International Volunteering can be an extremely valuable way to travel, make quality friends, learn about a new place and culture, and come away with unparalleled experiences.  Some of my most interesting stories and adventures have been the result of a few spontaneous voluntours I have gotten into.

In the Philippines I had some incredible times volunteering with an organization called Gawad Kalinga.  I helped a family do a little bit of construction in Payatas, checked out a few house building projects, and talked to many caring locals.  The local’s I met were eager to tell me stories, share their culinary delicacies (another reason I travel), and show me an unfamiliar to tourists side of the Philippines.  In Iriga City I was visiting a local community and somehow the local tourism authority heard a white person was in town and came to scoop me up and interview me like a celebrity (I kept playing the part).  Soon I was sipping cafe with the ministry of tourism, but in reality, I had no idea what I was doing or where I was.

While perspiring our way down a random road in Bali, Dwight Turner and I, walked past a sign that said Life House Children’s Home.  We looked at each other and said, “hey, let’s just step in and say hello to the kids, instead of continuing on to the beach,” which was our original plan.  Next we found ourselves at the fish market buying kilos of fresh fish with the Orphanage Dad that turned into an exciting and delicious meal for the entire orphanage.  We also spent time playing football, telling stories, and goofing around with the 20 or so kids.  In Bangkok, Dwight heads-up In Search of Sanuk, and organization dedicated to having fun while helping others!

Even though I’m just an average person who usually just wanders around a random place, I’ve had these and many more awesome adventures by spontaneously bumping into situations where help could be used.

No matter what your interest, skill, or hobby, there is an opportunity for you to be utilized as a willing  volunteer.  If you are a medical doctor, a construction worker, a day laborer, an artist, a joker, or simply an English speaker, you can find your niche.  That being said, volunteer placement and reality can be a daunting task and you might find yourself wading through a bunch of irrelevant information or programs that charge hefty fees.

That is where The Underground Guide to International Volunteering e-guide by Kristy Henderson comes into play, providing valuable resources to make volunteering a reality.  Kristy has been a traveling volunteer with various organizations for many years and she specializes in volunteering with organizations that don’t charge an arm and a leg for their services.  She has experienced a diverse range of volunteer programs, conducted acute research, and formulated this valuable resource.

Is volunteering right for you? Should I pay to volunteer? Is it possible to volunteer for free? What do I do next to start volunteering?  Kristy covers all these topics as well as thinking through a number of variables that you might not consider without prior experience.

There are two main things that strike me as being extremely useful in this e-guide.  First, it covers places to volunteer and gives advice on how to volunteer for FREE or just paying minimum personal living costs.  Next, it provides credible information by exposing honest thoughts and interviews from fellow volunteers in a diverse range of fields.  People that have participated in organized pay to volunteer programs, people who have chased natural disasters, people who have taught English, and others who have done random jobs, all express some of their honest opinions.

Figuring out the right organization to volunteer with can be a stressful task when making plans from an outside country and this guide is a great help.  If you are curious about international volunteering or want to get involved, The Underground Guide to International Volunteering is surely worthwhile.  In an effort to raise $10,000 for Hands on Disaster Relief, Kristy is selling her e-guide for $14.  If you want great advice for international volunteering and possibilities that exist, get a copy of the guide here.

With only positive and building experiences and awesome times I’ve had, volunteering is an awesome thing to consider, even if it’s just for a day or two or for a month or extended period of time!

-Migration Mark

It’s quite an easy process to travel from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, to Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei in a single day.  I recently took the journey completely hassle free, comfortable, and arrived safely.

Kota Kinabalu to Brunei in 1 Day

1. Get to Jesselton Point Ferry Pier in Kota Kinabalu the afternoon before departure in order to purchase a ferry ticket for the next morning
2. You have to take 2 different ferries to Brunei, 1st to Labuan riding the Labuan Express Tiga vessel (duty free port in Malaysia), 2nd to Serasa Ferry Terminal, Muara, in Brunei riding the Seri Anna vessel
3. Purchase both ferry tickets at Jesselton Point, Kota Kinabalu, for a package deal costing 56 Malaysian Ringgits
4. The ferry boat will leave Kota Kinabalu at 8 am so arrive at the jetty around 7.30 am
5. You will watch some shoot-em up horrible film on the ferry and soon after arrive in Labuan at about 11 am
6. The next ferry to Brunei will leave at 1:30 pm, so you have a bit of time to mess around, shop for duty free chocolate, alcohol, etc. (Note: If you leave the ferry terminal, you will be charged an extra 5 Ringgits for ferry terminal tax)
7. The ferry to Serasa Ferry Terminal in Brunei will take a little over 1 hour and you will arrive about 3 pm
8. From the terminal dock, Bardar Seri Begawan is still 30 km away.  You have 3 options,

