Time for a Visa run!!
Trip Start
Jun 08, 2007
1
7
9
Trip End
Sep 01, 2007
Chumphon, Thailand
Saturday, July 14, 2007
After loads of surfing, exploring and partying in the south I decided it was time to head north to a small port town called Ranong, for one reason.... to renew my visa and get another 30 days to spend in thailand. I arrived after a 6 hour bus journey from phuket, booked into a cheap guest house, which used to be run by a kiwi guy, but he gapped it so its now run by a very friendly and funny thai lady, who is apparently an expert in doing visa runs for the farang (tourists).
I didnt know what to expect, but all I can say is Im glad I have done this sort of thing in africa, as I can see how a first timer can find it quite a daunting experience.
I jumped onto a long tail boat at the Thailand side, then headed upstream, well more of a huge river mouth/estuary. after about 20 mins of battling through the rain we arrived in Myanmar (Burma), to a crowd of people asking me 3 questions....
1) "Hey ya want cheap viagra"
2) "Hey Farang ya want cheap whiskey"
3) "I can even get you carton of cigarettes from china for 200 baht (3 pounds)"
I decided to buy my boatman a bottle of whiskey for his troubles, he was over the moon.
I found it amazing how you can cross a river and twenty minutes later arrive in a completely different land, with different looking and speaking people, different everything! According to my boat dude the army of burma overthrew the prime minister a few years ago, so there is heavy army presence, but they were all pretty friendly and I had no hassles.
So it was back across the huge river to Thailand, another 30 days granted at a fee of $20..... YEAH!
From there I caught a mini bus to Chumphon, where I am staying tonight, then catching the boat to Ko Tao to commence my diving.
(now I know what you are thinking, dodgy old mini bus complete with chickens and goats?! Well I tell you this thing was styling, A/C, DVD player.. the whole 9 yards, okay the thai karioke music dvd's got a bit much after 2 hours, but all went good).
I can't wait to see Ko Tao, I've heard great things about it and the diving it offers at really good prices, so I will update you all when I can.
Enjoy the pics and chat soon. :)
oops, this PC isnt liking my camera so I will send my pics as soon as I can.
