Visa run by train to Padang Besar/ Malaysia

**colourful-era** · 14-03-2008, 07:07 PM

Planning on doing a visa run to here next month (from BK)- anyone done it recently and know if it is straightforward enough (just want 30 day visa exemption)?

**Thetyim** · 14-03-2008, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by colourful-era

just want 30 day visa exemption

That would be a border run then, not a visa run

**klongmaster** · 14-03-2008, 07:29 PM

why would you drag all the way to Malaysia when you can just run across to Cambo...

**colourful-era** · 15-03-2008, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by Thetyim

That would be a border run then, not a visa run

I disagree - it could still be termed a 'visa run' as I am going there to obtain a 'visa exempt' entry - perhaps this could be discussed in the teachers' forum?

As for Cambodia - my problem is that I have no pages left in my passport for a Cambodian visa and need to delay buying a new one until after this trip.

So , back to the original question - anyone done this trip before and what is Pedang Besar like for a one night stop-over?

**Thetyim** · 15-03-2008, 10:41 AM

"Visa Exempt" means that you don't need a visa and that no visa is involved.
Therefore it is not a visa run.

By your logic you could call it a "daffodil and kitchen run" because they aren't involved either.

**colourful-era** · 15-03-2008, 10:56 AM

no, that would be by your logic..

Perhaps it should be better called a 'Refugee run' as that is basically what it is.

**lom** · 15-03-2008, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by Thetyim

By your logic you could call it a "daffodil and kitchen run" because they aren't involved either.

Tried to green you, but couldn't..

**Hootad Binky** · 15-03-2008, 11:53 AM

Originally Posted by lom

Originally Posted by Thetyim

By your logic you could call it a "daffodil and kitchen run" because they aren't involved either.

Tried to green you, but couldn't..

I did

Why are you taking that hideous train (I take it you haven't seen the train/bedbug thread)? I did a visa run to Penang by train once and it was awful. Uncomfortable.

"1st class" was being refrigerated and shivering under a towel that they called a blanket but was a pathetic thin towel and I had to wear earplugs to sleep so prepare to drink yourself into a stupour. Stay in 2nd class, much warmer but noisier. But the worst thing was how slow the train was. Slooooooooooow. My previous experience with trains in Asia had been the Shinkansen from Sendai to Tokyo. Often the train stops for no apparent reason, for very long periods, over and over again. Second time I took a bus, also dreadful, but in unique ways all its own. Last time flew: much better.

**dirtydog** · 15-03-2008, 01:30 PM

The train takes about 19 hours to get from Bangkok to Padang Besar, need to get totally pissed to sleep, you get there in the morning, then you can get the train back in the afternoon, not a lot to do there, you could also just get a mini bus back to Hatyai and travel back to Bangkok from there.

**colourful-era** · 16-03-2008, 04:04 PM

^what's on the Malaysian side of the border as I will be stopping for one night there? - don't fancy two 19 hr train journeys back to back.

Originally Posted by Hootad Binky

My previous experience with trains in Asia had been the Shinkansen from Sendai to Tokyo

can't see much point in comparing a Japanese train to a Thai one - they could hardly be expected to be of the same standard -btw - it's either 2k on a train or 8K on a flight to KL (a place I'd rather not bother with).

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