I don’t know: either I’m very bad at bribing people or it’s simply very difficult to bribe people here! Unfortunately my attempts to solve my visa-troubles with a hefty bribe have not succeeded so far.

This is what happened: When I was in Chiang Mai I ordered a 30 days Visa for Laos at the Rama Guest House. And I paid 1,600 Baht for it. When I got it back three days later I even asked the people working there: “O.k., where does it say 30 days?” The woman called “Boo Boo” pointed her finger at a line where it says “VT” and said: “Here!” And unfortunately I couldn’t do much more then believe her. At the border however my Visa was only stamped as a 15 days visa. Something I only found out in Luang Namtha. A 30 days visa is supposed to read “B3”! As soon as I knew this I went to Immigration in Luang Namtha. But unfortunately they said that there was nothing they could do for me unless I had a visa for China. In that case we could all just pretend that I had left and reentered the country and I could get a new visa. Unfortunately the lady did not want to pretend that I had a visa for China. And she didn’t suggest anything else. Damn.

In Nong Kiaw I was told that I might be able to solve my problem in Luang Phabang. But unfortunately the local immigration office there didn’t want to do it either. I then asked her whether I could get a visa-extension for 15 days, something that supposedly costs two dollars a day. Again she said that I had to go to Vientiane and she was still shaking her head when I asked whether she can think of any extra “fees” that might make her change her mind.

As a last resort I went to a travel agency that I had been told could arrange the extension for me. But they were asking for an outrageous four USD/day! I declined – quite shocked – and will now probably have to cut my stay in Luang Phabang short in order to make it to Vientiane on a weekday. Else I’ll just make a border-run to Thailand over the friendship bridge and back. If I overstay my visa it’ll cost between five and ten USD/day – depending on whom you talk to.