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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / June 2004Rainy roadtrip to Cambodia - OT
So the company that Dennis works for is refusing to renew our Thai visas. They say that Dennis works in Burma now and it's not their problem that we live in Thailand. Technically it's true but do they have to be such jerks about it? Anyway, my visa expires on Sunday, so yesterday I drove to the border at Cambodia in order to leave Thailand and re-enter to get a 1 month visa. I packed several tapes of my favourite driving tunes, a couple of BBQ pork chops and a tub of pomelo for food, bottled water, road maps, big wad of cash and my passport. At 8:20 am, I was off on my lonely drive. It rained pretty much the whole way there, which was nice in the fact that it wasn't so hot, but the road isn't the best and the hydroplaning led to some scary moments. It was 300km there and took till 12:30. The Cambodian side of the border was incredibly corrupt. First I had to pay 200 baht ($5) for this guy to staple a form into my passport saying that I don't have SARS. No one checked to make sure I don't have SARS. Then I had to pay $1100 baht ($28) for my Cambodian visa so I could enter Cambodia. Of course I didn't spend any time there, I just turned right around and came back. There's nothing to see at that border post. So that was an expensive 5 minutes I spent in Cambodia! Then I had to pay 300 baht ($8) for them to let me leave Cambodia. Grrr! When I re-entered Thailand I got a stamp for one measly month more :-( Next time we leave Thailand to go to a country with a Thai embassy we'll apply for a year visa, but until then I'll be driving to Cambodia every month. On the way back, I was trundling along at a good rate of speed when suddenly a cop jumps out from behind a bush and waves me over. I was going so fast that I screeched to a halt only a foot from his cop car. I thought I was in big trouble. But he said that he had pulled me over for driving in the fast lane, a big no no if you're not actually passing anyone. His English was surprisingly good and he asked me if I wanted to pay the fine now or if he should give me a ticket. Duuuuuh! Pay now, I said. Paying later involves having to go to the nearest police station to where it happened one week later. No thanks, that's almost 300 km away! So I pulled out 200 baht ($5) from my wallet. He reached in and snatched it out of my hand and ran away from my car to pull someone else over. So I left. Very weird. Not a word about my obvious speeding (not that I've ever seen a speed limit posted anyway, nor do I think they have radar). I guess he got what he wanted (cash) and at least it was only 5 bucks. Other than that, it was a fine roadtrip. I had an ice cream at the border. I saw all the giant fruits (giant pineapple, giant durian, giant banana). I saw trucks filled to overflowing with rambutan and rambutan flying off the trucks and rolling around all over the road. I sang badly to myself in the car. Yeah, it wasn't so bad ;-) -- Britta Sandpaper kisses, a cuddle and a purr. I have an alarm clock that's covered in fur! Check out pictures of Vino at: http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album >So the company that Dennis works for is refusing to renew our Thai visas. >They say that Dennis works in Burma now and it's not their problem that we >live in Thailand. Technically it's true but do they have to be such jerks >about it? Wonder if they have a reason, or if it's just some nitwit sitting in an office somewhere. Lots of times senseless policies and rules that we had to deal with while I was in the Army were thought up by low ranking clerks. Once the higher ups were made aware of the "policies" things went back to normal. Hopefully there's someone you could talk to in the company that can help. >Anyway, my visa expires on Sunday, so yesterday I drove to the border at >Cambodia in order to leave Thailand and re-enter to get a 1 month visa. [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] >trucks and rolling around all over the road. I sang badly to myself in the >car. Yeah, it wasn't so bad ;-) Except for the rainy roads, sounds like a rather pleasant way to spend the day.  SignatureSteve Touchstone, faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Rocky stouchst@JUNKsirinet.net [remove Junk for email] Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html > >So the company that Dennis works for is refusing to renew our Thai visas. > >They say that Dennis works in Burma now and it's not their problem that we > >live in Thailand. Technically it's true but do they have to be such jerks > >about it? > Wonder if they have a reason, or if it's just some nitwit sitting in > an office somewhere. Lots of times senseless policies and rules that > we had to deal with while I was in the Army were thought up by low > ranking clerks. Once the higher ups were made aware of the "policies" > things went back to normal. Hopefully there's someone you could talk > to in the company that can help. Nah, all avenues have been explored. It's a favouritism thing. They don't want to give us a visa because they are afraid that all sorts of other employees will come out of the woodwork and try to live in Thailand, etc. And then they'll have to give them all visas. We're on our own, I'm afraid. But we do have a plan, muahahaha ;-) > >Anyway, my visa expires on Sunday, so