The Knower

1. go to Mo Chit Bus Terminal near Chatuchak. Bus #509, #9 and #157 go there
2. at the ground level, go to Ticket Counter #13, #14 or #15 - Sombat Tour counter
3. schedule and pay for your bus ticket
   
   ¹ Destination/Origin: Mae Sariang. Take the bus that passes through Chiang Mai/Pai.
4. upon boarding, explain to the driver to drop you off Wat Tam Wua Monastery, otherwise, you might end up in Mae Hong Son town which is 30 minutes further out. Best to show him a written instruction in Thai.
5. from the main road, it's a one kilometer walk to the monastery

1. even though the Wat Pa Tam Wua website states that you need the abbott's permission to stay, you can just go straight there without any prior booking or registration.
2. accommodation, food (no dinner), blankets, pillow, white shirts/pants and floor mattress will be provided at no charge. Donations are accepted.
3. BEWARE: by the entrance to the monastic compound is a convenience store. It is not run by the monastery. The vendor offers Mae Hong Son/Pai tours without any quotation and charges exorbitant fees in the end. He also tells people that part of the fee goes to the monastery - this is not true. He has been reprimanded already but still, he continues his shady business.
4. floor mattress on hard bed provides no cushioning. If this is a problem to get good sleep, you can bring an inflatable camping mattress (usually 1-inch cushioning and not too bulky to bring)

1. Mae Hong Son Airport has flights to Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Chiang Rai, Mae Sot, Hanoi (Vietnam), Laos (Luang Prabang, Mandalay, Naypaytiaw, Vientiane) and Yangon (Myanmar)

This process is BEFORE Covid 19. Not sure what it is now.

60-Day Thai Tourist Visa

NOTE: There is no need to go back to your country to get the Thai tourist visa. Any major city with a Thai Embassy will do. Apparently there is also no need to have an invitation from a Thai establishment to justify the visa.

1. Bring the following to the Thai embassy:
   a) proof of money (bank statement will suffice)
   b) flight booking to Thailand
   c) onward flight back to your country from Thailand
   d) filled-in tourist visa form
   e) 2 passport pictures
   f) hotel booking in Thailand (they didn't ask me for this but better be safe)
   g) passport with at least 6 months validity
2. After handing over all the documents, they will ask you to come pick your passport with the visa the following day from 4 to 5pm. That's it!
3. NOTE: after 2 successful attempts, I was already questioned the 3rd time.

30-Day Extension

NOTE: When your 60-day visa is close to expiry and you want to extend your stay. No need to leave Thailand.

1. bring the following to the Immigration Office:
   a) passport (make sure your Tourist Visa hasn't expired yet)
   b) Baht 1900
   c) photocopy of your passport + visa duration date stamp + TM6 card (white immigration card) and sign all the copies
   d) completed TM7 visa extension form (available at the Immigration Office)
   e) one 4cmx6cm passport picture
2. submit the above to the Front Desk. They will give you a stub with your number on it. Take a seat and wait for your number to be called
3. when your number is called, your picture will be taken. Then go back to your seat. They will call you again.
4. when they call you again, they'll give you your passport with your extended visa. That's it!
5. when there are no lines, the whole process can take only 10 minutes

Book Train Tickets in Thailand Online by Train36.com

1. arrive early - in case there is a snag (visa snag, documentation snag, transport ticket snag, etc.), you will have ample time to troubleshoot the problem if you arrive early (to the airport, to the bus terminal, etc.)
2. put detailed itinerary on the Calendar apps of your smart-phone according to timelines - this is where you do all your thinking and planning. Once written down, you don't have to think anymore while you are on the journey...you just follow the steps. This frees your mind for something else that might happen while you are already en route
3. avoiding scams - as a general rule, I ignore the touts or anyone I don't know who call out to me. The calling comes in many forms - "Hi! Where are you from?", "Excuse me! Excuse me!", "Where are you going?". I don't look them in the eye and I remain non-verbal with them. If you reply to them, you just gave them an 'in' to hound you. In order not to look rude, I smile and wave the 'not interested' hand to them, without looking at them.
4. power bank - hand-carry your power bank. Do not check it in. You can be called in when you are already inside the plane to go all the way to the loading dock so you can personally remove the power bank...and chances are, you'll have to surrender it to them. And you might delay the plane departure!