lazy blog entry

It’s lazy because it’s pretty much a copy and paste of a chat log. Still, it conveys the story well enough.

[07:33] chuckler: yesterday I drove Jack Mint and I to Chiang Dao
[07:33] chuckler: met Mint’s mum
[07:34] chuckler: then Mint’s mum, Jack and I checked into the hotel, while Mint went to wait for her ID
[07:34] chuckler: a very small asian town hotel …
[07:34] chuckler: one star doesn’t begin to describe it
[07:34] chuckler: but the room was big
[07:34] chuckler: so it gave us a base for mint’s mum to take care of jack while i found an internet cafe
[07:35] chuckler: anyway, then mint called an hour later to say that her ID wasn’t going to happen
[07:35] chuckler: so we met back at the hotel
[07:35] chuckler: and made a new plan
[07:35] chuckler: we left jack with mint’s mum
[07:35] chuckler: and mint and I drove back to Chiang Mai
[07:35] chuckler: packed the ute to the brim with all the stuff we’d need for mint to stay at her mum’s place
[07:35] chuckler: and drove back to Chiang Dao
[07:36] chuckler: quick check-in with Jack and mint’s mum, then drove to Mint’s mum’s place
[07:36] chuckler: unloaded the car, and back to Chiang Dao
[07:36] chuckler: and last night I drove back to Chiang Mai by myself
[07:36] chuckler: Mint, Jack and Mint’s mum are still in Chiang Dao
[07:36] chuckler: trying for the ID again today. I am flying to Bangkok today to see the embassy
[07:36] chuckler: then departing for Australia on the 11th
[07:36] chuckler: *whew* story complete

ah Thailand

You have to admit, there aren’t many countries in the world in which terrorists can take over one airport, let alone two, with impunity. People outside of Thailand know that the Army were ordered in and refused right?It’s been going on for days now, and is pretty serious: some pundits think Bangkok’s airports will be closed for weeks.

If that happens, I suspect I’ll not be home for Christmas - my flights go through Bangkok and if they need to be cancelled, flights from CM will not be available for love nor money. I already tried to change my CNX - BKK leg to a day earlier to do some embassy stuff, but all flights are full.

The real issue is my visa, which has expired and I am only on a “permission to stay” stamp until the 11th. I depart CNX on Thursday the 11th at 9:45am, so if the flight status is unknown up until, say 6am on the 11th, that means I’ll have to hightail it pretty quick to a border to get stamped out before midnight. Actually I just checked that, and apparently they’re giving discretionary powers to the border police on enforcing overstays that can be proved to be at the expense of closed airports. Still, this is Thailand, so I’d much prefer to have no doubt.

Also, weather here is quite cool. This morning I resorted to wearing my suit jacket for warmth. Looks like Mum and Dad only just missed the cool season!