Word of warning: Thailand digital visa

 Well here I am at Sydney International Airport and I’ve just had some of the harrowing 30 minutes I’ve pretty much ever had. 

In truth it all started 2 months ago when I made the decision to go to Nepal to do the Annapurna circuit. I tried to book of course the cheapest flights once I knew that the trip was definite, but of course balance that with how long it would take to get there. Qantas had the best fitting deal so I went ahead and tried to book it. But I was flitting between dates looking for the better combination because I didn’t like the transit times. Finally found what I wanted and went to book it, only at that moment the system crashed! So I tried again but now the sector from Bangkok to Kathmandu is no longer available. I phoned up but they wanted $70 to “help me book” or I could just book online (I’m trying to do that you numpty) - I waited in the queue and eventually hung up in frustration. I could see that leg of the journey still available on Thai Airways website (the exact ticket I was trying to book) so I just booked it separately and thought not much more of it. 

Until today. 

I had received notification in app that I needed to complete a Thai digital arrival card online up to 72 hours in advance of my trip. I tried to do that last night but it crashed and I don’t know, I got caught up with everything else I was doing. So when I arrived in Sydney I suddenly remembered it, went online to do it, and was presented with an option of “standard processing” (taking 1-72hrs to arrive) or “priority processing” (1 hour) - at a cost or $19.99. Not too bad, so I select that option. Next minute I get a message in the CBA app of a suspicious charge of $122 and did I make that purchase. What? No! I thought I’d been scammed and immediately declined - which then triggered the cancelling of my physical debit card and them sending me a new card which will arrive in 10 days. Ten days!! I’m at the airport now!!! 

Fortunately they have immediately sent me in app a digital card (and I have my wise card). But I still have this visa problem. I go back and opt for standard processing - and again it wants payment? Of $99!! What?!!! 

Ugh. I accept the charge and pray the visa will arrive, when I get an email telling me they will be processing it in the next 24 hours- but I’m arriving in 8! So I hop online to the website and there’s a chat button. I’m heading at this stage through security and the chat keeps disconnecting and reconnecting, but about 10 stressful minutes later I have my visa (without paying the priority fee yay). 

Now that is a stress I really could have done without. Now having a quick coffee and getting ready to board my flight…

The lesson? I should have stayed on the phone with Qantas that day… an expensive lesson indeed… 

But the absolute kicker? If I had just done a quick google, I would have realised that I just needed to pack my British passport and I would have been able to do it all for free - the UK does not require a visa for Thailand…

NRL GF 2025 - The Bucking Broncos!!

This past weekend I had the opportunity to fly to Sydney with my sister Mel and attend the NRL Grand Final. What a once in a lifetime experience!

What an incredible night! I’ve no voice and I’m still buzzed from it all, reflecting on the amazing spectacle we were privileged to witness.

Three days ago I had no idea I would get to experience watching my team play in the grand final, let alone get to see them win! We were notified after the preliminary final, Broncos v Panthers, where the Broncos put paid to Panthers threatening a 5th straight premiership, that we would have the opportunity to buy tickets the next day from 10am. So Russell and Mel duly coordinated to get online together the next morning and try to get tickets. Well, this was a palaver of Taylor Swift proportions as it turned out. They logged in about 5 minutes early and when the queue was released at 10am, suddenly discovered they were 8000 or so in the queue! How ridiculous. For future reference, when these sorts of tickets are released, the earlier you can get online and wait, the earlier up the queue you will be when they become active. And don't refresh your browser or log out and back in again, no sir, if you do that, you will lose your place. On top of that, rather than the usual 10 minutes you get to finalise your purchase, you only get 4 minutes for these events. So Mel had been trying to get first 7, then 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 all to no avail, so in desperation she searched for single tickets and managed to get 2 - not even seated together. The seconds were ticking away and she just quickly clicked Apple Pay in the dying moments, but then it timed out. So she was continuing to try when suddenly she got a confirmation email - Seats 44 and 51 in the same row!

Harry had been quite vocal about going to the game, so of course it was natural that it be he and Mel attend. I was after all supposed to be going hiking with Karen and her daughter Bec, so that really didn't make much difference to me in the long run. Russell and Mel tried again at 4pm when the next lot of tickets were released, and again on Tuesday morning, but they had no luck. So it was decided that Harry and Mel would go.

We had talked about initially all driving down in convoy but when only 2 tickets were available, Mel and Harry booked flights. These were not cheap! It was so pricey that Mel decided to fly into Newcastle on the day and get the train - a 2 hour journey - but with the game in the evening that should be ok. So by Tuesday night everything was planned.

Fast forward to Thursday morning and I awake to a text from Harry "Can you please call me this morning". Eden had started showing some spots that looked like it could be chicken pox or something, and he was starting to rethink whether he could go to the game. It turned out just to be a rash, but it was the catalyst for Harry to decide to stay at home, so I was given the opportunity to go. A quick phone call to Qantas, then some 20000 points later to upgrade the name on the ticket, and another $70 to change the destination now to Sydney (we were nervous that there could be issues on the train) and I was in! The added bonus was that Mel's tickets were in the Broncos supporter bay!

We met Sunday morning at the ridiculously early time of 5.30am at North Lakes Maccas, and then drove to the airport. The thing about meeting at the Maccas is that, being on a major road, exiting means you can only turn left, so we had to chuck a uey at the lights. At that time of the morning there was an absolute tool in the car in front of us, and when the light changed, he, being on his phone or something, failed to move, so Mel gave him a friendly little 'bip' on the horn. Well, he did not. like. that!

He instead proceeded to drive EXCEPTIONALLY SLOWLY around the corner, and then slowed right down in front of us so we couldn't go past. Then on the highway he tailgated us for quite a way. It was rather unnerving. There truly are some absolute idiots out there, and this guy, with his personalised GASMAN license plate, was no exception.

Because we had only carry on luggage (and what a sight we made, in our broncos jerseys, broncos hats and even broncos socks!) we went straight through security to the Qantas business lounge, as Mel had guest passes. Here we enjoyed a nice quiet breakfast before boarding our flight.

It has been an amazing experience, the atmosphere unlike anything I have ever witnessed. What a roller coaster ride we were on too - the elation of scoring the first try, with the team looking so promising to score many more but then with the Storm scoring a succession of tries being down 22-12 at half time. To say we went into half time feeling quite deflated is an understatement.

But we’ve learned in recent weeks that the Broncos are the comeback kings and tonight was no exception. We came into this game as underdogs and frankly I think this is when we thrive. I just wish we didn’t have to do it so hard - firstly losing Reynolds then Hunt… the last 20 minutes was definitely not for the faint hearted and at times I could barely stand to watch! The emotion of it all was enormous. It was absolutely incredible to be there - the Broncos were very definite favourites with the crowd and even the announcer on the PA was geeing us up in support of the Broncos over the Storm! The crowd noise was absolutely deafening! When the final whistle blew everyone was just hugging everyone else in the bay, total strangers, it didn’t matter. We’d all been through the wringer and come out the other side, Broncos forever. Oh. What. A. Night. I will never forget it!

BRONCOS!!