"HI
I was on MV Sai Mai from 17 Feb to 20 Feb 2012 with my family. I have misplaced he contact details for the other three people on the boat and was wondering if you had them and could give them to me ...
I also wanted to mention that I had a great time on the boat, and the staff were terrific."
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Phuket Visa Run
Luca, a friend and colleague of us just went up to Ranong to do his Visa Run from Phuket.
Below a brief description of his trip to Myanmar.
RANONG (Myanmar Casino) VISA RUN UPDATE 2011- by Luca Baberi
"Just to update this Visa run as of this week.
We went in a private car (Vios) and left Kamala Beach at 5.50am arriving comfortably at the Andaman Club pier at 9.42 am and checked through to the 10.00 am ferry.
On arrival at the Myanmar side they had a second ferry to come back.
The Casino hostess had a wheelchair ready for me and asked if I wanted to go straight back.
Answering “Yes” she had someone escort me to the return ferry and scurried off up the pier with my passport and 1000 baht. She returned in a few minutes with a passport stamped in and out of Myanmar and 150 baht change (which I tipped her).
It's 850 baht for return ferry and Visa fee.
I doubt if you could do this without her queue-jumping ability – maybe if you were 1st off and hurried. The ferry is 20 minutes each way and 10 minutes each end loading .
They start at 0830 then hourly from 1000 (excepting 1300 lunchtime) until 1700.
DIRECTIONS UPDATE: 04/01/2011
Head north through Ranong on the dual carriageway HWY 4 through a set of traffic lights.
IGNORE any signs for Thai Immigration.
Firstly on the LHS is a Toyota dealership, then Honda (LHS) and Chevrolet (LHS).
50m further there is an Andaman Club sign and turn Left 160 degrees, doubling back around the barricade to take the 90 degree left turn.
You can no longer take a direct 90 degree Left turn here.
Head down the 90 degree road to a T intersection and turn right.
Keep going straight ahead . Looking for the Multipurpose pier, on Hwy 4044 through a 4 way crossing, (sign in Bronze lettering Andaman Club - keep looking for these) in rural areas, past a fishmeal factory on the Left and two cemeteries on the Right.
Turn Right at the Andaman Club sign and Left at the next Club sign (in Thai!) to the carpark and to the departure lounge.
You need to clear Thai Immigration (make sure you have filled out your Departure card which was stamped on your previous entry and pinned to your passport).
Take an Arrival card and fill out for your return journey.
Then go to the counter near the door where you get your ferry ticket and 3 photocopies of your passport (you pay on arrival in Myanmar – 850 baht.)
Proceed up the pier to the ferry. (VIPs get a golf cart ride! 555)
On disembarkation at the Myanmar side proceed up the jetty to Myanmar Immigration and pay at the next counter your 850 baht (60 baht I think for Thais – no visa required, just ID).
They will return your passport when you leave.
Buses will then take you to the casino and back for the next available ferry to Thailand (on the half-hour). There is a restaurant and some duty free there.
On arrival make sure you go through Thai Immigration again ( or you will be on illegal overstay) where you will get 15 days (or 90 days for One year multiple-entry Visa holders) permission to stay."
Below a brief description of his trip to Myanmar.
RANONG (Myanmar Casino) VISA RUN UPDATE 2011- by Luca Baberi
"Just to update this Visa run as of this week.
We went in a private car (Vios) and left Kamala Beach at 5.50am arriving comfortably at the Andaman Club pier at 9.42 am and checked through to the 10.00 am ferry.
On arrival at the Myanmar side they had a second ferry to come back.
The Casino hostess had a wheelchair ready for me and asked if I wanted to go straight back.
Answering “Yes” she had someone escort me to the return ferry and scurried off up the pier with my passport and 1000 baht. She returned in a few minutes with a passport stamped in and out of Myanmar and 150 baht change (which I tipped her).
It's 850 baht for return ferry and Visa fee.
