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[sceadugenga]

The duty free shop at the border occasionally has something called ABC stout, which is quite drinkable if you like a dark beer.

[kjhbigv]

I need to do a Visa run this week and noticed on TV that Burma has elections imminently and that the Mae Sai border is to be closed? Is this correct? Does anyone have any info on this? Appeciated.

[sunholidaysun1]

Elections yes but where did you hear the border was closing ??

[sunholidaysun1]

Elections yes but where did you hear the border was closing ??

[sunholidaysun1]

sunholidaysun1, on 2010-11-06 22:50:21, said:

Elections yes but where did you hear the border was closing ??

UPDATE : Channel 3 Thai News states the Election will be tomorrow and the Myanmar Junta has
ordered the borders to the country to be closed. I cannot confirm if any borders will be open but if what is stated on the Thai news is correct then I expect all will be closed , possibly for 24hrs.

[my friend I]

kjhbigv, on 2010-11-06 21:23:50, said:

I need to do a Visa run this week and noticed on TV that Burma has elections imminently and that the Mae Sai border is to be closed? Is this correct? Does anyone have any info on this? Appeciated.

Open yesterday as normal

[Paul888]

Sorry? Myanmar.... elections? What?

[kjhbigv]

Hi all, any update on this? Is the Mae Sai border open as usual? I don't really want to drive up there only to find it's closed....looking to do a border run tomorrow. Surprising outcome on the elections!

[sunholidaysun1]

As far as I know , its open . I am going up tomorrow as well , if its shut then just go to immigration for your stamp, then at least there should be no over stay charges if the border is closed .

[sunholidaysun1]

I did a trip to Mae Sae today , the border was open but very very busy with people and cars LEAVING Myanmar. The process of leaving Thailand was easy , as was getting the Myanmar stamp , with the Myanmar Immigration staff as polite as usual .
I didnt venture into Tchilek for shopping this trip due to the amount of people about.
No problems seen.

[kjhbigv]

I didn't make it today but hoping to head up and stay in Chiang Rai tomorrow (Fri) and do Visa run on Saturday. Just one question, never been at the weekend....is it open normally on weekends?

[raylo]

sunholidaysun1, on 2010-11-10 22:20:05, said:

I did a trip to Mae Sae today , the border was open but very very busy with people and cars LEAVING Myanmar. The process of leaving Thailand was easy , as was getting the Myanmar stamp , with the Myanmar Immigration staff as polite as usual .
I didnt venture into Tchilek for shopping this trip due to the amount of people about.
No problems seen.

Pretty quiet today. No special exodus from Myanmar. Got through Immigration in less than 3 minutes both directions.

[Paul888]

kjhbigv, on 2010-11-11 19:01:55, said:

I didn't make it today but hoping to head up and stay in Chiang Rai tomorrow (Fri) and do Visa run on Saturday. Just one question, never been at the weekend....is it open normally on weekends?

Saturday is like a normal day, never tried Sunday. Border closes for Farangs coming back to Thailand at 5.30pm I believe.

[brahmburgers]

Paul888, on 2010-11-11 21:58:37, said:

kjhbigv, on 2010-11-11 19:01:55, said:

I didn't make it today but hoping to head up and stay in Chiang Rai tomorrow (Fri) and do Visa run on Saturday. Just one question, never been at the weekend....is it open normally on weekends?

Saturday is like a normal day, never tried Sunday. Border closes for Farangs coming back to Thailand at 5.30pm I believe.

the border crossing is open seven days a week, even on holidays.

[pomchop]

I just went to the mae sai border today....took less than ten minutes to leave thailand, walk across bridge, check in / out with burma and back into thailand.......handed the burma guy a fresh USA $10 bill and he took it no problem..but he did laugh and say next time he wanted 500 baht....the sign in the window still says either 500 baht or 10 USD...obviously 10 bucks is about 300 baht so bargain to pay in USD instead of baht...BUT they only take nice new bills not old wrinkled or with any rips...

