The last few days have been filled with many highs and many lows. Let's see the last time I wrote I was on Koh Chang just relaxing on the beach. One night there was a beach party and met up with some people that I had met in Vang Vieng and had a few drinks. They had fire dancers and everything and it was really an awesome time. Some of us decided to go for a swim in the Gulf of Thailand. Probably not the smartest of ideas while a little intoxicated but no one drowned which was good but we came back to the beach to find all of stuff was stolen. I mean I guess it is our fault but we left next to one of our friends who was passed out. I thought he might wake up and scared them off or at least deter anyone from stealing our stuff. It was the first time in 3 days that I brought my wallet and camera out so from now on I will only be taking old school film photos so you will just have to take my word as to how beautiful things are. Thank god I have a back up ATM card and my passport was not in there or else I think I would be a permanent resident on Koh Chang.
After that big blow I decided not to rent a motorbike because I lost about $50 as well when the wallet was stolen. I laid on the beach one more day and enjoyed Valentine's Day with a bunch of Aussies. It was a pretty fun night only to be followed by a very long and frustrating journey to Cambodia. So I was told to be ready at 8 am to leave for Cambodia but got a knock on my bungalow door at half 6. I was told to get in the minibus and we drove to the ferry port. Since I went to bed at 2 in the morning slept for the first 4 hours of the journey and then we stopped and waited at a bus station. We waited there for about 30 minutes only to get back on the same minibus to the border another 2 hours away. I think we changed buses once more and then got to where we needed to get visas. In the guide book and everyone I was with knew we were only supposed to pay about $25 for our visa. We got to the border then the driver got a call so he took us to a hotel to fix our visas out. We had to pay 1200 baht which is close to $40 and we all made a scene but there was nothing we could do. The man said it had to be expedited and this was the only way. First scam dealing with Cambodia.
Then once we got through all the border crossing we were told that Siam Reap only had one ATM and it is often out of money and the best place to get money was there but the money was Thai baht that you could change to Cambodian ruil with no commission. Since all I have on me at this point is an ATM card I believe him. Basically got murdered on the exchange rate and lost another $15 when it was all said and done and I realized how much each currency was worth but it was too late. Second scam in Cambodia.
Then on the other side you have to take government bus to the bus station which took 30 minutes of waiting in the really hot heat of Cambodia. At the bus station the bus came and I was one of the last to get in line. They said there was no more room and I walked away but then they let on a German couple right after me. By this point I had kind of lost it and laid into all the guys working there saying this is bullshit and reenacting my best pissed off Mark Bean. But it was and I was furious. Of course they reassured me another bus was coming in 10 minutes but everyone that was on my minibus was on the bus and I was left out at this bus station with no one else in it...of course I am not an idiot and they are not going to send a bus for just one person. Luckily I met this British guy George on the minibus and he was not in the mood for a 7 hour bus ride to Siam Reap and according to the people at the bus station could upgrade to a taxi ride there for only $8. George said I could get in and ride with them but when time came they wanted money out of me. I told them I was not paying and waiting for a bus that they had said was coming. Apparently there was no bus because the man I originally argued with told me to just get in the cab and did not want to deal with me anymore.
After a 3 hour car ride we arrived in Siam Reap and got a room. nice room with two double beds for $2 per person. Finally after all hassle of getting here we got a reasonable rate on a room. We were both up to get some dinner so ate and had a few drinks and decided today we would just relax. Tomorrow we are gonna get a tuktuk tour of Angkor Wat which I am really excited for. I am really sorry I will not be able to share photos with you but when I get home in a month I will get all my photos scanned and put them up for you to see.
Cambodia has been frustrating and it seems that everyone is out to make an extra buck where they can. It is really frustrating because they want tourism to take off here but when people piss you off it will give nothing but a bad name. Maybe that was only getting in and it will be alright but the jury is out. Hopefully things will be better in the days to come.
