January 06, 2006
Myanmar For 10 Minutes (Day 100)
Today I did a visa run. This is the process many a traveler will experience when they find Thailand takes longer than 30 days.
It's a fairly simple process.
First you go to the Thai immigration office, then you get on a boat which takes you to 3 more offices, 2 of which you never need step foot in. The 3rd office is on Myanmar soil (the other 2 were on water/islands) where it takes all of 2 minutes for them to take your passport, stamp it and hand it back with a smile*.
Given the speedy service, I had 10 minutes to occupy and did such by roaming around the market with a little boy who felt I needed an escort until the moment at which he was required to ask for food or money. I responded with the usual "I don't have any...but I have gum", which he laughed off before returning to his group of friends. I was glad he found it humorous.
So, now I can say I've been to Burma...but I won't.
In my opinion Burma/Myanmar has got a crap of a deal. It's tourist industry is in no way booming, yet it's immigration offices are probably some of the busiest in South East Asia. Then again they do get $5 usd/stamp, so it definitely has it's financial benefits.
And so once again I find myself writing from a boat returning to mainland Thailand.
Since I wrote last, Jos and I have been to 2 different cities. Khao Sok and Khao Lak. Khao Sok was an absolutely beautiful national park with hardly any tourists where we stayed in tree houses, went on an elephant trek, and had the best Thai meal so far in a beautiful little stilt cafe surrounded by jungle and karsts during a light rain. It reignited my excitement for travel to say the least.
Unfortunately we only had time to stay one night because we planned to meet up with friends in Khao Lak. Friends we found had left Kho Lak only hours before we arrived.
Khao Lak was a single strip of buildings along a divers mecca coast which housed mostly diving companies and guesthouses which charged way too much for a double room. To make the most of it we bit the bullet, threw our budgets out the window, and booked a snorkling trip to the Similian Islands. It was worth every penny.
My lame broken camera was unable to do anything but take this one picture (and yes this is how the camera took it)
Although it may not have captured the beach paradise as we saw it, I believe it managed to capture a paradise none-the-less.
So, today after my short yet productive trip to Myanmar (Joslyn's still sleeping in the hotel) we'll head down to Phuket where we'll hopefully finally catch up with some friends and find another paradise for Joslyn's final 5 days in Thailand. Once again, wish us luck...
*They will not smile if you hand them an old $5 bill. So make sure to get a crisp one*
Glad to hear the family is on the road together. Nothing like sharing the road to get close to a sister. Sounds like a great new years, hope your 2006 continues to be an adventure. I spoke to your dad and he is back in Tucson today - Monday. Good Luck.
Tim
: 5:22 AM 
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