[sceadugenga]

Traffic was very heavy in Mae Sai today, large numbers of stalls encroached onto the road leading to the border and hundreds of people either shopped or walked on the road to get around them. (Including sceadugenga).

[jeebusjones]

I'll probably be heading to Mae Sai this weekend to do a border crossing.  What's the best way to travel from Chiang Rai to the border?  Approximately how long should I expect the trip to take?

Thanks in advance.

[sceadugenga]

It's a straight line on the highway between Chiang Rai and Mae Sai, about 60kms.
If you're driving allow about 40 minutes, if you're on the bus, possibly twice that long.

Edited by sceadugenga, 2011-01-05 21:32:28.

[jeebusjones]

Thanks, Sceadugenga.

[mickeyrex]

FYI Slim has a phone now.  With his permission I'll put it here 0873056754.  For those who don't know he's in Tacheliek and speaks perfect English (used to work for a Kiwi Company). A bit down on his luck, family and all, but can he help you on the the Burmese side of the border.

[BruceBanner]

Just wondering.......is it still possible to stay in Tachilek ? I used to do border runs there a few years back. One time i stayed in Tachilek for 3 nights. Cheers.

[sceadugenga]

There's a thread here about staying in the Regina resort there, I believe an overnight/extended visa is available on arrival at the border.

[brahmburgers]

BruceBanner, on 2011-01-16 20:13:23, said:

Just wondering.......is it still possible to stay in Tachilek ? I used to do border runs there a few years back. One time i stayed in Tachilek for 3 nights. Cheers.

Yes, you can stay in Tachilek overnight. There are several choices.  On the high end there is Mekong Hotel, about 2 Km east (right) from bridge.  Reasonable priced: there's one with internet, can't recall the name, but it's a 3 story white place, just down the hill from the big gold-colored stupa.  My favorite is Erawon, low price and 2 blocks from bridge. Inside it's somewhat like a wood carving museum. If you're an early riser, you can peruse the lively outdoor market next door.

[heybruce]

I heard on the news that due to the earthquake, and the Burma Government's suspicion of news reporters and aid groups, that the Mae Sai/Tachilek border is closed.  Is this true?  If so, I hope someone will post here when it opens again.

[brahmburgers]

I did an overnight in Tachilek last night.  Bicycled several Km all around town. Didn't see any earthquake damage.

No problem getting through the border. Actually border workers seemed a tad bit friendlier than usual, maybe happy to see falang still going to and fro, or just happy a building didn't fall on them.

An American friend did a border run a month ago, and realized too late that he didn't have sufficient amount to meet the 500 baht requirement on the Burmese side.  The officials there took pity on him, and let him slide with a lesser amount, and with a promise to pay them the balance - next time he came by.  

Couldn't find by favorite pie shaped flat pastry (5 baht) at the 3 tea houses I checked. Don't know why. Now, if the Thais could figure out a way to make a decent pastry, I might visit Tachilek less often.

Bought a package of six identical seaweed snacks in Tachilek. Ate one, was tossing and turning all night, feeling yukky. Realized the next morning, the snack had a load of MSG in it.  It's made in China, so that's expected, but I got blindsided.  I took the remaining unopened 5 packages back to the store, and they let me trade it in on another item, no problem.

Earlier in the week, I was blindsided by MSG. That was from a small can of mixed nuts I bought at Big C in C.Rai. They were expensive, and the front label just said 'salted.'  I only found out too late that, to them; 'salted' meant laced with MSG. Next day, after a fitful awful night of no sleep, I rinsed the nuts and put them out to dry in the sun.  No problem after that.

For people who get mildly poisoned by MSG (and there are many others who suffer from the stuff), we'll have to be ever vigilant. It's not enough to simply read labels or tell chefs 'no MSG' or 'mai aow pom charot' in Thai. You've got to assume the vile stuff is being slipped in to all types of food/sauces/soups/snacks. How many restaurants voluntarily mention they use MSG?  answer: NONE.   How many restaurants in SE Asia ask a customer if they want MSG in their meal, or not?  Answer: NONE.