• Take a taxi- B $20
• Wait for a bus (could take an hour or more)- B $2
• Take a taxi to the small bus terminal in Muara 5 minutes away- B $5, and then take the bus to city center- B $1

Note: Confirm all time and prices as they do tend to fluctuate.

You will arrive at the central bus station in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei around 4 pm.  From there, most things of interest, including places to rest, are within easy walking distance.

Brunei to Kota Kinabalu in 1 Day

1. Get to the central bus terminal dock in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei by about 6:30 am in order to catch the bus (B $2) to the Serasa Ferry Terminal (bus will be market to ferry terminal)
2. The bus should leave anywhere from 6:45 am to 7 am depending on demand and arrive at the ferry terminal close to 7:45 am
3. Buy the ferry ticket to Labuan which will cost B $17 and leave at about 8:30 am
4. When you arrive in Labuan at about 10 am, immediately go through immigration, then exit the terminal, and head to the ticket counter to buy a ticket to Kota Kinabalu at 1 pm (34 Malaysian Ringgits)
5. You will have about 3 hours to mosey around, eat, and shop
6. The ferry to Kota Kinabalu will depart at 1 pm and arrive about 3 hours later

Don’t forget to indulge in some spectacular seafood while back in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia!

The Songkran Festival in Thailand (traditional Thai New Years) is the biggest and most sought after holiday on the Thai calendar.  Songkran is usually thought of as a few inebriated day of throwing buckets of water and shooting water guns where everyone is a target.  However, with 66 million Thai inhabitants, there must be a bigger picture, so I turned to 27 of my Thai students to get a more local picture of what characterizes Songkran.

Tallying the results and analyzing the trends I came up with a single sentence that I think sums up what the Songkran Festival is for many Thai people.  Songkran is a long holiday to spend time being happy and excited with family and friends, respecting elders, going to the temple, playing with water, and eating seafood. Below are the results with what I think are the most interesting answers, followed by the highest number of responses.   I will let the interviews speak for themselves and hope you enjoy!

photo courtesy of Takeaway

“Best Holiday in Thailand” – 18 of 27 Students think that the Songkran Festival is the best holiday in Thailand.

1.  What is the first thought that comes to mind when you think of “Songkran”?

exciting and attractive people playing, water wet laugh, funny wet enjoy, water (5), happy (2), exciting (2), visit my family (2), water funny, water festival, water in Silom, water and friends, water and people, hot, fantastic, exciting water, happy relaxation, don’t work, long holiday, time to relax

2.  Do you mostly spend time with family or friends?

family (18), both (5), friends (4),

3.  What is the Songkran Festival for you?

a time for me to get wet, enjoy people in Thailand, it’s time for family, go out and eat at some restaurants, meet my family (10), play water with my friends (4), have a party with my family (3), a time relax (3), drink, a time that I go to my house, a time to see movies

4.  What kind of food does your family usually eat for Songkran?

Thai food (my grandma cooks for everyone!), ice drinks, ice cream, Thai food and perhaps some alcohol, seafood (12), Chinese food (3),  pizza (2), many kinds of soup (2), seafood- crab/shrimp/squid, Issan food, grilled seafood, roasted chicken, tomyum gung, same food as usual, suki yaki, noodles, som tam

5.  What is your favorite thing about Songkran?

i’m soaked, everyone is happy, put the water with water gun to people, shooting water guns and eating seafood, playing water (6), visiting my family (2), playing water with friends (2), stay home and play games, going everywhere in Bangkok, walk on Khao San road, go to the temple, meet new people, going back home enjoying the long weekend, go out with friends, holiday to relax

6.  Do you or your family have any traditions?

build sand castle at temple (old Thai tradition), go to the temple (17), anoint parents and grandparents (5), anoint Buddha (4), give foods to monks (2), go to grandmothers house on first day (2), stay at home and make dinner, talk to each other, go to the beach, drink wine with my family, visit relatives, make merit, have lunch together, go to the sea

An interesting tradition that one of my students mentioned is the annual sand castle (pagoda) building at the temple.  Though not all temples hold to this custom, some families still go to build an intricate sand castle to make merit.  You can read more here.