I doubt if you could do this without her queue-jumping ability – maybe if you were 1st off and hurried. The ferry is 20 minutes each way and 10 minutes each end loading .
They start at 0830 then hourly from 1000 (excepting 1300 lunchtime) until 1700.
DIRECTIONS UPDATE: 04/01/2011
Head north through Ranong on the dual carriageway HWY 4 through a set of traffic lights.
IGNORE any signs for Thai Immigration.
Firstly on the LHS is a Toyota dealership, then Honda (LHS) and Chevrolet (LHS).
50m further there is an Andaman Club sign and turn Left 160 degrees, doubling back around the barricade to take the 90 degree left turn.
You can no longer take a direct 90 degree Left turn here.
Head down the 90 degree road to a T intersection and turn right.
Keep going straight ahead . Looking for the Multipurpose pier, on Hwy 4044 through a 4 way crossing, (sign in Bronze lettering Andaman Club - keep looking for these) in rural areas, past a fishmeal factory on the Left and two cemeteries on the Right.
Turn Right at the Andaman Club sign and Left at the next Club sign (in Thai!) to the carpark and to the departure lounge.
You need to clear Thai Immigration (make sure you have filled out your Departure card which was stamped on your previous entry and pinned to your passport).
Take an Arrival card and fill out for your return journey.
Then go to the counter near the door where you get your ferry ticket and 3 photocopies of your passport (you pay on arrival in Myanmar – 850 baht.)
Proceed up the pier to the ferry. (VIPs get a golf cart ride! 555)
On disembarkation at the Myanmar side proceed up the jetty to Myanmar Immigration and pay at the next counter your 850 baht (60 baht I think for Thais – no visa required, just ID).
They will return your passport when you leave.
Buses will then take you to the casino and back for the next available ferry to Thailand (on the half-hour). There is a restaurant and some duty free there.
On arrival make sure you go through Thai Immigration again ( or you will be on illegal overstay) where you will get 15 days (or 90 days for One year multiple-entry Visa holders) permission to stay."
Monday, February 13, 2012
Rawai Beach - Fancy some Fish?
Where to eat fish and seafood in Rawai Beach, Phuket written by James Bagely
Fancy some Fish?
From Chalong Circle (roundabout), take the 5m dual carriageway south. At the end of this road it turns hard right. If you don’t take this bend, you will find yourself driving down Rawai pier. A clear sign that you have gone wrong somewhere.
100 meters after the right turn the now single lane road opens up onto Rawai Beach. No sun-loungers or umbrellas in sight. At high tied the sea rises all the way up to the sea wall, on the other side of that is a wide footpath lined with a sort of pine tree that runs the whole kilometer length of the beach road. In the water or lying on the sand you will find scores of speedboats and traditional Thai longtail fishing boats. This is a more traditional Thai Fishermans beach, which is why you are here.
At the North end you will find “Nakita’s” bar and restaurant. A popular, western owned and influenced, establishment with Thai lanterns hanging in trees and a view of the sea and the pier at Rawai that remains virtually unused by boats but is popular with pedestrians in the evenings. The pier, simply lit with occasional street lights, makes for a far more attractive picture than the multi-coloured neon lighting that runs along Chalong pier. If you are not hungry you can sit and just have a beer or cocktail, but they also offer a mixture of Thai and Western dishes. If you are missing your traditional English fish, chips and mushy peas, then it is definitely worth a visit. The staff all speak English and it is priced at the tourist. It has some parking.
At the other end of the Beach road is a more Thai style restaurant which, again, overlooks Rawai Beach and Pier. Baan Rawai Sea Food. A more basic ambience, but the sea food makes up for it. You can choose your prawns, fish or crab etc. directly from the tank. Certainly cheaper than its Northerly counterpart, more traditionally Thai and arguably better seafood. It also has its own car park.
