We love Cambodia. The weather has been great. The food has been great. The live music and people have been great. The fact that so many people speak either English or French is... yep... GREAT... and makes getting around and doing things and existing a billion times easier than Thailand. However, Peter has to get back to work and I need to track down materials so I can get something useful done while I'm here, searching for my next "place".
We met our driver at around 11 and headed out. I have to say that while I'm glad we did the drive, so we could see things on the way back, I would definitely opt for flying if I ever go again. The whole trip took about 8 hours including the border crossing which got extended because the line Peter was in had camera issues and then the customs people for Thailand detained us because we were over limit on cigs and liquor. We were more than willing to pay a "tax" but were told that wasn't possible and that we couldn't take it in. They were pretty nice about it all and they let us choose what to give up and then put it in a plexiglass box that fronts the immigration area to show just what happens to the over limit items. I wonder who got my cigarettes????
When you arrive in Cambodia they welcome you with open arms. The process is hassle free (both at the land crossing and the airport). Heading the other way over land? Not so much. The airport in Bangkok is much smoother. Maybe it was just the day or weird timing or something but it made re-entry really unpleasant and we just kept saying "I really like Cambodia" like a mantra.
The one thing that is wildly apparent when you cross back is the change in economics. Infrastructure is better in Thailand. There is clearly more money all around and it's obvious from the road conditions all the way up to what people are wearing.
The weather however... ewwwwwww
We met our driver at around 11 and headed out. I have to say that while I'm glad we did the drive, so we could see things on the way back, I would definitely opt for flying if I ever go again. The whole trip took about 8 hours including the border crossing which got extended because the line Peter was in had camera issues and then the customs people for Thailand detained us because we were over limit on cigs and liquor. We were more than willing to pay a "tax" but were told that wasn't possible and that we couldn't take it in. They were pretty nice about it all and they let us choose what to give up and then put it in a plexiglass box that fronts the immigration area to show just what happens to the over limit items. I wonder who got my cigarettes????
When you arrive in Cambodia they welcome you with open arms. The process is hassle free (both at the land crossing and the airport). Heading the other way over land? Not so much. The airport in Bangkok is much smoother. Maybe it was just the day or weird timing or something but it made re-entry really unpleasant and we just kept saying "I really like Cambodia" like a mantra.
The one thing that is wildly apparent when you cross back is the change in economics. Infrastructure is better in Thailand. There is clearly more money all around and it's obvious from the road conditions all the way up to what people are wearing.
The weather however... ewwwwwww