Alastair3
American expat in Laos
Forum posts
22
About me
American
Lives in Vangviang, Vientiane
Registration: 31 July 2017
Moving to Laos. Help please! by Rutherfordm
Hi there, We are moving to Luang Prabang in December from Johannesburg with kids ages 2 and 4. I am a gym fanatic, running fanatic and work remotely as a Recruitment consultant. I have so many questions which I cannot seem to find via google, so ...
I would say on the hairdressing front, for myself and my Laos gf, we go local to a basic Vietnamese hair place. Costs me 15,000Kip :-) However, their English is limited. The best place that I am aware of is "Master Cut", which happens to ... Read More
Luang Prabang by Saucebox
Hello everyone in that beautiful, tranquil, lush green town. Greetings from London. I feel a bit of a fraud on this site because I'm not an ex pat and although I plan to return to LP for the entire month of October - I was there for six days ...
Hi David, Sincere apologies for the delay in responding. It's been a busy few weeks with my online work and trying to help my gf with her restaurant and I hadn't checked my messages. I hope you're having a great time in Luang Prabang? I ... Read More
Moving to Laos. Help please! by Rutherfordm
Hi there, We are moving to Luang Prabang in December from Johannesburg with kids ages 2 and 4. I am a gym fanatic, running fanatic and work remotely as a Recruitment consultant. I have so many questions which I cannot seem to find via google, so ...
Hi! Moved to LP at the start of this year, having been in Vang Vieng and Vientiane before that. Of the 3, LP surprisingly is the most limited gym wise, as far as my experiences go. They're all minus AC and the gym in the centre of town is ... Read More
Luang Prabang by Saucebox
Hello everyone in that beautiful, tranquil, lush green town. Greetings from London. I feel a bit of a fraud on this site because I'm not an ex pat and although I plan to return to LP for the entire month of October - I was there for six days ...
I'll have to check that out now that I hope to have a little spare time - Thanks!! Read More
Luang Prabang by Saucebox
Hello everyone in that beautiful, tranquil, lush green town. Greetings from London. I feel a bit of a fraud on this site because I'm not an ex pat and although I plan to return to LP for the entire month of October - I was there for six days ...
Thanks Stumpy, that's good to know. I've only been bothering with the DIY stuff so far and leaving the Restaurant side to her. I'll definitely get it up there. It'd be nice to have any expats drop by, even if it's only to chat. ... Read More
Luang Prabang by Saucebox
Hello everyone in that beautiful, tranquil, lush green town. Greetings from London. I feel a bit of a fraud on this site because I'm not an ex pat and although I plan to return to LP for the entire month of October - I was there for six days ...
Hi David, It'd be great to talk some with a fellow Brit!! I am still discussing with my gf when she should open, but as i said we are on the River right in the prime area. Probably best to see where we are from the website where it has the ... Read More
Luang Prabang by Saucebox
Hello everyone in that beautiful, tranquil, lush green town. Greetings from London. I feel a bit of a fraud on this site because I'm not an ex pat and although I plan to return to LP for the entire month of October - I was there for six days ...
Hi David, Well, I have to say that I pay everywhere in KIP. If you have dollars, then change them at a currency booth in town. You'll get a notably better rate than any restaurant or hotel or shop in town, then just pay in KIP. The currency ... Read More
Luang Prabang by Saucebox
Hello everyone in that beautiful, tranquil, lush green town. Greetings from London. I feel a bit of a fraud on this site because I'm not an ex pat and although I plan to return to LP for the entire month of October - I was there for six days ...
Hi David, We did go by there last night and they actually have a boat service running through the day. It did say in English that it's free, which would be surprising when I think the bridge on foot was 5000Kip, but ya never ... Read More
Luang Prabang by Saucebox
Hello everyone in that beautiful, tranquil, lush green town. Greetings from London. I feel a bit of a fraud on this site because I'm not an ex pat and although I plan to return to LP for the entire month of October - I was there for six days ...
Hi David, The Bamboo bridge build time is dependent on the weather, but my gf like Bruce thinks some time in November is most likely. At the moment we have had a lot of rain, so the Nam Khan is really unusually high, so if this continues, it ... Read More
Luang Prabang by Saucebox
Hello everyone in that beautiful, tranquil, lush green town. Greetings from London. I feel a bit of a fraud on this site because I'm not an ex pat and although I plan to return to LP for the entire month of October - I was there for six days ...
You would think when the bridge will be rebuilt is a pretty simple question, but again this has reminded me, this is Laos. So my gf who lived here for 8 years and her grandmother's family who she sees almost every day now and has lived here for ... Read More
Luang Prabang by Saucebox
Hello everyone in that beautiful, tranquil, lush green town. Greetings from London. I feel a bit of a fraud on this site because I'm not an ex pat and although I plan to return to LP for the entire month of October - I was there for six days ...
