the report, however personally I think I'll give that one a miss.

Cost of the Burmese stamps has always been 500 bht or 10 usd at whatever crossing point you use. Cheaper than the cost of visas for Cambodia and Laos.

A few years ago it was $5.

There's inflation for you although I have been doing visa runs for more than a few years and its always been 10 usd or 500 bht. Still cheaper than Laos or Cambo visas and the demand for tea money.

As an aside, as Kananga seems to have such strong feelings against the Burmese junta I look forward to reading about his or her coorespodence with various Thai companies and their dealings with the junta, former Thai pm and his soft loans with Burma and current Thai pm avoiding discussions with 'The Lady'. Or is it just easier to take a cheap shot at someone on an anonomous forum who is just doing something required of them by Thai visa demands?

Going to Myanmar to renew a visa is not a Thai visa demand. There are no demands set by the Thai immigration authority to visit Myanmar to fullfil visa obligations. Its merely an option. A choice made by a conscious decision by the person choosing to visit. There is a big difference between the two. I thought you would have known the difference.

Personally, I love Myanmar have visited several times.

[Kananga]

Mario, the link you deleted was to pictures of my holiday in Myanmar. It is not a commercial site. I cant imagine people are queing up to buy my holiday photos

Holiday snaps in Myanmar

[edwinchester]

Mario, the link you deleted was to pictures of my holiday in Myanmar. It is not a commercial site. I cant imagine people are queing up to buy my holiday photos

Holiday snaps in Myanmar

First you take a pop at someone spending 500 bht on a visa run then admit to holidays in Burma. Interesting double standards you have or did you insist none of your cash went to the junta?

[lopburi3]

Enough with the flames - any more will get warnings - the 500 baht is an official charge.

Thanks to OP for report.

[Kananga]

Mario, the link you deleted was to pictures of my holiday in Myanmar. It is not a commercial site. I cant imagine people are queing up to buy my holiday photos

Holiday snaps in Myanmar

First you take a pop at someone spending 500 bht on a visa run then admit to holidays in Burma. Interesting double standards you have or did you insist none of your cash went to the junta?

No problem lopburi, Ed's forgiven for not understanding my double standards post. I also have big issues with people who resort to double standards. I'll send him a PM to explain exactly what I meant.

[Kananga]

Thanks for the reply Ed. Glad you understand what I was getting at.