My choice, however, is to find somewhere to park along the beach road and find a free table and chairs (Or mat and cushions if you really want Thai style). From there order from one of the many little Thai seafood restaurants that run for about half the length of the beach. The waitresses dance with the traffic to take your orders and serve you some of the most fantastic fish brought in on the longtails that day (or even while you watch sometimes). You still have the sea view and you are on the pavement to take a stroll when you have finished. It is certainly more basic than either of the restaurants, bring your own wine if you want it, but I my opinion the food is better. The locals eat here so it has to be good.
Some options to try:
Just click here for more about Dining out in Phuket ...
Fancy some Fish?
From Chalong Circle (roundabout), take the 5m dual carriageway south. At the end of this road it turns hard right. If you don’t take this bend, you will find yourself driving down Rawai pier. A clear sign that you have gone wrong somewhere.
100 meters after the right turn the now single lane road opens up onto Rawai Beach. No sun-loungers or umbrellas in sight. At high tied the sea rises all the way up to the sea wall, on the other side of that is a wide footpath lined with a sort of pine tree that runs the whole kilometer length of the beach road. In the water or lying on the sand you will find scores of speedboats and traditional Thai longtail fishing boats. This is a more traditional Thai Fishermans beach, which is why you are here.
At the North end you will find “Nakita’s” bar and restaurant. A popular, western owned and influenced, establishment with Thai lanterns hanging in trees and a view of the sea and the pier at Rawai that remains virtually unused by boats but is popular with pedestrians in the evenings. The pier, simply lit with occasional street lights, makes for a far more attractive picture than the multi-coloured neon lighting that runs along Chalong pier. If you are not hungry you can sit and just have a beer or cocktail, but they also offer a mixture of Thai and Western dishes. If you are missing your traditional English fish, chips and mushy peas, then it is definitely worth a visit. The staff all speak English and it is priced at the tourist. It has some parking.
At the other end of the Beach road is a more Thai style restaurant which, again, overlooks Rawai Beach and Pier. Baan Rawai Sea Food. A more basic ambience, but the sea food makes up for it. You can choose your prawns, fish or crab etc. directly from the tank. Certainly cheaper than its Northerly counterpart, more traditionally Thai and arguably better seafood. It also has its own car park.
My choice, however, is to find somewhere to park along the beach road and find a free table and chairs (Or mat and cushions if you really want Thai style). From there order from one of the many little Thai seafood restaurants that run for about half the length of the beach. The waitresses dance with the traffic to take your orders and serve you some of the most fantastic fish brought in on the longtails that day (or even while you watch sometimes). You still have the sea view and you are on the pavement to take a stroll when you have finished. It is certainly more basic than either of the restaurants, bring your own wine if you want it, but I my opinion the food is better. The locals eat here so it has to be good.
Some options to try:
- Tempura (battered) squid : It’s always good but if it is really fresh it’s amazing.
- King Prawns in Tamarind Sauce : Prepare to get sticky.
- Yam Pladook Fu : Flaked catfish fried until crispy then served on a papaya salad with a strong lemon sauce. It usually comes spicey so let the waitress know if don’t want the chillys.
- Fish of the day : either fried, barbequed or, in my opinion, best steamed and with a sauce or flavouring of your option.
Just click here for more about Dining out in Phuket ...
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Customer review - Larry from Canada
"Hi.
Larry Johnston from Canada.
Just wanted to say Thank you to everyone at Easy Day Thailand for all your help during my trip to Thailand and my stay at Phuket. Francesco was extremely helpful in organizing tours and accommodation.
Had a fantastic trip and am looking forward to visiting Thailand again.
Here are few pictures of the snow storm from 2 weeks ago. It was as cold as it looks.
Thank you again.
Larry. "
Larry Johnston from Canada.
Just wanted to say Thank you to everyone at Easy Day Thailand for all your help during my trip to Thailand and my stay at Phuket. Francesco was extremely helpful in organizing tours and accommodation.
Had a fantastic trip and am looking forward to visiting Thailand again.
Here are few pictures of the snow storm from 2 weeks ago. It was as cold as it looks.
Thank you again.
Larry. "
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