Detour on the road
Trip Start
Nov 08, 2008
1
9
20
Trip End
Jan 17, 2009
Ho Chi Minh City,
Vietnam
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Last Friday, without notice, the Thailand government changed the tourist visa regulations. When I entered Thailand in early November, I automatically received a 30-day visa that allowed two 30-day extensions. This would have allowed me to travel around SE Asia, in and out of Thailand a couple of times...to Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos, back into Thailand and then to and from Laos with Nancy. The new regulation allows one 30-day visa and one 15-day extension. So, the way it stands, I wouldn't be allowed back into Thailand long enough to catch my Jan. 17 flight home until I stayed out of Thailand until early January. With Nancy arriving in Thailand on Dec. 27, that is not an option.
So, at Jim's suggestion, I'm going to try to get a 60-day visa with a 30-day extension, which is not automatic and must be paid for ($35).
This morning I tried to get the 60-day visa at the Thai consulate (not embassy) here in HCMC. I was turned down because I don't have the bus ticket in hand to get back into Thailand. In addition, it would have taken two working days -- if interpreted broadly, that would mean I'd be here until Monday.
(Steam issues from my ears.)
Plan B is to go to Vientiane, Laos to apply for the 60-day visa. Jim says the embassy there does this sort of thing all the time, so I'm hoping I'll be successful. It does mean I'll need to go out of my way (from Savannaket to Vientiane).
I'm heading up the coast to Hoi An or somewhere along the way via an open-tour bus (hop-on, hop-off, with limitations). I probably won't be able to post for a while.
I might just find a beach and veg for a while. Having spent most of the past two days dealing with this situation has worn me down. The batteries need recharging.