And be sure to change your dollars here. The street vendors will give you a far better rate. And as you know at the airport the visa fee is best paid in dollars. Read More
Luang Prabang by Saucebox
Hello everyone in that beautiful, tranquil, lush green town. Greetings from London. I feel a bit of a fraud on this site because I'm not an ex pat and although I plan to return to LP for the entire month of October - I was there for six days ...
Hi David, 'Fraid I do not have a lot of time to relax, so I'm not too hot on the easy areas to sit. I have sat on the Mt Phousi side of the night market, There is a terrace with some short walls that I sat on, but it's a good sport to ... Read More
Lao New Year 2018
Somewhat belatedly noting that I spent it with my gf in Vang Vieng. She loves to be THE water thrower! The only bad time for me was when I wasn't feeling so great and got a coffee to perk me up, walked back to my gf with it, away from all ... Read More
UK Embassy in Laos visa courier service by Alastair3
Hi, We recently filed a UK tourist visa application with the UK Embassy and was notified over a week ago, that it had been processed and a decision made, with it now being couriered back to our address, but we have yet to receive it and we're ...
I still view myself as 100% British. Ironically I only got the US passport in case I had to spend extended time caring for my Mum outside of the US, so I could get back. You're right!!! The stain on humanity currently residing in the White ... Read More
UK Embassy in Laos visa courier service by Alastair3
Hi, We recently filed a UK tourist visa application with the UK Embassy and was notified over a week ago, that it had been processed and a decision made, with it now being couriered back to our address, but we have yet to receive it and we're ...
Sincere apologies. I thought I had posted the details. The letter did eventually make it's way to Vang Vieng Post Office. 2 days to Vientiane, 7 days from Vientiane to VV Post Office. It's crazy with the Laos Postal Service that the UK ... Read More
UK Embassy in Laos visa courier service by Alastair3
Hi, We recently filed a UK tourist visa application with the UK Embassy and was notified over a week ago, that it had been processed and a decision made, with it now being couriered back to our address, but we have yet to receive it and we're ...
Thanks Stumpy. I thought I'd put everything possible down. Sadly my partner does not have a standard salaried month check job or a house, as do most Laos people that I know, but it was the non-belief that we have a genuine relationship that I am ... Read More
UK Embassy in Laos visa courier service by Alastair3
Hi, We recently filed a UK tourist visa application with the UK Embassy and was notified over a week ago, that it had been processed and a decision made, with it now being couriered back to our address, but we have yet to receive it and we're ...
Many thanks, but she is old and her time is running out. She has lived a good life. I just want her to be happy and not worry about me! That's why I am so upset about the visa. All of which was detailed in the application, but completely ... Read More
UK Embassy in Laos visa courier service by Alastair3
Hi, We recently filed a UK tourist visa application with the UK Embassy and was notified over a week ago, that it had been processed and a decision made, with it now being couriered back to our address, but we have yet to receive it and we're ...
In actual fact that was what I was thinking of doing and I am going to consult a lawyer in the UK next week. I am more than happy to put a sizeable sum down as a guarantee. If the lawyer thinks that is a good idea, I will very happily do it. The ... Read More
UK Embassy in Laos visa courier service by Alastair3
Hi, We recently filed a UK tourist visa application with the UK Embassy and was notified over a week ago, that it had been processed and a decision made, with it now being couriered back to our address, but we have yet to receive it and we're ...
This was the second refusal. The first time they just doubted the seriousness of the relationship and concluded she would not return to the UK. This time I provided a full history from facebook of all photos and posts of us living together in Laos, ... Read More
UK Embassy in Laos visa courier service by Alastair3
Hi, We recently filed a UK tourist visa application with the UK Embassy and was notified over a week ago, that it had been processed and a decision made, with it now being couriered back to our address, but we have yet to receive it and we're ...
Eventually got it back after 8 days, including 5 days from Vientiane to Vang Vieng Post Office. Of course it was a brutally insulting refusal, despite the 300+ hours that had gone into all the documents, photos and everything that had deemed to be ... Read More
UK Embassy in Laos visa courier service by Alastair3
Hi, We recently filed a UK tourist visa application with the UK Embassy and was notified over a week ago, that it had been processed and a decision made, with it now being couriered back to our address, but we have yet to receive it and we're ...
Thanks - I've done that already and they didn't want to know. Told me to call VFS who are a waste of time and space :-( Read More
UK Embassy in Laos visa courier service
Hi, We recently filed a UK tourist visa application with the UK Embassy and was notified over a week ago, that it had been processed and a decision made, with it now being couriered back to our address, but we have yet to receive it and we're ... Read More