Thread: Penang Visa Run

Originally Posted by aging one

You came on here with questions. You were given answers you took great delight in disregarding. In the end what was you aim?

I was hoping (not expecting) that somebody here would have personally done the visa run and could ...... "give me the details on the fastest Penang visa run by train?". By details I mean all train times (or link) and details of bus or minibus connection if relevant.

And had somebody had personal experience they could then maybe answer any follow up questions I may have. He could have told me if I was imagining things when I thought visa application submitted same day. I'm sure you appreciate information sharing on forums from people who have direct first hand recent experience.

I received replies none of which answered the question. Fly there, go to Vientiane, learn thai and phone somebody. You linked me to a discontinued train service.

In a parallel universe some people on finding they have given obsolete information might say "Ooops sorry about that". On finding the sticky link info page is outdated they may say "Ah well spotted, that needs to be changed".

I appreciate people are trying to be helpful but nobody seems to have direct first hand recent experience. I "disregarded" the answers because they did not answer my question. Yes I may fly there but I would still like details on the rail route. Yes I have considered Vientiane. Yes I have learned Thai and will ask somebody. No I cannot get the BKK-Butterworth train because there is not one.

You seem to be miffed. Not sure why. I have been courteous and expressed gratitude. I have not been insulting. If I choose to disregard advice why should that bring rebuke from you.

Originally Posted by aging one

It cant be done by rail anymore.

Are you now saying its impossible to get to Penang by rail?

Anyhow, I'll find out the details one way or another and then should I go Penang by rail there will be at least one person here who has done it and got the Tshirt.

I'm so glad that Aging One did not derail your plans.

Err, given your previous experience, your evident close working knowledge of the varying timetables that have existed, and may still do so, and your enthusiasm for travelling by train in a region of which you have an interest and some firsthand experience, why the fuck don't you just get your sorry, ungrateful arse down to fucking Hualampong and buy a fucking ticket wherever and see if you can make it. The worst thing that could happen to you is that you might be abducted by terrorists, eviscerated and then hanged from a fucking tree.

And when you get to Georgetown, book yourself into any one of hundreds of fucking hotels covering every budget from backpacker crud to luxury and then get up early in the fucking morning, hail a taxi and find yourself 10 minutes later at the fucking consulate where you will find an application form which you could try completing yourself and then submit together with any other evidence required including your photo and the fucking fee, you weird little wanker.

You sound Welsh to me. You're not him, are you?

DenDee; Last week the trains were canceled because of the floods in the south. All the trains stopped in Chumphon when you switched to submarines for the rest of the trip.

Last word is the trains are back up and running..

Good luck.

If you want first hand recent information, you could try using a new thing on the inter-web called "Google".

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

just get your sorry, ungrateful arse down to fucking Hualampong and buy a fucking ticket

You are a friendly chap aren't you.

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

The worst thing that could happen to you is that you might be abducted by terrorists, eviscerated and then hanged from a fucking tree.

I get it now. You are just trying to toughen me up for the terrible experience that may befall me.

Chill out. no need for such a savage response. I merely asked a polite question on a forum. Perhaps you are miffed because I did not find your comment "The service from Besar to Butterworth is a stopping route which I should imagine would be fucking tedious in the extreme." insightful and helpful.

Originally Posted by toddaniels

Last word is the trains are back up and running..

Yes its important to check rail status beforehand. That is assuming I don't follow Seekingasylum's advice of just getting my sorry arse down to Hualampong and buying a ticket.

Originally Posted by toddaniels

If you want first hand recent information, you could try using a new thing on the inter-web called "Google"...

People here seem to be miffed because I have not given their replies the merit they think they deserve. Fair enough but come on what sort of response should I give to advice like try Googling.

btw - This is the official Thai Railways site ...Check Timetable & Fares : State Railway of Thailand Can you find out Hat Yai > Padang Besar train times ?. I get not found!

This is the official Penang Thai Consultate site click here Can you toggle language to English?

Originally Posted by DenDee

This is the official Penang Thai Consultate site click here Can you toggle language to English?

No but you can Google translate it if you suspect that there is important info written in Thai only.

I seem to have ruffled feathers. Let me clarify and conclude.

I seemed to recall in the past submitting visa application on arrival day. I may be wrong. Thats why I asked in the OP. If so I wanted to check the earliest I could get to Penang and latest submission times. Makes sense yes.

