OK so this one is going to be short and sweet or maybe not so sweet. Some of you may know that I ran into some problems with my 1 year VISA. Those that don’t know, here you go; I was told to re-appy 1 month before my visa was up, wrong; 3 months. I didn’t have enough time to get it done so after hiring a lawyer, spending almost$1500/US and losing lot’s of sleep it is almost all finished. Part of what I had to do was go to the country of Lao to get another 3 month visa for Thailand so while my paper work is going through for the 1 year, I could stay here without any problem.

 I was to wait for the call from the lawyer and then had to go to Lao, I got that call the day I had 4 friends coming to Thailand and just 2 days before Christmas, great. I had 1 very hurried day with my friends and the next evening I was off on my Visa journey. First class bus, first class my butt…They stopped about 12 times, had some engine trouble, drove like a mad man, had the AC on full (we all were freezing) and they threw every bit of trash from everyone on the bus out the window! Bottles, cans, tissues, I was very angry…Then got in to the bus station at 3 AM and had to get to another station by tuk tuk, wait for another bus and then to the Lao boarder. At the second bus station I met a guy from France, 1 from Belgium and his Thai girlfriend, we continued on together.

 Got to the Thai Embassy, applied for the new visa, quick, cheap and painless, “come back tomorrow to pick it up”. Then we found a hotel, got some food and a nap, nice afternoon. I felt like I was being cheated and pushed around everywhere in this place, I hear the rest of the country is great but the capital of Vientein has seen the last of me. We spent Christmas eve, playing pool, drinking beer and dancing. I was now hanging out in addition to the already international group now we were with some people from Lao and China. Lot’s of fun but a very different Christmas.

 Christmas day, I had about 4 cups of coffee, a chicken burger and finished reading a great book, Forget you Have a Daughter. Now it’s time to get on the bus and spend the rest of the day and night back to Thailand. The trip back took about16 hours but I was sitting nest to a very interesting man from Croatia. This made the trip pleasant well at least the bus ride back. It was an OK trip over all and I am leaving a bit out and not posting any pictures, I only took 5 anyway.

 Now I just have one trip to City Hall and then 1 more to the Thai Embassy here in Chiang Mai and I should be all set for the year. Now I know what to do if I am going to come back, this info will save lot’s of time and money…Anything for the kids, I love them. Peace and Happy New Year.