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Our adventures in Cambodia had to come to an end, due to visa restrictions, but also we thought we should leave something to come back for - namely Battambang and Koh Kong. So from Siem Reap we headed straight for the border!
Well, maybe not all that spritely, another night out with Erik sorted that out pretty quickly! A hung over Fintan and a partially ropey Shonny set off for the border later than planned... We arrived at midday and it was a surprising crush. I had thought a major border like this would be a bit more organised. I guess its all relative.
All in all a pretty quick crossing, although we had to thank a tour guide for that on the Thai side. I was amazed to see this huge queue of people waiting to get into the immigration office! This tour guide fast tracked us passed because he saw us with the car... I felt a bit guilty walking passed all these people that had been waiting for who knows how long in the sun... There were more queues inside though. I don't know how they process all these people by the end of the day!
So we got through... of all the things I was worried about us smuggling across the border, one thing I didn't expect was the mango that was in the front bull bar - discovered by the guy who did the car service and cleaned out the engine bay in Bangkok! After a full on service and meeting up with Chris again (the guy we met in Savanakhet, Laos) we also got a full tour of the city! Chris and Dave drove us around pointing out all the tourist spots before taking us to a huge market for car parts, electronics, toys, clothes, every kind of paraphenelia you can imagine - my Dad would've loved it, Fintan wanted to stay for the whole day here!
Our hotel is very close to the BTS (Bangkok Sky Train) and also to Cowboy Soi, a very dodgy street overflowing with bars covered in neon lights and bare flesh. All the sights of Bangkok, just like the Hangover movie!
So Thailand is a place where you're every need/desire can be sated... which is strange for us. I think it was good we have eased back into civilisation through Laos and Cambodia... this is a culture shock for us! But it's also giving us a reminder of home and a push to getting back to work... Not before hitting some beaches though!!
- comments
mum You must be dizzy with all that around you! And it's nice you keep meeting up with people here and there.
Mike Richards What no ping pong show Shonny and Fintan!! It must all be a big culture shock. Look forward to seeing the photos of the beaches. Cheers Mike and Shaunna
Erik Croll Missing you guys...we definitely kept up the geologist rep for beers! Back in the states myself (for now) but battambang is on my list within the next year and it looks like I may be heading to kratie Cambodia. Hope we can hook up again in another part of the world!!!