Today was yet some other "adventurous" overland edge crossing sort of twenty-four hours from Thailand to Cambodia. This was correct upwards at that topographic point with the complicated, anxiety-provoking overland edge crossing from Republic of Ecuador to Republic of Peru that nosotros did dorsum inwards May.
We've read in addition to heard a lot of chatter nearly the potential pitfalls in addition to traveler nightmares of crossing the Cambodian border. Perhaps a view to these sites for some inspiration: Seat61, Poipet - WikiTravel, Cambodia: Poipet - Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Warning.
It's non that nosotros were worried nearly whether or non immigration volition allow us in. We already had our $25/pp Cambodian e-visas issued inwards advance. It's all nearly getting across the edge in addition to to our finish without getting scammed...too much. Basically, bribes in addition to scams are rampant inwards this stereotypically rundown edge town of Poipet, Cambodia, in addition to oblivious tourists are the primary target. Though this may non live a truthful representation of Cambodia, it is a expert representation of most corrupt edge towns around the world, in addition to Kingdom of Cambodia is no exception.
By now, yous should know that nosotros made it across the edge to alive in addition to tell nearly our experience! So, how did nosotros do?
Here's what our 13-hour move twenty-four hours looked like...
TRAIN FROM BANGKOK TO ARANYAPRATHET
We knew nosotros were getting on a 5:55 am train for the Thai edge town of Aranyaprathet. It was a really expert sentiment to instruct to the prepare station early, purchase our 3rd shape (the alone shape available) tickets for 48 baht each, in addition to abide by seats. Passengers were already onboard in addition to many seats were taken yesteryear 5:30 am.
 |
| Woman peeling light-green papayas |
Apparently, nosotros chose to sit down inwards the "dining car". A duet of ladies had their portable kitchen spread out with the seats, preparing snacks for the prepare ride. We decided non to partake inwards whatsoever of the nutrient equally shortly equally nosotros saw her grabbing a bucket of tap H2O from the bath (usually non-potable water) in addition to started putting her peeled vegetables inwards the water. But, nosotros were fascinated yesteryear her training of light-green papaya salad!
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 3rd shape prepare with opened upwards seating in addition to opened upwards windows is a to a greater extent than upfront in addition to personal ride for experiencing the Thai scenery, smells, in addition to sounds. We passed by shantytowns, lots of nutrient stalls, piles of trash, lush greenery, mopeds, machine horns, beautiful lotus flowers, rice fields, grazing H2O buffaloes, etc. Oh, but how could nosotros forget the stifling humid oestrus in addition to mosquitos buzzing inwards in addition to out of the windows inwards a standing room only, packed train? It was an uncomfortable practice inwards perseverance, to tell the least. We are really wimps. Needless to say, nosotros don't recommend anyone taking this ride say, inwards July or August when the conditions is fifty-fifty to a greater extent than sweltering.
 |
| Selling meat in addition to fish balls on train |
However, if you tin overlook the heat, humidity, in addition to mosquitos, it tin live a rattling interesting ride in addition to fun to lookout Thai life inwards action. Except for their nasty habit of throwing all their trash out the window! Plastic bags, plastic bottles, cans, leftover food, tissue, yous mention it, littering the countryside. I tried non to live judgmental with "cultural differences" throughout our trip, but I couldn't assist throw a few disapproving looks their way.
 |
| Yes. This was an actual halt along the way. One of nearly forty stops along the Bangkok to Aranyaprathet route. |
After vii hours in addition to dripping with sweat, nosotros arrived at Aranyaprathet train station. The station was basic but did direct maintain decent western trend restrooms for free, which was rattling welcoming because nosotros didn't run to the bath for vii hours!
 |
| Aranyaprathet prepare station |
 |
| Western trend toilets at Aranyaprathet prepare station, no charge! |
TUK-TUK TO THE THAI IMMIGRATION
The actual Thai-Cambodia edge is all the same some other half-dozen km east. There were enough of tuk-tuks waiting to direct maintain us at that topographic point from the prepare station. Our inquiry showed that if nosotros could instruct a tuk-tuk for less than 100 baht/each, nosotros would have averted the showtime chance to instruct scammed. We were able to abide by a ride for 50 baht/pp (yes!) in addition to told the driver to direct maintain us direct to the Thai immigration office.
 |
| 6 km to the Cambodian border |
Unfortunately, simply similar everyone warned, the driver took us to a mistaken Cambodian visa utilisation on the Thai side of the border, fifty-fifty though nosotros already had our Cambodian visas in addition to nosotros specifically asked to live taken direct to the Thai immigration office. Sigh. After some insistence, he took us to where nosotros needed to be. We recollect this mistaken utilisation tries to sell tourists a visa for an inflated cost that could live fake, or tries to tell tourists they demand an International Vaccination Ceritificate which is non truthful (and of course of pedagogy they come about to direct maintain that available at this facility). The tuk-tuk drivers get some sort of referral kickback or something. Regardless, scam potential number 2 averted.
