Wifey and I would like a few days out of country. No particular reason but to get away. We've done SIN, and she's familiar with Malay culture, so we're thinking VN or Burma, but aren't fussy.

Not being lazy, as I have googled, but can't get definitive dates or flights out of HDY.

Does anyone know offhand if there are flights out of HDY to anywhere interesting? Just a few days to return.

Budget too, lol.

Cheers

Also...I'm on multi entry non im O, just done my 90 day thing to Padang Besar....is there any risk in the visa situation? I shouldn't think there is but, you never know.

And her...she says sometimes Thai women have a hard time crossing borders. Any substance? What to prepare?

And...maybe I should ask in the visa forum...do we need visas beforehand to any local Asian countries such as Burma or VN?

Hat Yai serves only KUL and SIN internationally with direct flights. Add Bangkok to those two and you get almost anywhere in the world with a single connection. Use the flight search engines for Vietnam or Myanmar or contact a travel agent.

Non immigrant visas have not been affected by the new rules.

Both you and your wife will need passports, and visas if required by the country you are visiting. That depends on which country you are travelling to.

Everyone needs a visa for Myanmar. Thai people do not need a visa for Vietnam for tourism purposes up to 30 days. You probably need a visa for Vietnam.

Your wife should have no trouble travelling with you. There is nothing needed to prepare.

Yeah, before you think about a lazy break .. VN requires a visa, which need to be applied for in person down at Ploen Chit (?) / Chit Lom ( I forget now ) Its been 3 years since i was last there, its an awesome country, but takes a little planning.

We went in March, up into the mountains, hired a Russian Minsk motorbike rode all around the chinese border on our own for a week. The first time the missus had been that cold where she had seen steam forming from her breathe. This time of year its pretty warm, i think i preferred the contrast in temperature in addition to the culture.

There's a direct flight from Hat Yai to Medan in Northern Sumatra, Indonesia with Thai Lion.

There's a direct flight from Hat Yai to Medan in Northern Sumatra, Indonesia with Thai Lion.

That would be my recommendation as well. Still no flights from Haad Yai to Phuket. The mind boggles.

There's a direct flight from Hat Yai to Medan in Northern Sumatra, Indonesia with Thai Lion.

Medan, i never experienced the definition of chaos until I visited Medan 15 years or more ago. The first time I saw someone using a strip of cardboard around their waist as their complete wardrobe.

Well worth the experience for a week or two.

The Indo consulate is in Songkhla, near Monkey hill.

You can visit Bukit Lawang or another reserve, see the Orangutans, which is quite un-nerving, climb up a volcano, relax by the side of Lake Toba.

Thanks all

There's a direct flight from Hat Yai to Medan in Northern Sumatra, Indonesia with Thai Lion.

I was wrong about Hat Yai only serving SIN/KUL. Thanks for updating the topic wih Thai Lion air's Medan flights.

I'd definitely go for a jaunt with wifey to Medan, North Sumatra, Indonedia. Lake Toba? Volcano at Mount Sinabung?

Thais don't need a visa for Indonesia, they get 30 days on arrival. Most Western/European passport holders can buy a visa on arrival cost is USD25 for 30 days.

Cheers Stocky.

I went to the Indo consulate website, but the only info was "ring for info about visas". I rang, but the guy who answered the phone said he was on holiday so couldn't answer any questions.

Also on the Indonesian Consulate website was the information that there are 3 other foreign representative offices in Songkhla; Malaysian and Chinese....and Peruvian!

I'm very curious to know why Peru has a consulate in Songkhla. What interest/s does Peru have in Thailand, let alone Songkhla? I haven't seen any llamas, and alpaca wool doesn't sell very well here.

The only very tenuous connection I can imagine (humourously) is that we may have lamas here.

A one "L" lama, he's a priest.

A two "L" llama, he's a beast.

But I'll bet a silk pyjama,

There isn't any 3 "L" lllama.

Ogden Nash.

Yeah, thats interesting, I know where the Malay / Chinese / Indo consulates are .. The Peruvian - its an Honary consulate, in Songkla but its in Pattani .. ??? take a look at google maps, which is even more obscure.

It's office is in a hotel ? and the consul is a Thai person .. Put on your best Spanish accent, give him a call and dig a bit deeper .. he will probably say "uohhoh .. farang" and put the phone down

There used to be an American consulate in Songkhla but it closed in the 90s.

Yeah, thats interesting, I know where the Malay / Chinese / Indo consulates are .. The Peruvian - its an Honary consulate, in Songkla but its in Pattani .. ??? take a look at google maps, which is even more obscure.

It's office is in a hotel ? and the consul is a Thai person .. Put on your best Spanish accent, give him a call and dig a bit deeper .. he will probably say "uohhoh .. farang" and put the phone down

That he's Thai doesn't surprise me...the Thai consul in Auckland is a Kiwi. It's cheaper that way, I guess.

But it is very intriguing.

Very possible that it has just been administratively overlooked. Very low profile and not a drain on resources. The Thai guy must be laughing. One yearly report to file, and otherwise he's got an office paid for to carry on his own business, plus a salary I would expect.

I'd love to know the story behind it.

Embassy.goabroad.com lists an embassy in BKK and a consular office in Chiang Mai, no mention of Songkhla.

Chiang Mai?

Hon Consul positions for many countries are not bestowed but paid for. Example if you want to become Hon Consul for Australia in Hat Yai for instance, if that position is available, you can apply. It comes at a cost.

Hon Consul positions for many countries are not bestowed but paid for. Example if you want to become Hon Consul for Australia in Hat Yai for instance, if that position is available, you can apply. It comes at a cost.

How does one go about getting that?