Border Run, Ranong: Out-In in less than an hour, no hassle

A quick report from my yesterday's border run to Ranong.

I'm on a non-O, child support. Serbian passport.

I came by my own car around noon on a Sunday, parked at a paid (20thb) parking next to a PTT gas station. Slapped myself on the forehead for forgetting to buy $10 bill while I was in Surat a day before. Being in Ranong on a Sunday, it was somewhat difficult to find an exchange office. But I found an open KTB bank (light blue) in the main market area. Of course, I could've bought $10 from the local vultures for 500 THB, but it goes against my principles so I took the effort to avoid that.

Stamped out in a snap, no queue. I asked if it was OK to go back straight in, he said sure no problem.

Boat ride cost 200 each for me and my mother, and we were the only people on the boat. Plus 20 each at a checkpoint "because it was a Sunday". Whatever..

Arriving to the Myanmar side, pleasantly surprised by improved business and professionalism from the team there. Last time I was there, a few years ago, it was a very gloomy experience. But this time two guys were kind enough to offer us a hand on getting out of the boat and escort us to the new office which is right at the pier. At first I thought they're after our money, but it seems they are just employees who are making sure farangs with their $10 bills know where to go.

Once in the office, it took 2min to take our dollars, stamp our passports and snap our photos, after which we headed straight to the boat and back to the Thai side. They didn't want our passport copies or anything else.

Thai arrival officer had no questions for me. Didn't care to check my wallet or any of that stuff they greeted me with at Malaysian border in the recent past. And I had my 20K cash ready, dammit!

My mother had a double entry tourist visa and this was her second entry. Also, no questions asked and no need to show her return ticket.

Overall, a very smooth border run.