THAI IMMIGRATION
There were clear signage directing travelers towards the Thai immigration office. It was inwards a dainty air-conditioned edifice in addition to the run out procedure took hardly whatsoever time. However, for those intending to provide to Thailand for longer, this is non the house where someone tin renew their Thai visa for some other thirty days. It's simply a small-scale immigration post in addition to non a consulate.
 |
| Good signage to Thai passport control |
 |
| Thai immigration office |
 |
| So long Thailand! We shall run across yous again. |
CAMBODIAN IMMIGRATION
Once stamped out of Thailand, nosotros walked across the border, nether the arch, in addition to towards the roundabout where the Cambodian entry immigration utilisation is located.
 |
| Roundabout inwards Poipet, Cambodia |
 |
| The cream-colored shirt guys, helpful, multi-lingual, but they are touts for the authorities sponsored Transport Monopoly. |
We were all of a precipitous swarmed yesteryear official looking immature men with cream-colored collared shirts on, directing us to the office. They spoke expert English, Japanese, Chinese, whatever linguistic communication they sentiment yous spoke, in addition to personally escorted each grouping of travelers to the immigration office. At first, nosotros were skeptical because nosotros detest touts in addition to nosotros sentiment they were simply trying to scam us into taking us to a mistaken Cambodian immigration utilisation or using their carry services or whatever. However, they seemed harmless equally they directed everyone to the immigration office.
The Cambodian immigration was a hot, humid place. We were inwards line, dripping sweat, waiting to instruct our visas stamped. We finally officially entered Kingdom of Cambodia nearly 1.5 hours afterward nosotros got off the prepare inwards Aranyaprathet.
 |
| Hello, Cambodia! |
BUS TO SIEM REAP
At this point, at that topographic point were 2 options - both of which are potential scams, in addition to then the interrogation was, which is less risky?
A autobus ride to Siem Reap, gateway to Angkor Wat, should direct maintain nearly 3 hours. Unfortunately, for scam potential number three, a 3 threescore minutes autobus ride tin run a 20 threescore minutes autobus ride if yous accidentally instruct on a "scam autobus or shared taxi" off the street. It's been known that the driver may direct maintain the passengers to a remote location that is non your desired destination without much selection but to consume in addition to slumber at the alone eatery in addition to hotel available that happens to live 'recommended' yesteryear the driver. Of course, your ride is nowhere to live institute the side yesteryear side day, in addition to then everyone is on their own, trying to abide by alternate transportation. Pretty clever, eh?
Now, at that topographic point are efforts to seek in addition to discourage these scenarios yesteryear non providing whatsoever chance for travelers to interact with random touts yesteryear the ubiquitous cream-colored shirt guys. Some hardcore travelers despise the sentiment of a authorities sponsored Transport Monopoly, preferring to abide by their ain cheaper (and riskier) trend of transport; but for us newbies to Cambodia, nosotros sentiment using the Monopoly made getting to Siem Reap a piffling to a greater extent than predictable (but non complimentary of opportunities to upwards sell their services).
 |
| Waiting expanse for complimentary shuttle bus, correct exterior of Cambodian immigration |
 |
| Shuttle bus. |
 |
| There they are! Tagging along on the shuttle autobus in addition to then they tin start their hard-sell, i time nosotros instruct to the Poipet Tourist Passenger Internarional Terminal. |
We boarded a complimentary shuttle autobus that takes the passengers to the Poipet Tourist Passenger International Terminal, nearly 10 minutes E of the edge run yesteryear the Monopoly. Of course of pedagogy there's nada else out at that topographic point except for their own transportation, otherwise it wouldn't live a monopoly, at nowadays would it? The multilingual, cream-colored shirt wearing guys made certain nosotros got on the appropriate shuttle and tagged along all the means to the autobus terminal. We threw 'em a $1, simply to instruct them off our back.
 |
| Passenger terminal for the Transport Monopoly, nearly 10 minutes out of town. |
From here, nosotros had the alternative of a $9/pp bus, $10/pp minivan, $12/pp shared taxi (need 4 inwards taxi), or $40 for your ain taxi to Siem Reap. Taxi was plainly the fastest means since it left instantly for a 2 threescore minutes ride. As shortly equally at that topographic point were 8 to nine passengers, minivans were also leaving frequently. We simply opted for the bus. The cost may direct maintain been to a greater extent than than a regular non-tourist autobus going to Siem Reap (Note: non a unmarried Cambodian on our bus), but for a few dollars extra, yesteryear going through the Transport Monopoly, we felt similar nosotros averted a big scam potential number three.
