No country truly has "freedom of speech"

You shouldn't talk about his wife that way though... :/

@Bart *************

True.

By the way, epic collection of interesting names in this thread...

@Paul ************

Make sure you go get an STD/STI test too before it crossbreeds with the covid, you sound like a walking petri dish that escaped the lab, geez...

You should be wearing a hazmat suit by now...

What did your mum have to say all about it?

@Bart *************

What a dupe...

@Bart *************

Leave the panic to old housewives...

Those who promoted the covid panic & associated lockdowns & oppression should be in prison by now!

A lot of people died & had their lives ruined by panic mongers & police state groupies!

Any who fear should shut up & hide in silence under their beds & make sure they have stocked up on cans of soup & leave the sane to go on living our lives...

@Dan *******

I've done it solo there a number of times, & traveled overland all the way up to Dawei too even in Myanmar (when the road was first opened up to foreigners, actually).

Good to hear a bit more detail in your report. It's all very scammy there now though, but good to have the detail to help people judge if it really is impossible to do it with no bribe or not. Personally I would skip that place until it changes back to normal, perhaps after the civil war.

@Nathan ********

Other people said it's uncommon then perhaps. Obviously a lot of people are commenting on it in a way that makes that clear.

So, you paid an agent in an office next to Thai immigration which Thai immigration told you to use? That seems to be what you have attempted to communicate.

Everyone definitely does not pay the same. You got scammed. Locals definitely don't pay that. Next time just go directly to the boat drivers after stamping out. Don't support scammers & stuff it up for everyone else.

@Nathan ********

It does seem a little unclear the way you wrote it.

You admit that the visa type you are using is uncommon, yet when asked exactly what the 2600 baht was for you act like it's normal & everyone should know then you don't give clear details.

Sounds like you got scammed, even though you say you didn't, & that's why you're avoiding answering clearly.

As someone else pointed out, & I can verify, normally you pay a shared boat directly to the boat driver 100 baht each way plus the Myanmar side entry permit of I think it was 500 baht.

It would be nice if you could be clearer.

It's not good when people support scams as it makes it harder for seasoned travelers.