The Last days in Thailand and Crossing Over

24 and 25/4/2011

The views on the way

The last stopover before heading to the coastal border at Hat Lek was Khlong Yai.  I managed to dodge most of the rain on my way here jumping between food stops and shelters.  The evening cleared for me so I could make the most of a night market dinner.  Man I bought way too much food and was super full after some of you may know me for eating till I want to spew… almost, I had to have many breaks in-between.

Thai roads and roadworks.
Love the Traffic Management...

So the morning came for the border crossing.  The sun was shining and it was nice and hot again.  Exchanged some money for American dollars and had the bank manager welcome me in and do it all for me made life easy.  His conversion rate was marginally better than what I expected so made a couple of extra dollars, hahaha!  Had some yarns with him about where I was going and had come from, so friendly!

The border crossing:  

The final words from The King (or maybe it's
The Prince) in Thailand. Can you spot my bike?

It was similar to what I had read about and I am very happy I did read about it.  There are scams everywhere.  I pulled up and soon after a guy come up to me and says he’ll sort my visa and if I want to buy smokes.  Politely talked to him for a bit while I sorted myself then said I will sort it all myself and I don’t smoke.  Didn’t mean much to him he just offered cheaper prices.  Whatever., I just moved on.  Departure easy.  Walked into no-mans land it was a funny feeling, you are completely countryless and weirdly felt quite peaceful – you were just yourself and that’s it (wow that was deep).  

No-mans land

Cambodian Immigration

Anyway so the Cambodia side:

“Sir you need quarantine. Sir you come up here, you need doctor certificate.”

“No I don’t.”

“Sir you need one for visa.”

“No I don’t.”

That was that and he left me alone.

“Where you going Sir.  I get visa for you.”

“I’ll sort it myself thanks.”

“Sir you need visa I will get for you.”

“I’ll sort it.”

After some other traveller directing me where to get the visa I filled out the details then came the cost.

“1000 baht”

“It’s 500 isn’t it?”

“1000 baht Sir”

“No 500 baht, I’m sure.”

Back and forth for a while then I wait for a bit then they ask me to come into their office.  A bit intimidating but in I go.  So I ended up negotiating in US dollars and went down to about 750 baht (25 USD).  Whatever, I think I should have pushed for less but it wasn’t much money and got a visa for 1 month which I thought I only got it for 2 weeks so happy in the end.  German fella who had done it a few time before only paid 20 USD, oh well didn’t know how much I could push before getting into arguments and some trouble…  know better for next time.

Visa, tick.  Immigration, tick.

Into Cambodia. Roads seem to have deteriorated.

On the bike again and down the worse for wear roads in Cambodia.  No one around so just cruised on the left side for a bit then all these motorbikes were heading for me.  Hmmm, Cambodia must be right hand drive.  It’s a weird feeling, have struggled a bit at intersections but will get used to it.  You have to look the un-natural way and I find myself riding on the wrong side every now and then…whoops.

Koh Krong bridge quite impressive

Signs of some rain coming

Koh Krong 25 & 26/4/2011:


Today I actually experienced proper monsoon rain. Sheets and sheets of it.  Incredible!  Luckily I had just sat down for a wee snack (no raincoat – not going to do that again) and was under the makeshift shelter of the stall I was at – tarps and umbrellas.  Saw some lightning hit the river (maybe about 5km down river from us) for the time in my life – cool!! And man the thunder was loud, cracking and then BANG!  Generally dry I waited an hour or so for it ease before boosting back to my room.

And rain it did!

I would like to add some videos but having problems with it currently.  Hopefully will get it sorted some time.  It's working now!!!

I was hoping to stay the night in Koh Krong and take a boat to Sihanoukville but apparently it no longer runs as it couldn't compete with the buses on the 'new' highway, stink. would have been nice and relaxing, so it will be back on the bike for what I have been told over some bloody big hills.  Man I don’t want to be caught in the middle of nowhere in those rains… we’ll see.

I have found out what a guesthouse actually is. A large house that has a row of rooms to stay in that is reasonably noisey… Now I have a power cut in my room, everyone else seems to be ok!!!!! Maybe it’s me overpowering my aircon?!

My new hotel room. Pimpin'.

26/4/2011

Shifted into a new hotel today $1 US more and much nicer; 3^rd floor with a bit of a view and lots more peaceful.  Man I’m really roughing it over here!  I think the next two or three days are going to be pretty long and tough and no idea if there will be much if any to stay on the way.  Fingers crossed. And there seems to be a lack of bread and cereal supplies in Cambodia, nooooo!! 

The clean streets of Koh Krong

A whole new world here in Cambodia.  Everything is a bit more run down than Thailand, well actually quite a bit more.  Not many flash cars, only got a few street lights in Koh Krong (where I currently am) and streets are pretty messy.  I think the average age of the population so far is 18.  You read about the effect the wars had on Cambodia and it is interesting actually seeing it and observing how it all operates here.  So far I feel it is a country trying to re-establish itself but is strongly influenced by others - currency is USD, Cambodian reil or Thai Baht.

What's this in my meal?

Oh only a small cockroach.