However, the 45-minute pit halt at a eatery upset at to the lowest degree i unsuspecting passenger who came unglued in addition to started organizing an "uprising". Seriously, dude. Chill in addition to direct maintain a beer earlier yous wound yourself. Not certain how this guy has survived traveling through Southeast Asia thence far. No i is always inwards a hurry 'round here, in addition to then his rants simply looked ridiculous. We've all had a long day, but getting upset wasn't going to instruct us to our finish whatsoever faster in addition to then nosotros simply had a duet Cambodian brewskis, secretly wishing that this autobus fellowship would trace the scam maneuver in addition to direct maintain us to a remote hotel, simply to run across what this guy would do.
 |
| Mike looks sooooo tired! Trying out dissimilar Cambodian beers to kill time. |
 |
| Angkor beer inwards a tin with trace tab! |
The autobus was dainty in addition to air conditioned. Everything happened equally expected (including the moments where they tried to sell us a hotel room in addition to tour to Angkor Wat...no, no, no give thank yous you...*smile*), and nosotros had no major complaints.
EXCHANGING MONEY
The touts at the Poipet Tourist Passenger International Terminal kept insisting that nosotros central our Thai baht for a "good rate" at their currency central counter. We looked upwards the going charge per unit of measurement of Thai baht for Cambodian Riel on our handy iPhone app in addition to decided to hold back for a much improve charge per unit of measurement elsewhere, thereby averting potential scam number four.
We really heeded the advice of the move blogs in addition to got US of America Dollars inwards advance. Cambodia transacts inwards USD except for smaller purchases which may live done inwards their Cambodian Riel. Having USD helped us purchase the autobus tickets in addition to such without having to utilisation their currency exchange, since at that topographic point were no ATM machines at the terminal (Coincidence? We recollect not).
TUK-TUK TO HOTEL IN SIEM REAP
Our in conclusion hurdle of the twenty-four hours was trying to abide by a reasonably priced tuk-tuk from the autobus terminal to our hotel. This is where it got really funny. As expected, this Monopoly bus dropped us off nearly half-dozen km due west of Siem Reap inwards a dirt lot behind Angkor Howard Hotel off National Highway half-dozen (Airport Road) instead of going to the primary Chong Kov Sou autobus terminal on the E side of town. "Conveniently", tuk tuk drivers were already waiting inwards this dirt lot to direct maintain us to our hotels, hoping to secure an all-day tour to Angkor Wat for the side yesteryear side day. Again, it wouldn't live a Monopoly if they dropped us at the primary legitimate autobus terminal, now would it? The going tuk-tuk charge per unit of measurement was $3/pp to the centre of town nearly half-dozen km away. Our hotel was on the E side of Siem Reap 8 km away, in addition to then nosotros parted with $4/pp. We know it's non a lot of coin to us, but it was in all probability at to the lowest degree double or triple what a normal tuk-tuk ride would've cost, in addition to then we alone partially averted scam number five. Exhausted in addition to sweaty, nosotros gladly parted with our $8 simply to instruct to our hotel.
 |
| If yous google Angkor Howard Hotel, it shows yous the incorrect location. Here's the hotel website map showing it is much closer to the airport. |
 |
| Here is where nosotros recollect the dirt lot is located behind Angkor Howard Hotel where the autobus dropped us off at. Again, it is non the primary Chong Kov Sou autobus terminal inwards Siem Reap. |
ALTERNATE ROUTES
Let's simply say, to avoid all this hassle, it may live worthwhile to pass $400+/pp in addition to wing the brusque distance from Thailand to Siem Reap or Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Entry into Kingdom of Cambodia is a lot less adventurous going through the airport.
MADE information technology TO SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA
For the residue of us on a budget, nosotros can't direct maintain it both ways...cheap in addition to easy. The 7-hour prepare ride from Bangkok to Aranyaprathet, Thailand at 48 baht/pp (USD$1.75); 50 baht/pp (USD$1.75) tuk-tuk ride from the prepare station to the border; USD$9/pp autobus ride to Siem Reap; in addition to USD$4/pp tuk-tuk ride is means to a greater extent than economical for a full of USD$16.50/pp...if yous don't instruct scammed.
The seasoned travelers that nosotros are, nosotros lay our game faces on in addition to tackled these obstacles i yesteryear i without getting rolled, give thank yous you rattling much. Even though nosotros were vigilant in addition to came out of this intact, the whole experience left us with a slimy feeling. We are at nowadays happily enjoying our hotel inwards Siem Reap!