...after bidding adieu to Myanmar (https://thehaflonggirl.blogspot.com/2021/08/a-photoblog-of-my-solo-travel-to.html?m=1), I crossed over to Thailand. I opted for border crossing at Myawaddy (Myanmar) - Maesot (Thailand). After my work was done at Myanmar Immigration check point, I walked over the bridge and reached Thailand Immigration check point (Mae Sot) at the end of the bridge.
This is what happened once I reached Thailand immigration counter in Maesot border town. I showed my passport and the filled in arrival form at the first counter.
The officer at the counter asked, "Where is your Thailand visa?"
I replied, "It's Visa on Arrival for Indians."
On hearing that, he talked to a lady officer who directed me to "Visa on Arrival" counter.
I entered the room for Visa on Arrival. A lady was busy in stamping passports. Looking at her, I wished she had 4-5 hands to do the work. There was a desire on my part to give a helping hand to the lady. She looked at my passport and communicated to the senior Immigration Officer in Thai. Once she was done talking, I was directed by her to go to his desk. I placed my passport and the filled in arrival form on his table. I thought he was from Nagaland on seeing him. 😊
He flipped through my passport and said, "It's a new passport?"
I nodded.
He enquired about my Thailand travel plans. I told him about it and the places that I will be visiting.
He then went on to say, "One need to have hotel booking for Visa on Arrival. Do you have hotel booking?"
I replied in negative. I further told him I would immediately book a hotel on booking.com if I had Internet connection on my phone.
He directed me to go out just behind the immigration centre where I would find shops to do my work.
He was very warm and helpful. Thankfully!!!
I took my passport and went to look for a shop. I found a small shop. I requested the guy in the shop to share their Wi-Fi and on getting the connection, I immediately booked a hotel via booking.com on the spot. No hassle!!! The helpful guy in the shop took out a printout of the booking. Once my work was done, I thanked the shop people and returned to the "Visa on Arrival" room.
The same lady at the "Visa on Arrival" room gave me 2 forms to fill up. I filled up the form, pasted my passport photo on the form, gave the printout of the hotel booking including xerox copy of the first page of my passport. The lady went through it and stamped my passport. Then she directed me to go to the first counter.
I went to the first counter and the same person took my passport and the filled in arrival form. He took my finger prints, thumb prints, photo...after all this was done, he stamped my passport and then he looked up at me and said, "It's complete now."
I almost screamed "Yaay!!!" I high fived with the officer and he smiled his broadest smile. 😄😎🤗
I am finally in Thailand now!!💃
Namaste Thailand,
Do keep in mind that the town centre is a few kms away from the border entry. After getting my VoA (Visa on Arrival) at the immigration counter, I looked around for a shared tuktuk to go to Maesot town centre. A tuktuk dropped me at Maesot where I had to wait for sometime before boarding a private van to go to Tak town. I arrived around 5:00 p.m. I needed to wait for a long period of time at Tak bus station to board the overnight bus for Chiang Mai. The bus was expected to leave at 11:00 p.m.
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| Maesot in Thailand |
Chiang Mai welcomed me in the wee hours. Some of the moments captured during my stay here.Chiang Mai
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| Wat Phra Singh in Chiang Mai |
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Wat Phra Singh in Chiang Mai
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Wat Phra Singh in Chiang Mai
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Wat Phra Singh in Chiang Mai
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Wat Phra Singh in Chiang Mai
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| Wat Phantao |
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| Wat Chedi Luang in Chiang Mai |
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| Wat Chedi Luang in Chiang Mai |
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| Wat Chedi Luang in Chiang Mai |
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| Wat Chedi Luang in Chiang Mai |
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| Wat Chedi Luang in Chiang Mai |
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| Wat Chedi Luang in Chiang Mai |
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| Wat Chedi Luang in Chiang Mai |
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| Chiang Mai Saturday Night Market |
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Chiang Mai Saturday Night Market
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Chiang Mai Saturday Night Market
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| the popular 7 Eleven of Thailand |
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| Chiang Mai |
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| Chiang Mai |
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| Wat Phra That Doi Suthep |
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Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
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Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
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Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
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