Flashermac Posted November 25, 2011 Report Share Posted November 25, 2011 I suspect this doesn't work any more, but you used to be able to cross into Burma and shop at the black markets w/o any visa or stamp. You handed your passport to the Thai police, who held it for you. You had to return the same day, when they would hand your passport back. A very sensible and Thai solution to a problem ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gobbledonk Posted November 28, 2011 Report Share Posted November 28, 2011 I suspect this doesn't work any more, but you used to be able to cross into Burma and shop at the black markets w/o any visa or stamp. You handed your passport to the Thai police, who held it for you. You had to return the same day, when they would hand your passport back. A very sensible and Thai solution to a problem ... You must have been very confident that they would give it back to you without some sort of 'fee' being payable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian2 Posted November 28, 2011 Report Share Posted November 28, 2011 I still works Flash, or did last month. They call it a VIP pass, you leave your passport and two photocopies of the main page with Thai border immigration along with 100B. You get to jump the queue at Myanmar immigration with no photo session (just cough up the normal 500) and also coming back you just walk past the lined up peasants and go round to departures and pick up your passport at the side door. Myanmar immigration have become more and more reluctant to accept US$10 entry fee, they prefer 500B. I suspect they use the 500B to buy dollars to hand over to the govt. and pocket the change, currently around 200B on a $10 note. Nice earner for a lowly paid public servant, particularly if you can score about a hundred in a day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redbaron Posted November 28, 2011 Report Share Posted November 28, 2011 Nice earner for a lowly paid public servant, particularly if you can score about a hundred in a day. = 10,000 THB a day... I'd call that a good earner in anyone's language! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huumlaar Posted December 6, 2011 Report Share Posted December 6, 2011 Again, it is NOT a 'visa on arrival' - its a visa exemption. Semantics, maybe, but anyone who has the full-page visa in their passport will know the relative economy of a single stamp entitling you to stay in the Kingdom for 30 days (or whatever it is by land). The visa are very pretty, no question, but an Oz passport costs over $200 atm, and you get to sit on your hands for over a fortnight waiting for it to be issued. Every page of my passport is precious Your semantics can end up with someone having a 15 day stay in the Kingdom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gobbledonk Posted December 7, 2011 Report Share Posted December 7, 2011 Your semantics can end up with someone having a 15 day stay in the Kingdom The only time that has ever been the case is when I made the 1-hour visa run to the Cambo border. Every other time it has been a 30-day stamp or the fullpage visa in my passport. Granted, you dont ask them for a 'visa exemption' - I try not to say anyhing at all - but that's what it is for most of us flying in to the LOS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian2 Posted December 10, 2011 Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 I suspect this doesn't work any more, but you used to be able to cross into Burma and shop at the black markets w/o any visa or stamp. You handed your passport to the Thai police, who held it for you. You had to return the same day, when they would hand your passport back. A very sensible and Thai solution to a problem ... I crossed and returned today with the VIP pass, 100B on the Thai side, no stamps in the passport. Was surprised to find a new "duty free" booze shop in Tachilek that seemed to be supervised by a senior Thai police officer in full uniform. Picked up a bottle of Laphroaig and two bottles of Bordeaux just in case.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Munchmaster Posted December 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 ...Picked up a bottle of Laphroaig and two bottles of Bordeaux just in case.... What age was the Laphroaig (presumably the 10yo) and how much? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian2 Posted December 10, 2011 Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 Yes, the 10 year old and 1350 baht, about $45 for a liter bottle. There's always some skepticism about legitimacy of booze bought in Burma but I've never had a problem. This shop had quite a range of Scotch whisky and other spirits, the Laphroaig came in a proper tubular box and had it's little book inside that seemed in order. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horneytorney Posted December 24, 2011 Report Share Posted December 24, 2011 they are pretty skillful in faking booze! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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