Off to Laos within a month! Please read and help me

[supernovadw]

$600 is too dear. $450 at the most. By the way, I have been here 7 years now, so I probably have a bit more Lao experience than you.

Thanks for the info! Could you recommend a company to use?

Of course you have a bit more Lao 'Experience' Alot more I'd say!!! I appreciate any advice you have for me.

Can I please ask what you do for work in Lao? And where you are from in the world? Sorry if you've said already just I've had so many responses and PM's I cant remember who's who ha ha.

Thank again

[Chang yai]

Oh and @ Beerlaodrinker thanks for pointing me towards saiwardz! I sent them an e-mail yesterday and got a reply already, I expected them not to be working until Monday!

Anyhow he advised that they can arrange my business visa which will allow me to stay for a year in Lao, it will allow as many entry/exits as wanted and let me either work or work for myself, price $600 USD which doesn't sound too bad to me!

I will be going to see them once I arrive in Lao and get the visa sorted.

My wife thinks that $600 USD for the visa is too expensive and says she will look around as she is certain we can get it done for cheaper however like I said $600 USD sounds pretty fair to me?

I've been reading this thread with some interest. It's refreshing to see you taking a leap of faith, and good on you for that. However, for what it's worth, with that kind of attitude (and even your missus said "too much", but you know better) you will get eaten alive anywhere in SEA.

[supernovadw]

Oh and @ Beerlaodrinker thanks for pointing me towards saiwardz! I sent them an e-mail yesterday and got a reply already, I expected them not to be working until Monday!

Anyhow he advised that they can arrange my business visa which will allow me to stay for a year in Lao, it will allow as many entry/exits as wanted and let me either work or work for myself, price $600 USD which doesn't sound too bad to me!

I will be going to see them once I arrive in Lao and get the visa sorted.

My wife thinks that $600 USD for the visa is too expensive and says she will look around as she is certain we can get it done for cheaper however like I said $600 USD sounds pretty fair to me?

I've been reading this thread with some interest. It's refreshing to see you taking a leap of faith, and good on you for that. However, for what it's worth, with that kind of attitude (and even your missus said "too much", but you know better) you will get eaten alive anywhere in SEA.

I certainly don't know better! If this was the case then I wouldn't be on here asking for advice! So yeh straight away I thought that it sounded like a fair price but posting on here has told me otherwise so therefore surely you can see that I don't think I know better than anyone else and thank everyone for there advice and comment so far.

I'm not stupid and certainly am not taking a 'Leap of faith' So thanks for the the comments but please believe me that I don't have a closed mind and I am more than open to advise from those who have lived in Laos/who live in Laos now.

Cheers.

[Chang yai]

^um, like mrs supernovadw ?

[Chang yai]

^^ I know your not stupid, my comments were both a commendation to you for your your free thinking and a reminder that those closest to you are a sound reference for things of monetary value in unfamiliar territory. I just don't get it when your wife suggests you are paying 25% to much for a business visa, you fail to take that on board and say that the original price you were quoted is fair enough. I am not negative, so please don't take me that way. Just saying.

[sunsetter]

certainly am not taking a 'Leap of faith'

if your scratching for advise this close to jumping into laos then your certainly taking some sort of leap mate,good luck and all the best, but tread carefully,listen to the missus, or dont, and please if all goes tits up, make sure you post it all on here

[sunsetter]

My auntie who came to Laos when me and my wife got engaged seems to think that I should invest some money in buying a mini bus and starting off a tour/taxi service, she thinks that me being a foreigner would get lots of business

sorry mate, but i dont see how your aunty would know anything about opening a mini bus busniess in laos? care to tell us how? is she laos or english this aunty?

[supernovadw]

^^ I know your not stupid, my comments were both a commendation to you for your your free thinking and a reminder that those closest to you are a sound reference for things of monetary value in unfamiliar territory. I just don't get it when your wife suggests you are paying 25% to much for a business visa, you fail to take that on board and say that the original price you were quoted is fair enough. I am not negative, so please don't take me that way. Just saying.

I understand what your saying and thanks for your commendation of my free thinking. I didn't doubt my wife but she thinks that everything is expensive so was just a little dubious as I always am when she says something is expensive ha ha. But yeh me being on this forum has certainly helped and I now realise that the original price of $600 USD Was infact too much so I shall look elsewhere. Cheers

[supernovadw]

certainly am not taking a 'Leap of faith'

if your scratching for advise this close to jumping into laos then your certainly taking some sort of leap mate,good luck and all the best, but tread carefully,listen to the missus, or dont, and please if all goes tits up, make sure you post it all on here

Yeh I suppose you are right in a way, I'm certainly taking a gamble with moving away from here where I earn a decent amount and have a good life however if I don't try then I'll never know and even if it doesn't work then I can just come back to the UK and start back off where I left so not the end of the world huh?

