My Visa Run
This morning as I stood on the corner waiting for a bus to take me into Bangkok, I couldn't resist taking the following picture. Isn't it CUTE???:)
I made it to the coffee shop in Bangkok where I needed to do paperwork before going to Cambodia on my visa run. Walking in to the shop, I saw this sign:
Pretty clever English translation; Thai merely says, "Caution: slippery"
Here is the coffee shop with outside tables where we always fill out our applications.
I received yet another name today. When Philip, the guy who runs the business, saw me, he greeted me as "Sister Rice". In the past I've gone to his office to discuss visa options, and I fear I "preached" at him one time; he apparently hasn't forgotten that.:) I am very grateful for the advice he gave me. It was his idea to contact the consulate in Texas about a one year visa, which is what I did and is what I now have!
Instead of needing to leave the country every month, I now only have to leave every 3 months. So today I boarded this very nice, air-conditioned bus to make my first run on my new visa.
The trip includes free "farang" movies, bottled water, lunch, and no hassles at the primitive Thai/Cambodian border where we go.
OH yeah, and free TP too!:)
Well, anyway, below are sights leaving Bangkok...
...and beyond.
We stopped at 11:30 for a 10-minute break at a rest area, where our lunches were picked up. I had fun playing with a 6-month-old puppy.:)
A few monks were enjoying lunch at the rest area.
(continued in extended entry)
Back on the bus we ate our lunches. I had ordered vegetable fried rice. It is some of the most delicious veggie fried rice I have ever tasted.
Following are a couple more sights along the way.
We arrived at the border about 1:00PM.
All we had to do was walk through the Thai immigrations office...
...and wait on the other side of the building for about 30 minutes. We didn't really have to cross the bridge to Cambodia.
But I did walk over just to say I was there.:) A barricade prevents people from venturing very far into Cambodia. Here is the basic view of Cambodia that I experienced.
And here is a view of Thailand from the Cambodian side.
I crossed back over the bridge, handing out a few baht to a beggar sitting there.
It didn't take long for a couple little beggar boys to spot me, and they made a beeline for me, only to be chased off by a laughing guard. I think it's a kind of game they play just to go through the motions.:) At any rate, it wasn't long before one little boy was sneaking back my way, so I accomodated him by walking his direction and emptied a few more coins into his hands.
Soon I saw him pointing me out to another little guy who also headed my way. I gave him my final few coins, telling him I had no more to give. Of course, it didn't stop more from asking. I fear I would've broken down and dug a little deeper for more than my designated amount to give to the cute little ones below. But fortunately (for me and for them), a foreign couple walked over and handed them some bills. That couple just made their day. The kids delightedly scurried off to share the goods.
Soon after, it was time to pass back through Thai immigrations and get our passports stamped. The guy inspecting my passport asked me what kind of visa I had; I thought for a minute and told him it was a type O visa. I'm not sure why, if he didn't really understand, or what. But he corrected me and told me I have a business visa. And that is what he wrote on my new 3-month stamp. Hmmmm......????? Whatever.
We made it back to Bangkok a little after 7 pm, and I was ready to get off the bus at Sri Nakarin Rd, figuring I could get a bus from there to my apartment. But the ones in charge told me to stay on. Once again (this happened one other time), they insisted on taking me to within walking distance of my apartment (and I was the only one left on the bus). They insisted it was not so out of the way, but I'm pretty sure they went at least 30 minutes out of their way. Remember, this is a business! I continue to be overwhelmed by the generosity of the Thai people.
So I made it home between 8:00 and 8:30, mission accomplished.
Comments
Hi again,
Read in the Bangkok Post about the advertisement for Visa Run..farang movies,wet towel, air-cond blah,blah.Need to get the bus from Onnut BTS for the ride to the Cambodian border.I think I will try to go there although not because of the visa thing as I can stay in Thailand for 1 month but just to travel from Bangkok and back.Yes, I remembered wandering around the Honda motorcycle factory at Theparak Rd, got both my walking shoes all muddy as I made my way to a stall selling cold drinks.A security guard working at the said factory/assembly plant motioned me to follow him to his guard post where he took out a water hose and helped to clean my mud drenched sneakers.That reflects the Thai people...gentle and polite and always willing to help out.
Posted by: norhisham bin othman | April 7, 2008 12:21 AM
somebody should get you a video camera -- i'm sure you would have fun with that....
Posted by: Rich Peachey | December 23, 2007 02:56 AM
How many "friends" did you make at the border this time?
Posted by: Twila S. | December 20, 2007 10:58 AM
glad your day went well! ptl!
Posted by: angela | December 19, 2007 11:55 PM
Glad you had a safe trip. The sights look (all too) familiar!! Praying we'll never have to do it again! :) Tom goes to pick up our new visas Friday. WOOOHOOOO!
Posted by: Candice | December 19, 2007 04:24 PM
you make me smile! :)
Posted by: Anita | December 18, 2007 10:49 PM