7.  Where is the best place in Thailand to spend Songkran?

Bangkok/Chiang Mai-more funny people, anywhere- because Thai people are really happy for the long weekend, Chiang Mai (6), Silom, Bangkok (4), Temple (3), Pattaya (3), Khao San Road (2), Koh Samui, Hua Hin, Auksa road, Koh Chang, Serom road, anywhere up country

-Migration Mark

I forced the cab driver to stop on the side of Sheikh Zayed highway and strained my neck to a 90 degree angle with my back. I had just landed in Dubai and I was trying to fathom the earth’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa Dubai.  The immensity of cranes dominating the skyline looked like flamingos on Lake Nakuru in Kenya. The tallest building shrimped all competitors and made everything else insignificant momentarily.

Transportation

Neither the Dodge Caravan nor the 100 cc family motorbike of Cambodia, are the family vehicles of choice, but rather the supercharged Range Rover or the Rolls Royce Phantom.  BMW’s and Benz’s are about as common as blue jeans in America.  I couldn’t count the number of times I had to throw my neck into an anti-chiropractic jerk to check out a custom Lamborghini or an Audi R8.  The bus system works if you are not in any sort of time constraint as it can take a while for the next bus to arrive.

Tip: The bus stops are chilled to 65 degrees if you need a short break from attempting to unwisely walk through Dubai like myself.

My great idea of walking through Dubai proved to be a challenge when the heat soared to 120 degrees and the suns rays offered zero mercy. With the supply of oil, a cab ride will not set you back all that much and is sometimes worth it in Dubai.

Accommodation

You can potentially pay anywhere from $50 to $15,000 for a nap in Dubai.  I stayed at one of the cheapest hotel options in Dubai and it cost about $60 for a room split by two.  The no frills Panorama Bur Dubai Hotel is located  in a decent area of Bur Dubai with decent transportation links.  The music bumped in the gentlemens club on the first floor and the complimentary continental breakfast was quite delicious.

Being a King

In order to feel of utmost importance or become a guru for a few hours, I would recommend a field trip to the three Dubai hotels of stature, the Burj al Arab, the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, and my favorite, the Arab designed and decorated Madinat Jumheirah Resort.

The cheapest way to enter the Burj al Arab compound of prestige in order to admire the solid gold interior is to make reservations for afternoon tea and then show up in formal clothes, act like you are rich, and pay your $100.  I reserved, I showed up, I acted, but I failed the dress code, and therefore was not permitted inside.  Luckily, the other two stunning hotels nearby blew my mind and fulfilled my craving to act like a king for an afternoon.

Feasting

I could not afford a single bite to eat in the upscale Jumeirah area and would never force myself into a Western food chain.  I also intended to eat the local-ist of all cuisine available. There are thousands of construction workers who are not the loaded Ferrari drivers who eat Kobe beef and caviar with routine. Venture towards Bur Dubai, Al Mankhool, or Al Karama areas for incredible skewers of grilled chicken, beef, lamb, naan, pita, and an assortment of other gloriousness.  The eateries are open very late accomodating to people of all different schedules.  Eat well!!!

Shopping till Flopping

Loads of shopping can drive me mentally insane, especially after spending 3 days in Hong Kong and braving the malls from Bangkok to Manila.

That being said, the shopping malls of Dubai have been elevated and are still expanding to an absurd degree.  If you fancy to snowboard or ski down slopes, head to the Mall of the Emirates.  If you want crazy interior design check out the Ibn Batusta Mall.  For other gobs of consumerist goods visit any of the other shopping mega structures like the world’s largest, The Dubai Mall.

Old Historical Town Dubai

Across the creek from most of the hype is old town Dubai.  It is a great area to explore traditional Arab and modern technology colliding. Gold and spices are abundant as are trinkets and other antique items.  Humans hustle across streets and SUV’s cruise past khaki colored Minarets that sprout all around.   The gold and spice souk’s are well worth exploring.

