The train was beginning to leave from the platform as I boarded it in the morning heading for the border town of Aranya Prathet where I would enter Cambodia. The school was closed for a week over the New Year period therefore I decided to use the time to see the town of Siam Reap and Angkor Wat. The border crossing from Aranya Prathet to Poipet on the Cambodian side can be a little dodgy with scams and the locals trying to get money off you for fake visas, luckily for me I met a Dutch guy on the train who had passed the border many times. The train pulled into the station and I followed the Dutch guy into a tuk tuk and he was able to convince the driver not to stop at the fake border, which does actually look like a border crossing to the unknowing tourist like I was.
Getting into Cambodia was quite simple in the end, I walked out of Thailand past all the large Casinos. Pokies are illegal in Thailand so the border has many Casinos. Then I entered Cambodia having purchased a visa for 800 Baht. A bus collects you from the border and drops you at the bus station and as I was doing all this the Dutch guy turned around to reenter Thailand as he was only there to renew his visa. I found a couple of other friendly Americans who were keen to share a taxi to Siam Reap as it is quicker and not much more expensive than the bus. I noticed as I got in the taxi that they drive on the opposite side of the road in Cambodia than in Thailand.
Cambodia use US Dollar for any purchase over $1 US, for everything smaller they use their own currency the Riel. At least that is how it works in Siam Reap, I am not too sure about the rest of Cambodia. Having been travelling almost 9 hours I made it to Siam Reap had some lunch/ dinner with the Americans before saying goodbye and went to find a place to stay. On the opposite side of the road to Pub Street there was a guesthouse offering rooms from $3 to $20 a night. I was showed a room with a double bed, hot shower and fan but the selling point was the television was showing highlights of the cricket in Melbourne. I was sold and sat down to watch before heading out again to explore more of the town.
Getting into Cambodia was quite simple in the end, I walked out of Thailand past all the large Casinos. Pokies are illegal in Thailand so the border has many Casinos. Then I entered Cambodia having purchased a visa for 800 Baht. A bus collects you from the border and drops you at the bus station and as I was doing all this the Dutch guy turned around to reenter Thailand as he was only there to renew his visa. I found a couple of other friendly Americans who were keen to share a taxi to Siam Reap as it is quicker and not much more expensive than the bus. I noticed as I got in the taxi that they drive on the opposite side of the road in Cambodia than in Thailand.
Cambodia use US Dollar for any purchase over $1 US, for everything smaller they use their own currency the Riel. At least that is how it works in Siam Reap, I am not too sure about the rest of Cambodia. Having been travelling almost 9 hours I made it to Siam Reap had some lunch/ dinner with the Americans before saying goodbye and went to find a place to stay. On the opposite side of the road to Pub Street there was a guesthouse offering rooms from $3 to $20 a night. I was showed a room with a double bed, hot shower and fan but the selling point was the television was showing highlights of the cricket in Melbourne. I was sold and sat down to watch before heading out again to explore more of the town.
No comments:
Post a Comment