Written 7th December
The next morning we left on a travel mission to Siem Reap in Cambodia which was to take 18 hours! We were told 12!!! We left on a boat from the island at 8am. The boat took us to a bus. Before we got on the bus we were given out forms for the border crossing into Cambodia. The bus guy said to give him the papers, our passports and our passport photos and US$30. He said if we did it ourselves it would be US$29. We had been told this was a scam and opted to do it ourselves. So we got on the bus and were on a little while before we got to the border.
The next morning we left on a travel mission to Siem Reap in Cambodia which was to take 18 hours! We were told 12!!! We left on a boat from the island at 8am. The boat took us to a bus. Before we got on the bus we were given out forms for the border crossing into Cambodia. The bus guy said to give him the papers, our passports and our passport photos and US$30. He said if we did it ourselves it would be US$29. We had been told this was a scam and opted to do it ourselves. So we got on the bus and were on a little while before we got to the border.
At the border those of us that had chosen to do it ourselves hopped off. We first had to pay US$2 to get stamped out of Laos - you are not supposed to pay this. Then we walked across to Cambodia. We were supposed to pay US$1 to get our temperature taken (At the desk with a sign above it saying Quarantine. We knew we did not have to do this so we all refused (there were 6 of us). At first they were very stubborn and insisted we had to do it. But a Cambodian guy whispered in our ear "Stay strong and you will win." So we did and eventually they let us go to the visa office.
Here they were very stubborn. They insisted that it was US$25. We knew that the visa was only supposed to be US$20 but they said the stamp was US$5. We all refused for ages. Then the bus driver started revving his engine. They were trying to make out that we were holding up the bus but this was not actually the case. So then the border guys closed up the office and went off to random places. One was weeding the overgrown ditch! After about 10 minutes we decided it wasn't worth waiting any more so we called them over and payed the US$25. But we were annoyed about the corruption. So in the end we payed US$27 instead of US$30 which was at least something! $3 saved from corruption!
The rest of the drive was just hours and hours of driving. We did notice some changes. Cambodia was a little bit messier than Laos, with more rubbish around. At one point we were told to get off the bus and then after a bit of food had to get on another bus which was worse for me because the seat in front of me was broken and was way way back so I was in this claustrophobic position! Steve and I watched a movie or two on the laptop though. Finally at 1.30am we arrived at a bus stop and then had to catch a tuk-tuk to our guest house. Our tuk-tuk driver was a maniac! It felt like the tuk-tuk was going to tip over so many times. We finally got into our guest house about 2am! What a long mission!
Here they were very stubborn. They insisted that it was US$25. We knew that the visa was only supposed to be US$20 but they said the stamp was US$5. We all refused for ages. Then the bus driver started revving his engine. They were trying to make out that we were holding up the bus but this was not actually the case. So then the border guys closed up the office and went off to random places. One was weeding the overgrown ditch! After about 10 minutes we decided it wasn't worth waiting any more so we called them over and payed the US$25. But we were annoyed about the corruption. So in the end we payed US$27 instead of US$30 which was at least something! $3 saved from corruption!
The rest of the drive was just hours and hours of driving. We did notice some changes. Cambodia was a little bit messier than Laos, with more rubbish around. At one point we were told to get off the bus and then after a bit of food had to get on another bus which was worse for me because the seat in front of me was broken and was way way back so I was in this claustrophobic position! Steve and I watched a movie or two on the laptop though. Finally at 1.30am we arrived at a bus stop and then had to catch a tuk-tuk to our guest house. Our tuk-tuk driver was a maniac! It felt like the tuk-tuk was going to tip over so many times. We finally got into our guest house about 2am! What a long mission!
The next morning we had a sleep in and then moved to a different hotel at 11am. When we were sorted we walked into town and had some brunch where we were constantly asked to buy things. We bought a book about the Khmer Rouge off a guy who had no arms and was partially blind. I can't remember if he was a victim of the Khmer Rouge or a land mine or bomb or agent orange. There were a lot of these guys going around. We bought some postcards off a guy whose legs were all twisted and couldn't walk. He walked with his hands. I felt sorry for them all. We saw some doctor fish and decided to give them a try later. Ryan put his head in the tank.
Before you put your feet in the guy gives your feet a clean.
Look at my jandal marks. :)
They LOVED Steve's feet!
It felt nice on your hands too. I didn't want to get out.
That night we went out for dinner for some Cambodian food and met up with two of Ryan and Bron's friends.
Then had a drink with them on pub street.
On the way back we stopped to get some stuff from the convenience store. It is hard to buy normal moisturiser in Asia. Only Whitening is everywhere!
We walked home through the twilight.
Past people pushing their little stalls.
And whizzing past in their tuk-tuks.
And saw our first sign of Christmas.
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