Sand Safari Cruising

An abundance of tour companies offer desert safari drives through topsy sand dunes.  Our Land Cruiser chauffeur piloted us toward the Omani border.  Before indulging into the dunes, our driver released pressure from our tires and proceeded to floor our vehicle across the seas of sand.  With sliding motions it did actually feel like we were riding a wave.  At sunset, gobs of other sand sliders (tourists), congregated in an Arab tent for a traditional feast and a bit of sweet sheesha.  The overall trip was highly entertaining and I was impressed by how fun driving across sand dunes was.

Anthropological Zoo

The Dubai International Airport is a form of anthropological zoo and a paradise for looking at people and a nightmare for trying to take a nap.  Another brilliant idea of spending the last night at the airport and catching my flight to Dar Es Salaam in the morning worked, but wasn’t too relaxing.

In the midst of countless Arabs in keffiyah’s, shoeless Indian Guru’s, Japanese businessmen, lost Europeans, and colorful West Africans, I was able to search out a 6 by 1 foot area to call it a night. In between two airport support pillars, I curled into a slumber.  An hour later I awoke to a sleeping Oriental at my head, an Egyptian at my side, and an assortment of others surrounding me.  Awesome!

Somethings in Dubai are jaw dropping and other things are simply ridiculous.  Money departs with ease, and many don’t seem to mind.  With the overall world hype and buzz, Dubai is a place that those who haven’t gone are curious, and those that have gone might not need to go again. I can say that the shear feats of engineering and architecture are incredible to check out.

If you have been to Dubai, Please share your thoughts!

-Migration Mark

Buenos Aires, Argentina

With the barest essential of all plans, I jetted to Buenos Aires, Argentina, to take a one month Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) course with TEFL International Buenos Aires.  Apparently, TESOL and TEFL are practically the same thing.

Still dazzled and overwhelmed with kilos of beef due to my recent landing in Argentina, the course started off on schedule.  The course was held in the ritzy district of Recoleta in a beautiful historical mansion known as the Recoleta Institute.   The prestigious and very European area of Buenos Aires is home to  numerous fancy restaurants, delightful delicatessens, fruit stores, deep fried Empanada joints, and milanesa sandwiches.

The 4 Week Course:

The first day of class was filled with individual introductions, the confusion of trying to figure things out in a new place, and attempts to predict that the class would not be overly terrible.  Our professors made haste to give us the syllabus that turned our hopes around and made everyone cringe.  The requirements looked to be of Harvard prestige and were reinforced by the two professors letting us know that we had a lot of work to get done in the next 4 weeks.

It doesn’t take long for a group of about 20 recent university grads to get to know each other better than by using the medium of dislike for “English grammar.”  Indeed there is always the outliers who seem to have picked up the present perfect continuous tense and know exactly how to explain it.  As is expected, I instantly forgot most of the grammar we went over in the course.

The first week was an introduction and refresher to English grammar, a confusing introduction to phonology, and a summary of the theories of learning English as a second language.  One of our professors was Irish and taught us a basic amount of Gaelic without any usage of English in order to demonstrate how we could equally teach English to non speakers using zero of their native tongue.

The other portion of the course was dedicated to the practice of lesson planning and then the reality of teaching classes.

In order to obtain the internationally recognized certificate of TESOL, 6 hours of teaching experience are required.  The classes were in front of eight students who were eager to learn and for the most part participate.  Another 6 hours or so of observing other student teachers was required.

The nervousness I experienced being a debut professor was horrendous.   However, after just six lessons I was able to gain a better understanding of the nature of teaching English, and a beginning to overcome a fear of public speaking.  I learned that with teaching, it is important to have a well thought out mental game plan of a lesson and an activity to take up time at the end.

Our class which consisted of about 20 people, soon realized that sleep deprivation was something that would be unavoidable throughout the duration of the course due to the everlasting options of entertainment and nightly festivities Buenos Aires had to offer.  During the course, the drug of choice was coffee, which everyone sought after and gobbled up before the next person.

Our class was a wonderful group of individuals and I made some great future contacts and friends through the TESOL International Course in Buenos Aires.

