James was up at 3.45am this morning as it's still too hot to sleep (the last night over and done with, yay!) so we started to get things packed and ready. We met Sam and Steph downstairs and handed in our keys. Next job was to find a taxi to take us to the train station, one guy wanted a ridiculous amount and wouldn't put his meter on which they are supposed to. We did get another though who did put his meter on and even helped us with our bags. When we got to the train station it was quite busy for this time in the morning. We bought the tickets then James went to see where the train would go from and we got some cold drinks for the journey. When James came back he said the train was here and we could get on, so we got our things and got on the train. The seats aren't the comfiest but at least we're all sat together. It was a six hour journey and we were all trying to get some sleep to catch up. It was a really busy train and at every stop more and more people were getting on. Also there were people constantly walking up and down the aisle selling things in huge baskets to eat and drink which was very annoying. Once we got there we were relieved to be getting up after six hours in the same position, we all got off and went to the toilet as the train ones were awful. We haggled for a tuk tuk to the border, it only just fit the four of us in and our bags. He took us to a place to get a visa instead of the border, we'd read this would happen. They charge a lot more to do it there instead of just getting one for yourself at the border office. We didn't get out of his tuk tuk so then he took us a little nearer the border then we had to walk the rest of the way. We were suspicious now but walked towards the border, we went to Thai immigration first to get stamped out we then walked through to no mans land between the two countries which is filled with casinos and gambling which are illegal in both countries so they're all over in no mans land between the two. A guy pointed us to the visa office we couldn't help being suspicious so carried on walking and found one of the coffee places which does the ice cream drinks and also has wifi. We worked out that the guy was right and was just trying to be helpful. We went in twos to the visa place so we didn't have to carry bags, James and I went first, really easy and quick visa was $20 like it was supposed to be. Sam and steph went next they came back and told us they were asked for 100baht extra to the $20. Steph had refused and their visas had gone through as normal only costing $20. We'd read about the 100baht bribe, I guess a lot of people feel they have to pay it. We got our bags and went to Cambodian immigration, where they stamped our passports and took electronic finger prints! We knew the next bit was going to be a nightmare, there are free government buses to take you to the bus station where you can get share taxis and mini buses etc but obviously this costs you more and we've read even the police encourage you to go. We refused the bus and kept walking when we were swamped by taxi drivers. We managed to get one for $30, we'd read if you manage to get past the bus and get a taxi it should be $30-$40 so we were doing well.
We got our bags in the back, the taxi driver gave the very relaxed policeman some money and we started driving.
The air con didn't work so five minutes down the road we changed cars, it was a bit better, all four big bags fit in the boot but the car was an older one. The journey was 2 1/2 hours to Siem Reap.
We had a half way stop so the driver could smoke, it was obviously an organised stop though because it was in front of a shop and a woman was trying to get us inside saying 'come inside and buy something' we stayed outside. Back in the car we did the rest of the journey. We'd seen a hotel on the internet and were aiming for there, the driver stopped on a side road when we got to siem reap and there were four tuk tuk drivers came to the car. He obviously wanted us to get out here and pay for a tuk tuk driver to take us to the hotel but we'd already said the journey would be to the hotel. We stayed sitting and James explained that wouldn't be happening. James and the driver got back in and we set off again, there was another stop at a different hotel where he tried to tell us this was our hotel, it wasn't! We set off again, GPS said we were close so we stopped the car and got out here and said we'd walk instead. The driver then started asking for a tip, repeating 'tip for me' he did NOT get a tip! It took about five minutes to get to the place the price seemed ok seen as it included breakfast and a swimming pool. We booked for two nights to start with and have to think if we want it longer. We got to our room and cranked the air on we were finally cooling down after three days in Bangkok and sweaty train and taxi rides. We sent a message to Sam and steph to see if they wanted to eat,
non of us had eaten a proper meal today. We all had something to eat downstairs seen as it was throwing it down with rain now, the food was good though anyway. It is strange though how everything is priced in Reil, Cambodian currency, but billed in dollars, small change in given in local Reil. All of us were totally knackered by this point so paid up and got to bed.
Shower felt good after today bed felt even better!