[supernovadw]

My auntie who came to Laos when me and my wife got engaged seems to think that I should invest some money in buying a mini bus and starting off a tour/taxi service, she thinks that me being a foreigner would get lots of business

sorry mate, but i dont see how your aunty would know anything about opening a mini bus busniess in laos? care to tell us how? is she laos or english this aunty?

Again you are correct it was only a suggestion from her, she is from the UK however I do value her advice very much so as she has done very well for herself business wise and has spent time living in third world countries.

What she is saying is just from her very small experience of Laos. She thinks that a foreigner and a Lao person (Me and my wife) Doing tours would do very well as we would be approachable and could put both our knowledge and language abilities together to provide a unique service.

In short just an idea hey? Big problem would of course be the large investment needed in the first place...

[jizzybloke]

Aunty, I thought you had no other family apart from your Mum?

[Cujo]

Aunty, I thought you had no other family apart from your Mum?

Inconsistencies don't go down well here on TD.
You better have a good explanation for that.

[Davis Knowlton]

^I think it's ok if you're just making up the entire thread as you go along........

[beerlaodrinker]

Inconsistencies don't go down well here on TD.

^ What he said, but back to your business visa, ive had a few mates get business visas sorted out for there girlfriends (Filipinos ) so that they neednt keep doing visa runs, i seem to recall it was about $450 or $500 as VB said, but dont forget you are paying mr Sai $600 under the Table for a " Business Visa " when you dont in fact actually have a business in Laos, this would seem to me to be a great deal , corruption at its best, you got to love it when its working for you eh, sure as fuk cant do that in Thailand for $600 , kunts keep making you leave the country, as for your licence dont worry to much about it i havent been pulled over for years, Though did get the wheels clamped a couple of times for parking on the wrong side of the street,but they are considerate enough to leave a post it note on the windscreen with there mobile number so you can bell them to come and take it of, ........for a small fee of course, They didnt seem to concerned about the fact that i was parked outside the texmex bar and was 3 parts pissed

[Cujo]

^I think it's ok if you're just making up the entire thread as you go along........

Ah, right.

[supernovadw]

Aunty, I thought you had no other family apart from your Mum?

Inconsistencies don't go down well here on TD.
You better have a good explanation for that.

You can believe what you like but I can assure you that I am not making anything up! After all what on earth would be the point?

My mother is my only close family, I do have an Auntie also. I only mentioned my mother as I would not want to leave her in the UK on her own whereas my Aunt is perfectly well settled with her own business and good income etc... So yeh that is the truth and my explanation. If you think I'm talking bollocks then fair enough but I am certainly not!

As for the visa my Mrs is looking around for me to see different prices from different companies however worst case scenario $600 USD Isn't the end of the world.

I shall be booking my flight this week, I think I'll be heading out on the 15th February as I am attending an eleven day intensive custom painting course in the UK prior to leaving.

I shall keep this thread up to date when I'm there regardless of what I'm doing so if anyone thinks I'm some random weirdo making the entire thread up because I'm bored then it shall prove otherwise.

Now need to buy my self a massive case as I'll be taking my tools with me and also shall need a good luggage allowance as I also want to take my motorbike kit with me etc..

[jizzybloke]

I don't not believe you but after a few mentions of your Mum being the only family you have and now an Auntie appears, makes no odds to me.

Best of luck on the move and I am wanting to visit Lao at some point so if and when I do I'll happily buy you a beer!

[Neo]

Spray guns etc and all the consumables are readily available out there, at least I saw plenty in Isaan, copies mostly but hey you're not going to be painting 10 a day, but don't underestimate the local talent, they are just as capable of doing good quality repairs with far less resources and for much lower pay, so if you think you'll make a living out of car repairs you need to get the rosy specs off.

It's pointless lugging your tools all the way to Laos, for one if you really need tools you can get buy them cheaply, and two if it all goes pear shape you may just end up leaving them all there because you can't afford the excess.

Better to leave them locked up at home for a rainy day, as replacing them in the UK costs a lot of money.

The only way you might find a niche is if you have some one back home interested in taking parts for rare stuff like VW or Vespa, which you can find out there. Get the locals to do the repairs and fabrication and make some money on shipping. Though most of the easily sourced vans and scooters have been had, there are always new finds and it comes down to contacts back home.

Bottom line, why go half way round the world to start a new life and end up grubbing around in a third rate workshop, sweating your nadgers off for rice money..? Better to leave your stuff at home and if need be return there and do a bit of contracting for 6 months a year to make some dirty cash.

[Chang yai]

^ now that is sound advise, neo. Why would anyone want to slave away 10 hours a day for what you could earn in one hour in the uk? Go back home once a year and earn enough to live of for the balance of the yeo in Laos. I know you want to keep busy, but that docent sound like fun. If your not gonna earn f all, then do something that is at least a bit of fun...

