Thailand, Part 1

Day 4, around 3 pm.

We have finally arrived in Thailand, and headed straight to our B&B for a little relaxing by the pool and a much-needed workout in the gym.

The next day, we headed out to get some things done. I wanted to get to Khao San Road (the backpackers ghetto/heaven, depending on who you talk to) for a little discount shopping (very little, mind you; the bags are already full) and to exchange some money, and to get our bus tickets to Aranya Prathet, the little town east of Bangkok on the border with Cambodia. We decided to do the trip to Siem Reap over two days, rather than one long marathon.














Pictures: Riding the river ferry, with a large turtle destined for someone's dinner. When I asked the owner how much it would cost to buy and drop into the river, I was told $30.

Some Buddhist monks on their way to the temple for the festival.

However, it turned out to be a public holiday in Bangkok, which was good and bad. Good because all the tuk-tuk (motorcycle taxis) drivers took you anywhere for only 10 Bt (30 cents) but bad because the market was closed. So we just headed to the bus station, found our 3:15 bus, and
said a sad goodbye to Bangkok.

Around 8 pm, we arrived in Aranya Prathet, found the guesthouse recommended in Lonely Planet (LP) had a little dinner and went to bed.

Our tuk-tuk driver from that night offered to meet us in the morning to get our photos taken for our Cambodia visa, and then take us to the border, which was very convenient. However, he dropped us off at this building about 500m from the border crossing, where the very official looking men assured us that that was the only place we could get our visas, unless we wanted to wait 3 days or go all the way back to Bangkok. However, everything they said contradicted LP. The visa is supposed to cost $20 (plus "service charges", which is whatever you haggle the border guys down to) and require 1 photo. These guys wanted $30 and 2 photos. And they were very smooth; one even spoke Japanese rather well, so when Yoshi and I were trying to discuss our options without them understanding, they were still able to listen.

Finally, I decided to say thank-you and goodbye, and go on to the real border, where I was sure we could get our visas. That decision was confirmed when the one guy told the most outrageous lie, telling me that if we left Thailand without our visas for Cambodia, we wouldn't be able to come back. But obviously, I can't leave Thailand unless I can get into Cambodia. And I can't get into Cambodia unless I have a visa. So no problem, right?

No problem. They were just an operation set up to get a little more money from tourists. We would have gotten our visas, but paid a little more for the service. As it turned out, our "service charge" at the border ended up being about 200 Bt ($6) each, so we only saved around $4. But it's the principle of it!

Next stop, Cambodia.