Re: Criminal background checks
Quote:
Originally Posted by
cdnmatt
To be honest, I don't think I would have travelled to Bangkok anyway. A quick trip up north to Nong Khai is one thing, but a trip all the way into Bangkok is totally different with a whole lot more cops around.
Last time I traveled from KK to Bangkok I flew on Thai Smile to Suvarnabhumi, not a cop in sight, and my passport was checked once, for the photo ID. I know hindsight is a wonderful thing, but surely flying KK to Bangkok, transfer at the airport to International, pay the over-stay on the way through the airport, fly home to Canada, new passport, Laos visa, fly from Canada to Vientiane via China is the obvious plan? Simples.
Re: Criminal background checks
Quote:
Originally Posted by
DaveyJonesLocker
Without a shadow of a doubt that post wins the non sequitur prize for this thread
Why, the truth is the truth, and you think those Lao immigration officers (and the Thai for that matter) don't know why all those Lao citizens are trying to cross the border with a Laissez Passez ? None of them actually lost their passport of course. It's cotton industry, so I see no reason why they would suddenly be appalled by a Canadian citizen with a few years overstay.
Re: Criminal background checks
Quote:
Originally Posted by
cdnmatt
To be honest, I don't think I would have travelled to Bangkok anyway. A quick trip up north to Nong Khai is one thing, but a trip all the way into Bangkok is totally different with a whole lot more cops around. If I would of had my passport checked before getting to that immigration desk at BKK, I would have been in for much more hurt than I was. Thankfully by the time I was arrested, my overstay was already cleared with I would have had a really rough time coping with a long stay at IDC, especially since I'm blind, as that made it worse. It's a huge room with about 100 people, and I was basically stuck the whole time on my little 5x2 foot mat in the corner close to the convenience store and bathroom. So I could get to the bathroom and shower, and buy some cigs or nana noodles or whatever from the store, but that's it. Wasn't really capable of wandering around the room and making friends with others like everyone else did, as it was too cramped, and I would just end up kicking and stepping on people all the time, which wouldn't go over well.
People there were honestly far friendlier than I thought they'd be. Nobody was really interested in making friends, but just acquantances to hang out with while they killed the time and got out. Everyone somewhat had each other's backs though, and took care of each other. I never ate any of the food, but each time a meal would come, they'd come over and offer me a plate. They always helped me walk around when it was ecersize time, hekoed ne fubd my way around the bathroom and shower, store, etc.
Sorry but I must have travelled from KK to BKK and vice versa at least about ten times or so, and the times I bussed or used the train, and the two times we took a taxi, I have never been asked to produce my passport. If you take the train to Hualamphong, which was what I advised you to do, the chance of you having to produce your passport at any point in time is virtually zero. I have no doubt you would have made it to BKK immigration undetected, many before you have managed, so I don't see why you are suddenly so special.
And even IF you would not have made it to BKK undetected, the end result would have been the same, deportation to Canada, and instead of a five year ban, a ten year ban. And no your stay in the IDC will not last longer than it takes you to pay the fine and produce a ticket out of the country, as previously stated.
Re: Criminal background checks
Well, I don't know. Hindsight's a bitch, ain't it?
No changing the past, it is what is, and might as well just concentrate on the future and getting us back together.
Re: Criminal background checks
Quote:
Originally Posted by
cdnmatt
Well, I don't know. Hindsight's a bitch, ain't it?
No changing the past, it is what is, and might as well just concentrate on the future and getting us back together.
So I am guessing you will try to reach VTE by plane this time ? What makes you think they will allow you into the country this time ?
If I were you I would try and get Leo to Canada, but I guess that might also be a bridge too far.
Re: Criminal background checks
I'll have a new passport without a blacklist stamp, plus a Laos VISA issued by the Laos embassy in Vancouver, Canada. That should do it. Plus I very highly doubt Laos immigration put me on any kind of list due to a simple refusal of entry, so it should be fine.