Like selling beers to fat Falangs, they would love to hear your advise on living in Laos and where to go and what to see.

[Gravesend Dave]

Spray guns etc and all the consumables are readily available out there, at least I saw plenty in Isaan, copies mostly but hey you're not going to be painting 10 a day, but don't underestimate the local talent, they are just as capable of doing good quality repairs with far less resources and for much lower pay, so if you think you'll make a living out of car repairs you need to get the rosy specs off.

It's pointless lugging your tools all the way to Laos, for one if you really need tools you can get buy them cheaply, and two if it all goes pear shape you may just end up leaving them all there because you can't afford the excess.

Better to leave them locked up at home for a rainy day, as replacing them in the UK costs a lot of money.

The only way you might find a niche is if you have some one back home interested in taking parts for rare stuff like VW or Vespa, which you can find out there. Get the locals to do the repairs and fabrication and make some money on shipping. Though most of the easily sourced vans and scooters have been had, there are always new finds and it comes down to contacts back home.

Bottom line, why go half way round the world to start a new life and end up grubbing around in a third rate workshop, sweating your nadgers off for rice money..? Better to leave your stuff at home and if need be return there and do a bit of contracting for 6 months a year to make some dirty cash.

If Laos is anything like Issan for tools I would bring yours with you,most are cheap rubbish that wont last five minutes and you wont be happy with them.
If you find good quality tools to buy they will be just as expensive as in the U.K.

One of my biggest mistakes was selling everything before coming here with the belief that it would not be needed,or could easily be replaced cheaply.WRONG!

I would advise flying to Laos first with suitcase possessions needed then arranged for anything else to be shipped once you have found your feet.

As for returning to the U.K for work that for me would only be an option if the planned move does not work out.
The reason being long absences from your wife is not going to do your marriage any favours.

Give it your best shot mate and if for whatever reason it does not happen for you,work on the wife,s visa to take her back with yuh.

Your well motivated with a balanced outlook on life so think your turn something up.

All the best young man

[supernovadw]

I don't not believe you but after a few mentions of your Mum being the only family you have and now an Auntie appears, makes no odds to me.

Best of luck on the move and I am wanting to visit Lao at some point so if and when I do I'll happily buy you a beer!

At the moment my head is all over the place as I've got so much on my mind like I'm sure you realise so if I've omitted anything by mistake then apologies.

Well I will certainly be in Laos shortly so if you decide to come for a trip for a few days I will gladly take you up on your offer of a beer Thanks!

[supernovadw]

Spray guns etc and all the consumables are readily available out there, at least I saw plenty in Isaan, copies mostly but hey you're not going to be painting 10 a day, but don't underestimate the local talent, they are just as capable of doing good quality repairs with far less resources and for much lower pay, so if you think you'll make a living out of car repairs you need to get the rosy specs off.

It's pointless lugging your tools all the way to Laos, for one if you really need tools you can get buy them cheaply, and two if it all goes pear shape you may just end up leaving them all there because you can't afford the excess.

Better to leave them locked up at home for a rainy day, as replacing them in the UK costs a lot of money.

The only way you might find a niche is if you have some one back home interested in taking parts for rare stuff like VW or Vespa, which you can find out there. Get the locals to do the repairs and fabrication and make some money on shipping. Though most of the easily sourced vans and scooters have been had, there are always new finds and it comes down to contacts back home.

Bottom line, why go half way round the world to start a new life and end up grubbing around in a third rate workshop, sweating your nadgers off for rice money..? Better to leave your stuff at home and if need be return there and do a bit of contracting for 6 months a year to make some dirty cash.

Thanks for your advice!

I am aware that tools are available however alot of it certainly isn't very good quality, I have looked at it before and nothing was particularly great in all honesty.

As for the consumables yes of course they available however I must disagree with you about everything being available the same as in the west and certainly on the whole again they are not brilliant quality. A friend runs a bodyshop in Sattahip, Thailand and has told me that alot of stuff is hard to find, for example he buys his primer from the UK and has it sent over because he can't find a quality product there! It's the same with the lacquer, the average Nippon brand that your day to day side of the road workshop uses has no UV protection in what so ever! So yeh I must admit that from what I've been told by my friend who is in the trade in Thailand I do disagree about the same quality of tools and products being available compared to the west. Don't get me wrong I wont be loading my case up to the brim with tools as I'm unsure what I will end up doing but I shall take a few essentials just in case.

As for the local work yes some of it does look OK but alot of it isn't very durable, as I said the average side the road painters generally use very poor quality products which don't last especially with all the sun you get. The other thing they do in Thailand (Not sure about Laos) Is wet flat filler which causes the paint to crack after several months.

