Pedang basar knocked me back for visa exemption, this is in full force now, returned to malaysian border and they void exit stamp, not an issue it seems so always worth a try if you cant be bothered with penang. "you not tourist, you come in and out many time, go penang and get tourist visa, okay, go penang now"

Banana guesthouse old visa office has moved to the other side of the road, and the big efficient malaysian guy is nowhere to be seen, been replaced by three girls and efficient they are not.

The banana office was mobbed from 9 onwards, and no ticket or queueing system, it was chaos. Walked up the road to Jim's guesthouse and done it there in 5 minutes. Since the same guys collect the visa at 10.30 from all the guesthouses you can use any of them, don't waste time at Banana.

most of guesthouses were full so id suggest booking in advance, no funny walking around at midnight looking for somewhere to sleep

The embassy didnt release the visa till 5.15pm same day, however the minibuses to Hatyai wait. Some people travelled onwards to Samui/Penang and even with late departured arrived plenty of time for 9.30pm bus.

Seems the minibuses back from Hatyai are all owned now by bannana guesthosue, all new and comfortable. You change to a typical thai minibus behind the duty free in no man's land for the

last part of the journey to hatyai town, apparently part of compromise due to malays complaining about thai mini bus drivers stealing their business. 400baht

Sadao immigration grilled most people in our group - british and russians, all with visas, a few had to go see the supervisor in office, about not having 20k money and onward ticket passes. They had a new memo from immigration that looks like it was referring to how many tourist visa based on nationality but i could be wrong. The big boss in immigration look like he was new possibly put there by the army, didnt quite know the score regarding visas and put the wrong date etc.. and still insisted when pointed out, however was extremely polite and when the other immigration officers pointed out the mistake he corrected it and apologized with no loss of face, quiet a refreshing experience.. oh and the computer system is pretty smart, pulled my pics from previous entrys etc..

Apparently you can get 3 TR visa in a year, however Jim states that the rules are bloody changing all the time so he has no idea what the situation will be in a few mnths.

A few other things

If you want to avoid Hat Yai to Pedang minibus, then you want to take a Plusliner from Pedang Besar to Penang, dont forget it depatures from the Malaysian side of Pedang Besar (in the back street car park on right 50m after the 7/11), in addition it wont swoop down to Pedang Besar if full unless youve prebook the ticket on the website which must be done 6 hour before. Also dont forget times are Malaysian so plus an hour, you can get to Pedang Besar via minibus or you can get the red rattler bus from either the bus station or clock tower - seems to be departure at 45 minutes past the hour. with minibuses being new now id stick with minibus

even though everywhere will take thb best to change to myr, change your money in thailand or at a licensed money changer, all guesthouses etc.. are giving poor rates, one said "because thailand unstable"

I heard that u cant use an agent for a non b or o visa and need go to the embassy.

Heading down Monday but luckily am driving my own car,