Was It Worth It:

At a cost $1790 there is reason to research and think hard about the advantages and disadvantages about taking a TESOL course.  At the beginning, I justified the steep cost as a continuation to my university education and in order to obtain an internationally recognized certificate that is valid for the rest of my life.

A year later I began teaching kids at English camps in Thailand and the TESOL course provided a bit of confidence and backbone that I needed to speak in front of crowds and come up with games and activities in a flash.  When the camps ran out, I fetched a decent job teaching English in Bangkok at a private institute that required a TESOL certificate and paid a higher than average salary.  From the course, I knew a little of what to expect, and my illness of speaking in front of groups was for the most part cured.

The obvious steep price is one of the only drawbacks to the course.  There were a few other things that could have been improved.  As students we didn’t really get to observe classes taught by experienced teachers which could have been a help.  The overall material could have been arranged a little more organized as sometimes we didn’t know what was going on in terms of scheduling.  More insight into forming lesson plans would have made the course run smoother.

Conclusion:

I would conclude that a TESOL course is worth taking as a step in the right direction if you ever want to teach English somewhere in this world.  The course is also likely to teach you a few personal lessons that could be beneficial even if you don’t want to teach.  With a full one month TESOL certificate and a year or two of added teaching experience, scoring an English teaching job somewhere in the world should be effortless.

Final Word: Taking a TESOL or TEFL Course is well worth the money and Buenos Aires is an amazing place to do it.

If you do plan to take a TEFL course, I would recommend the full 1 month course instead of the online or 2 week course.

After hearing about boating the Mekong River, there was absolutely no way I could leave the country of Laos without embarking on the water journey.  I happen to be getting a Thai visa in Vientiane and had some spare time to explore the country a little further North.  After a number of ultra lazy days in the charming town of Luang Prabang and setting up the transportation logistics, I boarded a slow boat en route to the Thai border.

For 250,000 Kip (equal to about $30) we would receive 3 days of transportation all the way from Luang Prabang, Laos, to Chiang Mai, Thailand.  The first day would be a boat from Luang Prabang to Pak Beng, the second day a boat from Pak Beng to Hauy Xai, and the third day a bus from Huay Xai, Laos to Chiang Mai in Thailand.

Excited to depart I grabbed a Laos style sandwich, some fruit, and of course some sticky rice, before making my way to the 50 seater slow boat on the Mekong River.

The experienced boating staff (family who owned the boat) loaded in the morning with bags and bags of food.  I thought, surely all that food is for a later point in time, or for the entire next week.  About mid morning the family set up mats in the middle of the boat and began to play cards.  The Mother released the bags of food and the family began to casually indulge.  I fell asleep for about two hours and when I awoke the family was still balling up sticky rice and partaking.  The meal literally went on for 6 hours and I felt compelled to praise the family with congratulatory high fives.

The first day we drifted against the current of the giant Mekong, heading upstream.  As I stared into the oncoming mass of water the current put me in a trance.  Looking up I could see experienced fishermen working and taking care of their section of the river and providing food for their families.  I could see women washing baskets of clothes.  Groups of naked kids would create a ruckus of splashing water, ecstatic as our boat would glide past.

We lazied around the boat for the remainder of the day sporting the natural shirt vent and watching the sun as it passed from its harshest to a milder form.  In the later afternoon entire related families could be seen on the banks of the river together bathing.  The wake from out boat would send a wave into the circle as a cloud of white suds would disburse.

We arrived into the tiny town of Pak Beng and organized an ultra cheap guest house room at the Vatsana Guest house, for some vital snoozing (accommodation is super cheap in Pak Beng).

The next two days were equally charming.  After a long second day we finally arrived in the border town of Hauy Xai where we posted up for another night of rest.

The final day we took a boat across the Mekong to the Thai immigration office.  We then settled into a van for the 5 hour journey to Chiang Mai, Thailand.

After maximizing relaxation in Vientiane, boating the Mekong River was yet another way to experience first hand the relaxing and collected culture of Laos.  Laos is a wonderful country that makes you appreciate life.

-Migration Mark

Related:

• 17 Reasons You Know You Love Southeast Asia
• How to Make a Thailand Visa Run in Vientiane Laos
• Volunteering in Bicol Region of the Philippines
• Adventures in Sagada

Other than people running to Vientiane to make a Thailand visa run there are also numerous valuable things to do in the capital of Laos including lessons on relaxationism.

