#54: The last day on Phuket

09.03.2020

Today we plan to visit one of the bays we found during our tour. On the way, we will also go to the Immigration Office to extend our stay for another 30 days. Otherwise, our trip would end in two weeks. Our research showed that we need 1,900 baht (about €58), a passport photo, a completed form, and copies of our passports for the extension. We have the photos and copies, and the form is available on site. For the ride, we will rent a scooter at our guesthouse.

In the morning, we set off well and reach the Immigration Office in Patong after a 20-minute drive shortly after it opens. We are confronted with a horrifying sight: a swarm of 15 to 20 people pushing and shoving in front of the entrance of a small administrative container, all under the scorching sun at 30 degrees Celsius. It seems to work on the principle of 'whoever elbows their way through best, gets to go first'. But before we can even 'queue up' in this swarm, we have to fill out the form.

After considering whether we really want to experience this chaos, we fill out the form and get in line. After a very sweaty hour in total, our turn finally comes. However, we are then told that we need two photos each and that there is no phone number on the form. Next please. We are particularly annoyed about the phone number because the form does not even have a field for it. With some heated spirits, we decide to go back home for now. We want to avoid lying on the beach with over €100 and our passports.

At the guesthouse, we come up with a new plan: we will go to Phuket Town to the Immigration Office and then back to the beach. The office is 35 minutes in the wrong direction, but probably still faster than in Patong.

After a small, completely planned detour, we reach the office. Initially, we have to look for the right room a bit, but then we are in a well-organized and air-conditioned authority. Here everything runs smoothly, and the little shock from Patong Beach subsides a bit. Although we are by no means the only ones here, everything is done in about 45 minutes, and we can go back home. We now have a residence permit until April 30th, which gives us plenty of time again! However, the time today is almost over, as the afternoon is already quite advanced and it is very warm.

In the early evening, we arrive at the hostel. After six hours of bureaucratic errands, we decide to skip the bay. The back and forth as well as the long drives are quite draining in the heat.

We go out for dinner and end the day with a Singha and the sounds of Mr. Beck. Tomorrow we will continue to Koh Yao Noi, a small, still relatively original island off Phuket.