due to financial reasons and logistics, I decided to fly to Malaysia for one day overnight. Then return to Thailand the next day to get a 45 day stamp. Which can be extended 1 time for 30 days.
I saw one of the requirements is to have a travel itinerary and plane ticket back to Thailand. Just to make sure; is land crossing through Nong Khai not an option? I used to get to the friendship bridge from Udon Thani. Then cross the border to get the Laos visa, then take a van to Vientiane.