And no, getting Leo a Canada visitor VISA right now is impossible at the moment. There's simply no way we'll currently be able to convince immigration Canada that he will return to Laos. He has no home, job, doesn't go to school, no wife or kids, not even a vehicle.
That is the plan though, but we need to get him setup with a life in Vientiane first, get his name on a house lease, get some joint bank accounts in Hong Kong, get him enrolled in school, and so on. Then I should be able to secure him a visitor VISA. I was hoping to bring him to Canada for a visit this summer / fall, but looks like that's probably getting pushed back until late fall / winter now. That's ok, and besides, we have the dogs who I'm unwilling to leave behind in life either.
Re: Criminal background checks
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Smiles
This (my) post a few pages back ... #171:
Originally Posted by Smiles
" ... Have no fear Neddy. At the last minute Cndmatt will dredge up one more excuse (he has a list of necessary excuses which cover a host of scenarios) to delay for "something-has-come-up" and "we'll have to stay just a few months more" ... "
Ok. So at least now you admit that your accusations were wrong.
Re: Criminal background checks
Hi Matt, how are you now? How is it to be back home? Did you have a chance to see the eye doctor? Any news from Leo/the dogs?
Re: Criminal background checks
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Magnum
Hi Matt, how are you now? How is it to be back home? Did you have a chance to see the eye doctor? Any news from Leo/the dogs?
Perhaps it would be better to ask if matt visited an eye doctor?
Re: Criminal background checks
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Magnum
Hi Matt, how are you now? How is it to be back home? Did you have a chance to see the eye doctor? Any news from Leo/the dogs?
I'm fine, but nothing special, and can't say I enjoy being back in Canada. The efficiency of getting things done and ability to speak English is quite nice, but that's about it. Everything is cold, quiet, isolating, everything in town is subdued, nobody is themselves and instead everyone just puts on this fake outside persona as if they're just going through the paces instead of actually being alive. You know, the Western world.
That, and I'm somewhat stuck here. I guess there's a mall in walking distance, but you have to cross a small yet busy street, which my parents advised against if I value my life. So I'm stuck bugging my mother to drive me into town every time I need something, which is less than ideal. If this was Asia, there would be a bunch of market stalls / vendors around the streets, probably 3 or 4 small shops in walking distance that double as drinking holes I could hang out at, etc. Just a different culuture.
Leo is fine, although sounds fairly deflated and lost. He seems to be shutting down a bit, and slipping into a mild depression. He keeps worrying that I'm going to forget about him, and stay in Canada, but don't worry honey, not a chance. He's heading back to his village with his older sister on the 8th, then Songkran is just around the corner, so hopefully that will cheer him up. Then hopefully after Songkran, I can send him to Vientiane to grab another house, so he can feel like things are moving in the right direction again.
Dogs are still alive, so I guess that's the best I can hope for. The guy asked us to please pick them up soon, because Boxer (brown dog in my avatar) keeps killing all his chickens, which is no real surprise. He loves chickens, and one of the many reasons he's not allowed on the streets by himself. Worried about my white dog as he's blind as well due to glucoma, and I highly doubt that guy is taking the time to teach him the various routes around the house / yard. So he's probably just wandering around aimlessly, bumping into shit, gets drustrated and just lays down to sleep, and is probably depressed out of his mind. Told Leo to make sure to tell the guy he has a good financial reward coming his way if those dogs are alive and healthy when we get there, so hopefully they will be ok.
I'm hoping to be in Vientiane in about 4 more weeks. Just waiting for my photo ID to come in the mail, then grab a new passport, get a visitor VISA for Laos from the embassy in Vancouver, then off to Asia again to get my family back together.
No, no eye doctor. MRI scans don't lie, so with 100% certainity I have optic nerve damage, which can not be repaired these days. I'm not spending $3000 to find out what I already know, as I need that money. I do have an appointment with an eye doctor on the 17th, but not to fix my eyes. I just want a letter from a licensed Canadian optomitrist confirming that I am blind. Use that in conjunction with the letter I have from the eye specialist at Khon Kaen Ram to help get Leo VISAs around the world.