yesterday I drove to the border at > >Cambodia in order to leave Thailand and re-enter to get a 1 month visa. [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > >trucks and rolling around all over the road. I sang badly to myself in the > >car. Yeah, it wasn't so bad ;-) > Except for the rainy roads, sounds like a rather pleasant way to spend > the day. Yeah, all in all it wasn't too bad. I was a bit apprehensive driving so far all on my own. The drivers are so bad here, but I have adapted quite well and can now "go with the flow" of craziness that happens on the roads here. And now that I've done it once, it'll be easier to do it again. But we are still planning to get a 1 year visa on our own (without the help of the stupid company) so I don't have to drive there once a month. -- Britta Sandpaper kisses, a cuddle and a purr. I have an alarm clock that's covered in fur! Check out pictures of Vino at: http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album Britta, I'm surprised you were brave enough to drive by yourself, being a woman, such a long distance. Next time bring someone else in the car with you. I'm from the Philippines and I would NEVER think of driving alone especially on a long drive like that. We always had a chauffeur and at least one other person, preferably male, on long trips. I know what it's like living in a third world country where the cops sound all alike. :( Be very careful, please. Lydia SignatureIrulan from the stars we came, to the stars we return from now until the end of time > > >So the company that Dennis works for is refusing to renew our Thai visas. > > >They say that Dennis works in Burma now and it's not their problem that [quoted text clipped - 94 lines] > Check out pictures of Vino at: > http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album > Britta, I'm surprised you were brave enough to drive by yourself, being a > woman, such a long distance. Next time bring someone else in the car with [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > from the stars we came, to the stars we return > from now until the end of time Oh, I'd *love* to bring someone with me, even if only for the company. But when Dennis is away working in Burma, there isn't anyone. My girl friends are in Bangkok and would never come on a trip like this. All the guys I know are pilots and have to work all day. It's just not happening. I do have my cellphone on me and numbers ready. Really, the traffic is the worst of it. But like I said, I'm hoping to get a 1 year visa again really soon. -- Britta Sandpaper kisses, a cuddle and a purr. I have an alarm clock that's covered in fur! Check out pictures of Vino at: http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album ..> ... I do > have my cellphone on me and numbers ready. Really, the traffic is the worst > of it. But like I said, I'm hoping to get a 1 year visa again really soon. > -- > Britta I hope you and Dennis are able to work out the visa problem very soon. I worry about you making that trip alone. Annie But the only question is, what did you buy for Vino? And does he need a visa? SignatureVictor Martinez Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM) Send your spam here: uce@ftc.gov Email me here: pistorLITTER@BOXaustin.rr.com > But the only question is, what did you buy for Vino? And does he need a > visa? LOL! No, he doesn't need a visa, thank goodness. Well, maybe a Visa *card* ;-) I have to admit that I didn't buy him anything. There wasn't anything for cats. But I did buy a cute little silver (metal) purse for my MIL. I have one from when I was there 2 years ago and figured she might like one. It's good for using as a jewellery box. I need to suck up to her because I think she's quite upset and disappointed that we are delaying our trip home to Canada from June until September because we have to go to Perth instead. -- Britta Sandpaper kisses, a cuddle and a purr. I have an alarm clock that's covered in fur! Check out pictures of Vino at: http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album > So the company that Dennis works for is refusing to renew our Thai > visas. They say that Dennis works in Burma now and it's not their > problem that we live in Thailand. Technically it's true but do they > have to be such jerks about it? Beaurocracy at its finest. Don't suppose you'd consider moving to Burma? > Anyway, my visa expires on Sunday, so yesterday I drove to the border > at Cambodia in order to leave Thailand and re-enter to get a 1 month [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > saying that I don't have SARS. No one checked to make sure I don't > have SARS. That's so funny! But I imagine it would be worse if they were doing blood tests at the border ;) Then I had to pay $1100 baht ($28) for my Cambodian visa > so I could enter Cambodia. Of course I didn't spend any time there, > I just turned right around and came back. There's nothing to see at [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > limit posted anyway, nor do I think they have radar). I guess he got > what he wanted (cash) and at least it was only 5 bucks. Can you spell c-o-r-r-u-p-t-i-o-n ? :D > Other than that, it was a fine roadtrip. I had an ice cream at the > border. I saw all the giant fruits (giant pineapple, giant durian, > giant banana). I saw trucks filled to overflowing with rambutan and > rambutan flying off the trucks and rolling around