Day 5 - leaving Bangkok

Who said the British like queuing? Isnt't it something you have to do and that's it. Or is it because we usually queue in the cold and that's never to bad.  Queuing in hot sweltering humid conditions isn't fun.

And that's what we've been doing this week. Oh and greasing palms with silver of course. Once you get involved with officialdom in developing countries money has to pass over. I suppose it's the same in the uk except its easier to collect income tax and VAT . If you can't easily collect those - given unsophisticated sales systems then whenever you need to register something or license something then the greasy palm of the government is extended to have their share

So Monday off to the British Embassy to get the 'marriage affirmation' stamped. Shut! They only work mornings. Back at 8am Tuesday . Sit down in a queue, take a ticket, go to a window, take another ticket, get a stamp and hand over the £130.  Off to the translators to get it into Thai- another £20 please.

Then a minor detour to the Myanmar embassy for a visa. The complication here is they only have a 3 month life from issue - so we had to get it now so that it remained valid in Jan when we come back. As you can imagine the embassy is pretty basic. And loads of backpackers queuing to get visas. So 

• Get the form

• Realise you need passport photocopy
• Leave embassy and walk down road to local entrepreneur who has everything you need set up. Literally , he has photocopier, glue stick to attach photo to form, paper clips, camera if you don't have photos and tables to write on. And the cost ? 12 p !!!  #putthepricesup
• Back to the embassy
• Queue up to get your number
• Sit down and wait for your turn - 1 hour
• Go to new window - 2 working days to process - 'but I need my passport ' . Same day service 2x the price. Ok - £50
• Hence #putthepricesup Mr Entrepreneur - it's £50 for the visa and 12p to you
• Wait for 3 hours
• Get visa

Wednesday

• Pick up translated affirmation then train and taxi to Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs. About 12km out of town
• Queue up for form
• Fill in
• Queue up for number
• Go into room to get signatures
• Queue at kiosk to pay fee - £10 each please. Come back in 2 days. But I need it sooner and it cost me to get out here. Ok £20 each to get it back today. Come back in 3 hours
• Loiter in canteen for 3 hours - NOTE great cheap food although guesswork as no English spoken
• Pick up stamped forms

Thursday

Ask hotel to scan forms and email to wedding organiser.  'No problem sir. I'll do that now and it's free! NOTE the lack of officialdom and the cost of this lack of involvement.