I went to countless sites and collected information. The problem was no site had a complete A-Z with all the details and it was questionable how reliable (up to date) the information was on some sites. After spending hours and pulling my hair out (TIT) I thought I'd post here because there may be somebody who regularly does the Penang Visa Run by train who could give me the A-Z. For all I knew there could be a visa agent on a moped meeting the ferry and zooming off to the consulate with applications. This is the point. I dont know so thought it worth a punt seeing if anybody here was in the know, In retrospect I should have simply asked " hey anybody here done a Penang Visa Run by train recently?" then taken it from there.

As it turns out nobody here has first hand experience. I appreciate folk are trying to be helpful but they should not get miffed if I find the info not as helpful as they think is it. I wanted to keep the OP fairly brief so did not go into an account of all the factors involved or information I already knew. I know there is a plane. I know I can go to Vientiane. I know sitting on a train can be tediuous. I know there is a thing called Google.

For me its like asking a bloke on the street "hey mate is there a fish and chip shop here" and him saying "well there's a chinese takeaway on the next street" or "have you tried the yellow pages". Its my fault, I should just say "cheers mate" instead of pointing out the bleedin obvious.

Its no big deal. I can get there on my own steam and find out for myself where the stepping stones are. I thank you all for your replies and at least I've learned a little about the nature of this site and its inhabitants.

Originally Posted by lom

No but you can Google translate it if you suspect that there is important info written in Thai only.

Good point. I've never used translation for fear of lost in translation. I just wanted to check from an authoritative source on visa submission collection times and use of agents.

Since it seems arrival is the day before application there's no need to find out in advance since plenty of time.

It's amazing but no surprise the site is not in English.

Originally Posted by DenDee

I know I can go to Vientiane

Then why don't you! Is your goal to get a visa or travel to Penang? You can travel by train all the way from Bangkok to Vientiane with one change in Nong Khai. Once at the Vientiane train station you can get a visa on arrival. All can be done with plenty of time to submit a visa application. You will have to overnight in Vientiane because you can't pick up the visa until next day.

If this is an unacceptable alternative to your seemingly rigid position here then go figure out a way to travel by train to Penang and have an Indian get you a visa whilst you bask in the sun having a beer.

Originally Posted by Norton

Then why don't you!

What a strange thing to say.

I'm aware of all the visa run options but not all the relevant details. I'm in the process of gathering information on the options one by one. Then, I will make an informed decision. My post here was a specific question about one option.

I'm not rigid in terms of decision but am in terms of what is an answer to a question. If I ask how to make a Spanish Omelette, whilst a recipe for quiche may be useful to know, its not an answer to the question. It would be an answer if I asked for suggestions on what to have for dinner, which I didn't.

I asked about Penang, you told me about Vientiane. I politely thanked you but you seem to be miffed I didn't throw any thought of eating omelette out the window the moment I was given a recipe for quiche. And when I say I know about the existance of quiche you get angry and ask why dont you eat it then. Jeeez.

PS - I know how to get to Penang, the question was whether there was any combination of train and bus to get there in time to submit visa application the same day.

I'm done here and hope other members ignore this thread as well.

Originally Posted by DenDee

the question was whether there was any combination of train and bus to get there in time to submit visa application the same day.

I've given you an alternative to be able to do so but you insist on pedantic nonsense about Penang.

Originally Posted by DenDee

you seem to be miffed

Hardly. Quite familiar with fuckwits as you popping into the forum and asking dumb ass questions.

Here is the place to go for your A-Z process.
Thailand Visa Forum | Thailand Information and News
Enjoy.

Seekingasylum's true identity revealed!




EDIT

Won't link the video for some reason. Well worth the watch though!

The consulate is open in the morning and afternoon in two sessions. Apply in the morning for whatever and receive your visa the next day in the afternoon.

It's all there to be found.

The OP is, I suspect, Can123 revisiting. He does seem to think in Welsh and very much writes like one.

DO NOT believe anything anyone tells you on this site. Much better to ask over at Thai Visa.

Originally Posted by Dillinger

fly there with Air Asia, its only around 4,500 baht if you book a month in advance. Stay for 2 nights, there's loads of cheap accomodation there or sleep on the street or beach, its warm enough. The return flight is 17.30 so you should make it with ease

I used the ferry from Satun Langkawi then another to Penang after I noticed the Air Asia flight had a long layover in KL from Krabi. Ferry terminates near China town..Cheap excellent accommodation opposite red market...called the Waldorf..55
Sorry not much help if you are coming from BKK...why not go to Vientiane?