all over the road. > I sang badly to myself in the car. Yeah, it wasn't so bad ;-) Sounds like an adventure but all in all not a bad one :) Jill > > So the company that Dennis works for is refusing to renew our Thai > > visas. They say that Dennis works in Burma now and it's not their > > problem that we live in Thailand. Technically it's true but do they > > have to be such jerks about it? > > Beaurocracy at its finest. Don't suppose you'd consider moving to Burma? No, not possible. The company won't allow it...won't provide a visa for me...there's no place for me to live as the guys are in a crew house...the job is ending soon but when is a mystery...there are a few other bases in Burma but we don't know if Dennis will be going there or to the Phillipines, Malaysia, India or what. So all in all, it's just better to stay put in Thailand where we like it and are set up and comfortable. > > Anyway, my visa expires on Sunday, so yesterday I drove to the border > > at Cambodia in order to leave Thailand and re-enter to get a 1 month [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > That's so funny! But I imagine it would be worse if they were doing blood > tests at the border ;) Hmm...well I've never seen blood tests at any border for SARS. However, they could have at least checked my temperature or asked me if I had any symptoms or *anything* but take my money and do nothing! A backpacker told me afterwards that last week it only cost $1. Seems the price changes every day depending on who works there. > Then I had to pay $1100 baht ($28) for my Cambodian visa > > so I could enter Cambodia. Of course I didn't spend any time there, [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > > Can you spell c-o-r-r-u-p-t-i-o-n ? :D Yes, the system is set up for corruption. They want you to pay cash so they can keep it with no records. They don't want to write tickets so they make it very difficult to pay and get your licence back. I was just surprised to get pulled over on a Wednesday. Usually that only happens on Fridays... > > Other than that, it was a fine roadtrip. I had an ice cream at the > > border. I saw all the giant fruits (giant pineapple, giant durian, [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Sounds like an adventure but all in all not a bad one :) Yeah, it could have been worse. Still, I don't want to have to do it too often. I'm hoping the 1 year visa will work out when we go to Perth next month. Which reminds me, I have to look up on the internet if there's a Thai embassy or consulate there... -- Britta Sandpaper kisses, a cuddle and a purr. I have an alarm clock that's covered in fur! Check out pictures of Vino at: http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album >>>So the company that Dennis works for is refusing to renew our Thai >>>visas. They say that Dennis works in Burma now and it's not their [quoted text clipped - 85 lines] > Check out pictures of Vino at: > http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album Yup - try http://thaisydney.idx.com.au/thaiembassy.html (the site doesn't appear to work in Netscape at all - I could only see it in IE) There's an address for a Perth office with a visa section open for limited hours two days per week. Hope we'll be seeing you soon :) Helen Wheels > Yup - try http://thaisydney.idx.com.au/thaiembassy.html (the site > doesn't appear to work in Netscape at all - I could only see it [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Helen Wheels Yeah, I found it last night. It's just a consulate, but should do. Nice hours they keep, 2 days a week for 3 hours 15 min per day. Sounds like my kinda job! ;-) We're coming in mid-July for Dennis to write his Australian licence test. Figured we should get on with this before it's too late and they remove pilots from the list of jobs eligible for skilled migration. I'll let you know exactly when we'll be there when we get our tickets booked. I'm definitely bringing my rollerblades this time. Do you think the weather will be good enough? -- Britta Sandpaper kisses, a cuddle and a purr. I have an alarm clock that's covered in fur! Check out pictures of Vino at: http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album >>Hope we'll be seeing you soon :) >> [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > booked. I'm definitely bringing my rollerblades this time. Do you think > the weather will be good enough? Should be OK - July tends to be the rainiest month, but even when it rains the ground dries out again pretty quickly and it rarely rains for days in a row, so if you're here for a few days you should get some rolling in. It's never cold during the day here but may get cooler at night then you'd expect. > >>Hope we'll be seeing you soon :) > >> [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > should get some rolling in. It's never cold during the day here > but may get cooler at night then you'd expect. Oh, we expect really cold at night. It doesn't take much for us to freeze anymore, we will be prepared with plenty of warm clothes! It will be good for us to see how a winter in Perth is. As long as I get to go rollerblading a few times, I'll be happy :-) -- Britta Sandpaper kisses, a cuddle and a purr. I have an alarm clock that's covered in fur! Check out pictures of Vino at: http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album |
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