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Published: December 27th 2012
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Pee and food stop
ANd yes, this was very combined. The food they sold wrapped in plastic had ants crawling inside and cold drinks were all warm, but we smiled as we were on our way We braced ourselves to once again become part of the masses and board the bus... We gave up trying to figure out what the best bus to take was (so many companies offer the same thing with slight variations, and we know they all offer buses/conditions that have little to no root in reality – new buses, toilets, etc...) and booked through our hotel in Saigon.
This is how the bus trip went (we didn't know it but we ended up on the cheaper bus, on the plus side there were many locals on it, on the downside, no toilets and it was so hot we couldn't do anything except sit upright and wait for it to be over...):
First we were to drive to the border at Moc Bai. The «guide» offered to do the visa procedure and said we had to give him 25 USD. We had done our homework and knew that: this was going to happen, and that the actual cost was 20 USD; that it is perfectly simple to do on your own; that when they say they will leave you at the border, it's a lie, they have to account for every person
Angkor Wat
We had our minds set on the marvel of Angkor Wat and nothing could stop us. Overheated buses, cheeky guides, slow border crossings or funky roadside food on the bus. Everyone paid up except for us and a Spanish guy (go figure) and we did it on our own. It took longer and they weren't very nice but it was simple. First you hand in your entry/exit form and your passport to the Vietnamese authorities, and wait for them to call your name (of course everyone who pays more goes first), then you get on the bus and drive 30 meters to the Cambodian side, where you go to a booth to ask for the visa form. You fill it out, pay at the booth, and go inside the building to wait in line and get your fingerprints scanned and your picture taken. Remember to bring a passport foto! It takes around 10-15 minutes longer if you do it yourself, since the bribes get you to the top of the pile. But the bus is still there when you get out, and your bags are still on the bus (you never know what they may do out of spite).
We know it sounds like a hassle for 10 bucks, but it is not the money, but the principle. If they had told us, «you can do
it yourself, but if you give me 5 bucks extra, it will be faster and much easier», then we probably would have gladly paid up...
We then drove about an hour and stopped for lunch by the roadside. So, first pee stop: two hours in at the border. Second pee stop, one hour later. Then it's the long haul to Phnom Penh. Pee stops along the way if you have a penis and can stand by the roadside, otherwise hold it or ask the driver to stop.
At Phnom Penh we had been told our bus would be quite direct, but were informed that the bus to Siem Reap did not leave until 3 hours later, 6 pm (which put our arrival at midnight, not 8 pm like we had told the hotel). We used this time to eat, relax, buy a Cambodian sim card and get oriented.
The last leg of the trip was much like the first (bumpy at times, though nothing like what we had heard...), and with few pee stops (as you can see this is a major concern for Sadie).
Armed with our new Cambodian number (roaming in Cambodia is ridiculously expensive – don't do it!!!) we managed to arrange a tuk-tuk at our ungodly arrival hour.
Having met the lovely Mr Theoun, who would become our driver for the next few days, we nestled in and got to sleep in our lovely hotel, ()... And dreamt about a week of temple exploring. We were finally going to see Angkor!!!
- Just a question to anyone reading this: why does everyone keep saying the buses in SEAsia are so cold? We have taken all kinds of busses (not only the cheapest ones) and always end up beign so hot we can't think, let alone read. If you have only experienced cold and breezy busses, please, let us know what company!
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Anastasia78
Anastasia78
Gorgeous!
This photo is absolutely beautiful! Well done.