My next move - with information on lao foreign relationships

Long time readers, in perticular family and friends will have noticed that I’ve been pondering what to do with my life. The first idea I had was to attend university, however with lack of grades from school this fell through. This has lead to alot of travelling, including spending alot of time in Essarn, north east Thailand.

When I first moved to Thailand, I was full of excitment. I had to learn a new language, culture, lifestyle and friends. After spending 2 of my greatest years in the land of smiles, I have started to loose the excitment. I have learned the Thai ways of life and feel I need to learn more from another country.

Luckily my business is not suffering as we all work on-line, however I have decided to sell the office and my Thai limited company. I will continue working with my designer and SEO expert on a freelance basis so I’m sure my income/business will not suffer.

So, with my lap-top in one hand and my passport in the other I have been pondering where to decide head next. Over the last month or so I have been researching Japan which is not very convienant as it’s so expensive or South India.

Over this time I couldn’t decide however the penny dropped from my last visit to Laos. I have visited Laos 3 times over the last year and the super laid back lifestyle does appeal to me. I also have the added benifit that on my last visit I met a lovley Lao lady. Since returning back to Bangkok we have stayed in contact and as a result I have decided to move to Laos and see what we can make of it. We have only known each other for 3 days so I’m not building my hopes up, although it sure beats heading to another country not knowing anybody.

I understand from researching on-line that Lao-Foreign relationships are a no no. I considering my hat is grey rather than white so it’s not worrying me to much, although I like to understand the complications before hand.

I am now due to visit Amsterdam and the UK, for business and visiting family. When I return I will not have an aprtment or reigistered business. This means larning the visa issues I hear so many other foriegners talking about. I have been lucky that I’ve had a work permit and a one year multiple entry visa. This will certainly change with visits to and from countries every 30 days, which will involve visa and travelling costs.

So, over the next 2 days I have alot of sorting out to do including packing up the stuff I have collected in my apartment.

Here is some information on lao-forienger relationships for anybody that might find it usefull…

RELATIONSHIPS WITH LAO CITIZENS: The Lao Government prohibits sexual contact between foreign citizens and Lao nationals except when the two parties have been married in accordance with Lao Family Law. Any foreigner who enters into a sexual relationship with a Lao national may be interrogated, detained, arrested, or jailed. Lao police have confiscated passports and imposed fines of up to $5000 on foreigners who enter into disapproved sexual relationships. The Lao party to the relationship may also be jailed without trial. Foreigners are not permitted to invite Lao nationals of the opposite sex to their hotel rooms; police may raid hotel rooms without notice or consent.

Foreign citizens intending to marry Lao nationals are required by Lao law to obtain prior permission from the Lao Government. The formal application process can take as long as a year. Foreign citizens who wish to become engaged to a Lao national are required to obtain prior permission from the chief of the village where the Lao national resides. Failure to obtain prior permission can result in a fine of $500-$5000.