Bus to/from Sadao - Penang?

[simon43]

The documents for my ED visa application finally came through today, and I will travel to Penang to apply for this 3-month visa to improve my conversational Chinese. (After that, the documents for a Thai Partnership business should also be ready for me to then apply for a WP).

I am loath to use the visa-run minibuses (I enjoy life!). But because my ED documents have arrived late in the day, the Firefly plane tickets are quite expensive.

I can do one of two things:

- Apply for a 7-day extension on my Visa Exempt at Phuket Immigration (1,900 baht), and then book a cheaper return flight for next week

- Drive down to Sadao, leave my car in the car-park, walk across the border and then catch a bus to Penang. I can use a visa agent in Penang to do the 'legwork' at the consulate.

A couple of questions:

- Is Phuket Immigration likely to issue a 7-day extension in these circumstances?

- Does anyone know details of the bus services to/from Penang?

- Is crossing a land border a little 'risky', bearing in mind I already have 3 back-to-back Visa Exempts (incurred after a death in the family and me deciding what to do...)

- Is it better to appear at the consulate in person, or will they still issue a 90-day ED visa without question? (with the correct supporting documents).

Simon

[tifino]

Try going West from Sadao, to adang Besar (cowboy town)on the old main highway to the South. Buses come and go from there too, rejoining the main north-south freeway at Alor Setar.

There used to be a good system there at the Border, where you even can get a Temporay Permit for the car too, which could last up to a Month.

Don't know whether the old dreaded thai-taxi runs between Hatyai and Penang still run? - they sure made the travel more exciting, although a lot slower having those big Chevvies with little diesel motor combination...

They dropped you off right at the Penang Ferry Terminal - although that may be a little messy at the moment as I've heard the Termianl building had burnt down

[digitalchromakey]

If you have the Tabien Rot for your car, there is nothing, other than a bit of paperwork in Phuket and at the border, stopping you driving all the way down to Penang,

And boy oh boy the petrol is cheap, plus the drivers are also sensible and drive to the left on 4 lane roads in Malaysia.

[simon43]

If you have the Tabien Rot for your car

No have, still on red plates and finance...

[ubonjoe]

Immigration routinely issue the 7 day extensions.

They will not stop you from leaving at the Malaysian border. That only happens at Myanmar border crossings.

For an non-ed visa you will not have a problem getting the visa using an agent as long as your documents are correct.

I can't help with your other questions.

[sandyf]

- Is crossing a land border a little 'risky',

Yes, for a different reason.

When I came back on the train, an Australian wanted to get off at the border and catch a bus. The attendant on the train advised against it. He said the Malaysian/ Thai border areas were not particularly safe for foreigners. The Australian stayed on the train to Hat Yai.

[sandyf]

Try going West from Sadao, to adang Besar (cowboy town)on the old main highway to the South. Buses come and go from there too, rejoining the main north-south freeway at Alor Setar.

There used to be a good system there at the Border, where you even can get a Temporay Permit for the car too, which could last up to a Month.

Don't know whether the old dreaded thai-taxi runs between Hatyai and Penang still run? - they sure made the travel more exciting, although a lot slower having those big Chevvies with little diesel motor combination...

They dropped you off right at the Penang Ferry Terminal - although that may be a little messy at the moment as I've heard the Termianl building had burnt down

The Ferry Terminal is ok, its the railway station that is the problem,being rebuilt. It is virtually cut off from the ferry and bus station and my wife was very nearly mugged. Fortunately for her they picked on an elderly Thai lady just behind. Police gave chase and recovered the hand bag but nothing in it. The lady and family could not catch the train as they had taken their passports.

[phuketrichard]

I have been told by Banana gh ( last week) that all NON B,O, ED visa applications need be done in person.

ONLY tourist visas can you use a agent. ( and those are same day return, others next afternoon.

Am driving back down for GF's 1 year visa in 3 weeks, I love the drive,

9 1/2 -10 hours Kamala to Penang.

this will be my 4th trip into Malaysia by car this year< nice country, good food.

[simon43]

I just collected my supporting documents from the language school and have decided to 'risk' the visa- run bus tomorrow night (Wednesday).

As a 'FYI' to other members, I will comment that the visa-run companies to Penang which have encountered serious accidents include KBV (10 injured, broken back, neck, no dead), TVR (1 motorcyclist killed) and Phen Phet (10 injured, 1 Filipina killed). All according to ThaiVisa news reports.

So I haven't booked with any of those companies....

The visa-run agent confirmed that I must go in person to the consulate, which is fine by me, (gives me a chance to explain if any problems etc).

Since I want to minimize the risk of being refused entry back into Thailand, I am now going to book a hotel for my 90-day stay, and a cheap ticket out of Thailand at the end of that period.

If I survive the visa-run I'll post my experiences back here.

[tifino]

a few years back, on a run throughthe Sadao crossing. This was in a limo owned and driven by my malaysian chinese old friend.

we were less than 2 km into malaysia and there had been some local trouble, as usual near the border.

at the road block, a soldier pokes his head in the driver window - blabbing bahasa to my friend.

...he stops mid sentence staring at me.

Angry I am pointing my videocam toward him.

Not only that - I am recording, and he don't like it!!!

Friend translates what he's screaming, but I already got the jest of it.

I put the camera down (but heh heh I am still recording)

Soldier backs off, as he seems to think he has achieved something positive, for once...

we start driving off, Uncle Teh my friend looks solemn, and I am smiling (great footage)

best of all, why I remember all this is that we had this great case of Mekhong on the seat, and we didn't need to bribe the soldier

Border runs are fun

oh! almost forgot to say - soldier had an F1 submachine gun sticking in through that window pointing at me all the time