I'm going to be going there very open minded so please don't get me wrong. If I do start something in the motor trade I would like to start off properly so certainly wouldn't be slaving away in a dusty open sided workshop doing just as the locals are as like you are saying it would be stupid.

The bottom line is that it's not possible for me and my wife to live a proper married life being in different countries so we need to make a decision what to do so I don't want to be spending half the year in the UK Working to be able to live in Laos for six months I need to make a stable background and life for us.

Going to Laos is going to be a step backwards at first I am completley aware of this but I don't mind in all honesty as anything is a start! Even if I do just start off by just making enough to get by then it's a start and a base to move forwards on.

I'm just going to go and try, if I don't try and I will never know so it's got to be worth a go?

I'm not rich by any means but I'm certainly not going to Laos with nothing. I do have enough money to live on and start off plus some saved in case it doesn't work.

Thanks for your advice!

[supernovadw]

^ now that is sound advise, neo. Why would anyone want to slave away 10 hours a day for what you could earn in one hour in the uk? Go back home once a year and earn enough to live of for the balance of the yeo in Laos. I know you want to keep busy, but that docent sound like fun. If your not gonna earn f all, then do something that is at least a bit of fun...

Like selling beers to fat Falangs, they would love to hear your advise on living in Laos and where to go and what to see.

Yep I agree it is good advice on the whole and I'm glad to hear everyone's opinions! I don't want to be slaving away for ten hours a day for an hours wage in the UK, there is no point we me trying to directly compete with the average side of the road Lao garage as they are of course going to be willing to make less than me.

If I do start doing a bit of mechanics and bodywork I would definetley focus on the higher end of the scale as there as you say would be no point on working for nothing.

As I said in the above post I want to make a stable life and don't want to be going backwards and forwards from Laos to the UK and me and my wife living apart as we are doing now.

Also as I've said and as you have mentioned I also want to keep busy whilst there, I know to you and to most people working with cars/Bikes doesn't sound fun but I must admit that I do enjoy it 90% Of the time.

You say about selling beers to old Farangs and giving advice do you mean setting up a bar or tour agency?

Cheers!

[supernovadw]

Sorry just made a duplicate post!

[supernovadw]

Spray guns etc and all the consumables are readily available out there, at least I saw plenty in Isaan, copies mostly but hey you're not going to be painting 10 a day, but don't underestimate the local talent, they are just as capable of doing good quality repairs with far less resources and for much lower pay, so if you think you'll make a living out of car repairs you need to get the rosy specs off.

It's pointless lugging your tools all the way to Laos, for one if you really need tools you can get buy them cheaply, and two if it all goes pear shape you may just end up leaving them all there because you can't afford the excess.

Better to leave them locked up at home for a rainy day, as replacing them in the UK costs a lot of money.

The only way you might find a niche is if you have some one back home interested in taking parts for rare stuff like VW or Vespa, which you can find out there. Get the locals to do the repairs and fabrication and make some money on shipping. Though most of the easily sourced vans and scooters have been had, there are always new finds and it comes down to contacts back home.

Bottom line, why go half way round the world to start a new life and end up grubbing around in a third rate workshop, sweating your nadgers off for rice money..? Better to leave your stuff at home and if need be return there and do a bit of contracting for 6 months a year to make some dirty cash.

If Laos is anything like Issan for tools I would bring yours with you,most are cheap rubbish that wont last five minutes and you wont be happy with them.
If you find good quality tools to buy they will be just as expensive as in the U.K.

One of my biggest mistakes was selling everything before coming here with the belief that it would not be needed,or could easily be replaced cheaply.WRONG!

I would advise flying to Laos first with suitcase possessions needed then arranged for anything else to be shipped once you have found your feet.

As for returning to the U.K for work that for me would only be an option if the planned move does not work out.
The reason being long absences from your wife is not going to do your marriage any favours.

Give it your best shot mate and if for whatever reason it does not happen for you,work on the wife,s visa to take her back with yuh.

Your well motivated with a balanced outlook on life so think your turn something up.

All the best young man

Thanks for your advice again mate! I agree that alot of the tools in Thailand are cheap rubbish and Laos certainly isn't any better! Like you said if you did find decent stuff it would be expensive (Probably more than the UK!) So I shall take a few of my own tools with me.

As you suggested I will take the essentials with me and see how it goes for six months then if needs by I can always send my other possessions later on once I've decided what is happening.

I also completley agree with you about not wanting to go backwards and forwards between here and Laos as I need to make a stable life for the both of us, this certainly doesn't include me and my wife living thousands of miles apart.

I am going to do just as you said and just give it a go. I won't jump in to anything and squander all my money I'm just going to go with my eyes wide open and try my best! After all the worst case scenario is I end up going back to the UK and starting back off where I left.

Thanks for your kind comments!