Vientiane has to be one of the most relaxing capital cities in the world.  It seems that no one is in a hurry and barely anyone has a schedule set in concrete.  Everyone floats by, calmly laughing, slowly relaxing, and passionately enjoying life.  Obviously men carry on sporting the natural shirt vent super casually.  Vientiane can be a welcome relief as no one has to dive off roads to avoid traffic or hustle human hordes like in many other Asian capital cities.

I stayed near the main fountain in Vientiane at the Saysouly guest house.  It was a quiet and decent place to stay with a fantastic veranda to relax and hang out on.  There are loads of other hostels and hotels to choose from in the vicinity of that area.

One can freely notice an abundance of temples in Vientiane.  Walk around town a little and you will stumble into some great sites like the Black Stupa, the Wat Si Saket with 6,840 Buddha images, and the Golden Temple.

No one can argue about the prime quality of the food in Vientiane.  The people of Laos pride themselves on their eats and do a fantastic job at satisfying.  The selection of food from the streets to the sit down restaurants serving fine French cuisine and Indian food are spectacular.  I would have to say my favorite foods in Vientiane are the Laos style baguette sandwiches and sticky rice dipped in any Laos specialties.

There is a small food evening market on a street close to the main drag of hostels.  I would highly recommend venturing to this food street to get things like spring rolls, sticky rice, grilled fish, chicken, Laos curries, and a host of other delights.  The market compares to the street food fantasy in Luang Prabang which is a little further North.

This is How You Relax In Vientiane:

1. At about 5 pm head to the banks of the Mekong River where there are eateries with red plastic chairs galore.
2. Grab a cold Beer Lao, a grilled to perfection salted fish, some fiery papaya salad (som tum), and a massive portion of sticky rice (Other edible options are available).
3. Observe the gorgeous sunset as it hovers over the tranquilly moving mighty Mekong River.

This is absolutely a mandatory thing to do in Vientiane, don’t leave without it in your mind.

Even if you only have a day or two, there are some worthwhile options in Vientiane.  Whatever you do, make sure to enjoy yourself and let time creep by as you enjoy the company of others.

-Migration Mark

Related:

• 17 Reasons You Know You Love Southeast Asia
• The World’s Smallest Active Volcano
• Immersed in Payatas: From Dump to Triumph

It somehow seems hard to find concrete information on the web regarding how to make a Thailand visa run to Vientiane, Laos.  I have been on two visa runs to Vientiane recently and have taken notes to show the costs and how it really is not a very difficult process.  The first time I went, I obtained a 2 month tourist visa.  The second time I got a job teaching English in Bangkok and went to Vientiane to apply for a non-immigrant B visa so that my job could then apply for my Thai work permit.  Both times I was able to do some Vientiane style relaxing.

Vientiane, Laos

I have had positive experiences both times and things have run smoothly.  There are a number of ways to get to Laos but this is what I chose to do.

1.  Bus from Khao San Road Bangkok, to Vientiane, Laos

Bus leaves daily at a time between 7 pm and 8 pm (no one knows for sure when so be early).  I arrived at Khao San road Bangkok around 5pm to purchase the ticket and then hung out till it was time to leave.  Any of the tour agencies will sell the ticket and it will cost between 800 and 900 Baht which will cover everything all the way to the center of Vientiane, Laos.

2.  At the Laos border you need to apply for a visa

To get a Laos visa you need:

• Filled out application form which the bus will give you.
• A passport photo for the application.
• Payment (For US citizens it was $36), Try to pay with USD if you can because in Baht they overcharge.

3.  Across the Border

When you get across the border there will be a bus waiting for you to carry you to Vientiane center about 30 minutes from the border.  This is all included in the bus fee from Bangkok.  You should arrive in Vientiane at about 9-10 am the next day.

4.  Tuktuk in Vientiane to the Thai Embassy

When the bus drops you off, immediately hop onto a jumbo tuktuk and tell the driver to take you to the Thailand Embassy.  Should cost anywhere from 100-200 baht round trip.  The embassy stops accepting visa inquiries at 12 pm so don’t lallygag.

