Cambodia

Took Kristen to the airport in Bangkok on the 30th (sad day), then headed to the mankiest hotel I've been to yet. Got up super early and caught the 3rd class 5:55am train to the Cambodian border for stupid cheap (48baht, about $1.40), a 6hr ride. I've heard so many stories about getting scammed at this border, overcharged, etc....I really wanted to get through without any of that....good luck! Ha! Once at the border, semi-official people sit you down and explain that you this is the place to fill out your visa form and the cost is 1200 baht....and that you absolutely cannot get a visa once inside the immigration. I chanced it and headed for the departure immigration on the Thailand side and immediately noticed a sign that basically says there are no more visa on arrivals. The next sign says they only way they'll let you pass to the Cambodia arrival side without already having a visa is if you have a ticket already paid for leaving Cambodia within 30days...which I did not have. So I chanced it again, sure enough they didn't ask for such proof. On the Cambodia side it was very unclear to where we should go, and almost seemed like we were across the border walking in the streets....with no visa....sketch. So I turned back a bit and found the visa place. I filled out the form and handed the officer a $20 US bill. He informed me that for $20 it would take 4 business days to process, and for a visa on arrival it was 1000 baht or $25 US. I once again slid the finished form back and explained that I know the price is $20 US and if he would please process my visa on arrival. He once again slid it back and repeated the price. I explained that I would complain to the minister of tourism if he refused to process my application for $20 US. After countless times of pushing my application back to him he finally just told me that I could not enter Cambodia without paying his desired price and told me to sit down, then closed his window. I tried to wait it out a bit, but decided I'd lost the battle and found 200 baht (around $5) to offer him on top of the $20 US. He accepted. I lost this round. I KNOW for a fact the price is $20 US, but what was I going to do?? They absolutely wouldn't budge. Whatever....next time, next time :)

Met up with a couple of people from Germany who are in university in Bangkok, going to Siem Reap for a couple of days. Cambodia is sketch and people try to scam you left right and center. It's a very poor country and begging is absolutely everywhere. Arranging a ride to Siem Reap was interesting, but we found a taxi to drive us (about 3.5hrs) for about $9/each, which was cheaper than the scam bus service from there. The roads are trecharous in Cambodia, the drivers are even worse. Exhausted when we arrived in Siem Reap, found a guest house which is rad. A room with 3 of us for only $7 US/night, and it's relatively clean. Siem Reap is a super cool town, I think I'm going to like it here.

Pics to follow as soon as I find a computer with USB.