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Published: August 7th 2007
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This was the 'road' we had to drive on
This was the 'road' we had to drive on for 5 hours from border to Siem Reap We got up at 6.40 to head to Cambodia although after getting up and starting to get ready dizzy dorris Laura realised she had not put clock o phone back to Thailand time since Singapore so it was actually 5.40 but we decided to stay up and just have early start! We headed for skytrain, then taxi to bus terminal to Cambodia, it was a 5 hour journey but we were prepared wuth snacks, books, puzzles etc The bus journey was fine although a little bumpy at times, had snooze, ate, talked and read until we stopped for the loo and omg that was a experince in itself!! It was my first time using a squatting loo which afterwards i said i would never use again (little did i know i would have no choice in the matter-i would have to) it was horrible, disgusting, basically minging, plus it had no loo roll so it was a case of shaking - eek! but hey i needed the loo so it had to be done 😞 Nways we then stopped again for a Policeman to check our passports-he checked them all, but just glanced at me and Laura's, he hen ai something to the bus in Cambodian which obviously we did not understand, to which all the bus turned to look at us and laughed! we were confused but everyone smiled so we just smiled back, the policeman then got off but gave me a wee smile and a wave as we took off-me and Laurs just smiled at him then laughed, it was a funny moment but one i think you could only appreciate of there lol! We then reached our stop with the bus, got off to find crown of men shouting at us to use their tuk tuk's, we refered to Charie then boarded one of them, its was heaviuly raining by this point so we were a little wet but not too badly, after short time the tuk tuk stoped, we got off to be confronted by a woman saying she would give us our visa;s, we knew this was a sam as Charlie told us to be awar of this happening so we said not to her, shouted at driver and reboarded tuk tuk, we couldnt belive it, they were trying to scam us and if it wasnt for Charlie we would have been out a lot of money for nothing-good old Charlie! The driver did not close over then aterproof cover so we got soaked-i think this was out of badness, he eventually closed it over but it was too late, we were soaked! Nways we eventually stopped and paid driver, cheap as chips again but you hav to set price with them all before boarding. We were then confronted bt crowds of children and adults wanting us to either go on bus with them or buy visas off them, again we knew they were sammers so we said no to all although very hard to say no to kids ith harly any clothes, filthy and obviously need money and help. After what seemed like a eternity trying to find the office to get visa's whlst still being approached by kids and scammers and having to use another squatting loo which was the most digusting thing i have ever seen in my life we eventually reached it! So we got our passports stamped with immigration stamp and were told to go get visa, the nightmare continued-people shouuting at us, trying to get our money etc including a policeman who said he would get out visas done for us for 1200B we, knew it was meant to be 1000B (he was tring to make money for himself) we eventaully found the right place and got our visa's woohoo! Next we had to get bus to Siam Reap, we then met a couple from Finand called Tine and Tommy, we agree to sahre taxi with them as it was recommended by Charlie to do this if possible so off we set to find a taxi! It was manic, about 15 guys shouting at us to get their bus which a french guy told us he had been waiting on for 5 hours and another 15 shouting at us to get their taxi, it was mayhem, me and Laura got split up, people shouting in our faces but we finally came to decision to get taxi with Tina and Tommy so off we went on our 4hour car journey, we got to know Tina and Tommy quite well, they were from Finland, but just now spending 4 months at college in Hong Kong etc, really nice couple! The journey however again was a experience in itself! The roads if ou could call them roads were madness, no concrete just mud (+with the rain it was slushy mud) so car goin everywhere, no markings s cars coming from each angle at you, bumps plus a whole ot more-its was madness! but our driver coped well and was really nice too! We made a couple of stops, one to fill up air in tyres, one at garage again to fill up air in tyres and one at little place to use loo's. On the first stop we sat in car but just outside was a family who had a little toddler (boy) who was waving at us madly, so cute! The thrid stop we also met a boy who loved coins so we have im some scottish ones, he was over them moon-you would have thought we gave him the world. But to be honest after seeing what his world was it was a big thing for him to be given those coins, it is a totally different world here. Their homes are basically shacks with waterproof covers as windows and doors if lucky enough to have them, falling apart, mad drenched, the people are walking aroung barefoot, with hardly any clothes on, its heartbreaking! You really dont know what you hav until you see how these people live.
We continued on with car journey and eventaully came to a concrete road which then led in to a town, this was the town we would be staying in, it was lovely, so friendly its untrue and our hostel very nice! We have small resturant in it too which is really nice, and serve brilliant pancakes and fruit drinks! 😊 Rooms are very clean, basic but nice! and cheap as chips-2 quid a night-superb!!! We had finally arrived in Siam Reap and i think our time here willl be great!
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