5. At the Thai Embassy

At the Thai embassy before you do anything pick up a number.  Then grab the form and fill out all the information asked for.  Along with the form you will need:

For the tourist visa:

• Application (from the embassy)
• Passport
• 2 passport photos
• Copy of passport
• Payment if needed

For the non-immigrant B visa for my English teaching job in Bangkok, I needed:

• Application (from the embassy)
• Passport
• 2 passport photos
• copy of passport
• payment of 2000 Thai baht
• copy of University degree
• copy of TESOL certificate (bring original)
• packet of official papers from employer

6.  Place to Spend the Night

Ride back to the Vientiane fountain where there are loads of hostels and hotels to stay at.  I stayed at the Saysouly guest house which runs 300 baht per night for a double room.  The guest house is quite adequate but there are loads of other options as well if you have a look around.

7.  Free Time

After taking care of business in the morning, the main thing to do in Vientiane is relax and eat.  At sunset be sure to check out one of the main joys of Vientiane; having a meal of grilled fish and a beerlao while watching the sunset over the Mekong River.  There are loads of eateries set up on the banks of the river.  I would also highly recommend drowning yourself in all 16 inches of a Laos style sandwich, known as the Laos Insanewich.

8.  Passport Pickup

The next day you need to return from 1pm to 3pm in the afternoon to pick up your passport with the visa included.  Take a look at your passport and visa to make sure it is correct.

9.  Return Bus to Bangkok

Again, any of the tour agencies in Vientiane will sell you a tourist VIP bus all the way back to Bangkok, to either Mochit Station or Khao San Road.  The price should cost 700 to 800 Baht.  It will take you accross the border to Thailand, hassle free, and you will arrive in Bangkok anywhere from 5 am to 6 am the next day.

Here is what I spent in 2 days and 3 nights:

• VIP Bus (2 ways)- 1600
• Laos Visa $36 about 1200 (note: if you pay Thai baht it will be more like 1400)
• Thai non-immigrant B visa- 2000
• 1 night room- 300/2- 150
• Food and drinks- 500

Total price to get a Thai Non-Immigrant B Visa in Vientiane Laos- 5450 Baht

Hope this is a helpful guide to making a visa run from Bangkok to Vientiane.

If you do have more time to spend in Laos it is a marvelous treat to maximize relaxation in Vientiane, spend time in Luang Prabang or boat the Mekong River for a couple days.

For more information check out the official website of the Thai Embassy in Vientiane, Laos.

-Migration Mark

Related:

• 17 Reasons You Know You Love Southeast Asia
• How to Maximize Relaxation in Vientiane Laos
• The World’s First China Town
• Mayoyao’s Paradise Rice Terraces
  

1. Chili Peppers…Please!

I grew up eating food with spice and sometimes with chili.  Throughout SE Asia however, I have nurtured my ever craving lust for the succulent seeded heat of chili peppers.  I simply can’t taste food unless there is an abundance of hot chilies involved in the meal.  In my month in Indonesia, I was able to come up with 9 mandatory foods to eat in Indonesia and every single dish would not be the same without a massive dollop of sambal chili sauce.

2. No Toilet Paper for Me…

Before coming to SE Asia the thought of spraying after “making a release” really sounded quite dreadful.  Now, I really don’t feel clean if I have to use Toilet Paper.  I much prefer the spray and shake method.  As I like to say, “a powerful spray, goes a loooong way.”

3. Rice, Rice, and Rice

You don’t normally get Kenyan style nyama choma in Asia, but anything with rice is splendidly satisfying.  Though I am 1/2 Chinese and grew up eating rice on the daily, my habitual rice eating has been reinforced.  Just like the locals I hung out with in Batad of the Philippines rice terraces, If I don’t eat rice 2-3 times a day I’m just not fully satisfied in life.

4. King of Fruits…Bow Down

The notorious durian fruit, also known as the “king of fruits” smells pretty far from appetizing.  In Malaysia I was able to tackle the durian fruit in the form of buffet and now I actually crave it from time to time.  It’s actually and surprisingly  quite delicious!!!

5. Squatting Potting

My thighs have become absurdly strong, and it’s surely not from the gym, it’s from squatting at so many roadside  locations.  I’m not ashamed to admit that I find myself squatting on top of regular toilets from time to time without thinking about it…weird.

6. Scooter Butt

As a first timer on a horse may need to walk afterward with a wide stance, so sitting on the back of a scooter too long creates scooter butt (sitting on the back of a moped for a long period of time).  However, there is hope, my butt has now become accustomed to scooter butt.

7.  Massage?

In the United States I never dreamed of having a massage.  Here in SE Asia I have become used to either paying a humble 200 baht ($5), having a cute fish massage, or if I am sitting randomly on the roadside an old man might possibly come to lightly rub my shoulders.  If you’ve been in SE Asia for a while you can bet on this.  Warning though, at first it’s a little awkward.

8. Food Expenditure

If I have to dish out more than a dollar for a single meal or go to an established “sit down” restaurant, I immediately feel rather uncomfortable, strange, and just plain incompetent.  It seems my entire personality has evolved to really only relate to street food or hole in the wall eateries where I can spend less that a dollar.

9. Environmental Spectacles

The environmental beauty of SE Asia is incredible.  Hiking deadly volcanoes, climbing rice terraces from Mayoao to Batad, and pretending to be a millionaire on pristine beaches.  I haven’t even itched the surface of possibilities.

10. Heat Streak

If the temperature drops below 80 degrees Fahrenheit (26.6 Celsius) I start to get goosebumps and shivers.  It’s peculiar, but I’m starting to realize why people sell goose down parkas roadside.

11. Munch-Astic

I have said this time and time again and I could go on and on; the food in SE Asia is just unparalleled.  Where else can you expect and demand to eat Manchester United Burgers, Nasi Campur mystery buffets, Bangkok Boat Noodles, feast on fetus of Balut, and then get ultimately dirty in Seafood Dampa?

12. Natural Shirt Vent

In SE Asia numerous youth and men alike walk around with shirts cinched up just below the breast.  I too cannot resist walking around all day with my shirt pulled up halfway over my stomach to increase the airflow.  Note: I especially and would recommend doing this after heavy meals

13. Karaoke Singing

Most embarrassingly on the list, I find myself thinking even sometimes dreaming about karaoke and secretly hoping for more.

14.  Need to be Sweating

After attempting to jog in Manila, an orangutan trek in Sumatra, my try at conquering hot yoga, and then paired with avoiding the usage of an air conditioner, I have simply come to the conclusion that sweating is natural and feels right to me.

15.  Diving Off Roads

Driving in Indonesia taught me a lot about pedestrians walking on the side of any street.  With little more than a micro second notice, pedestrians are forced to casually dive off the sidewalk or side of the road into pools of water or muddy basins as motorcycles or overloaded trucks zoom past with an intimidating breeze.  After some time, a few near perishing occasions, and learning to open my eyes wider by paying attention, it is now easy and somewhat enjoyable for me to avoid oncoming or sometimes incoming traffic.

16.  Human Hordes

As with motorways, hordes of people will inevitably be “in your way” when walking anywhere.  Swag surfin, booty shaking, or simply patience, are invaluable when dealing with massive crowds.  Soon you become accustomed and enjoy the variety and mixture of random humanity.

17.  Opportunity to Help Others

From assisting in the charity projects of In Search of Sanuk, building houses with hope, being immersed in Payatas, and hanging out at the Bali house of life, there is not much better value than helping others with the secret recipe for 100% guaranteed happiness.  Spending time and hanging out with others will put a smile on everyone, inside and out.

I’ve learned quite a few things since taking up migrationology, some things can be a little awkward until you remember, Nothing Is Awkward in Southeast Asia, loosen up and enjoy.

Please suggest any other reasons of how you know you love Southeast Asia, or ask me any questions!

-Migration Mark

As I exit my van back to Bangkok, I get out to urinate and see a pick up truck with something massive in the back.  After nearly choking in my awe, the vehicle begins to maneuver its way out of the parking lot.  It is literally a small Nissan Frontier with an 18 wheeler truck load in the bed.

We don’t really know, this guy could have figured out how to drive a car in Indonesia, maybe he loves to booty shake in Bangkok, or eat durian buffets; but there is one thing we can safely and easily assume:

“this guy cut down an entire jungle and neatly fit it in the back of his 1996 Nissan Frontier.”  That takes talent.

Check out the Video!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_Kq5nRm4dU

I hope this will inspire you to add that extra load to your vehicle next time, push the limits.

If you’ve seen a larger load on a smaller truck, pleeeease share it!

-Migration Mark