Here We Go!! Unfortunately I was up super early racing to the bathroom with yet another upset belly. My Japanese friends were slow to get up and it wasn't until 9am we were all organized and ready for our boarder crossing. We headed back to the bus station and found a taxi driver to drive us all the way to Cucuta in Colombia (stopping in San Antonio for our stamps) for about $3 per person. We grabbed some breakfast at the station and then headed off. We came to a police checkpoint and here I witnessed what criminals the Venezuelan police are. At first we were just pulled over as every other car but when the police noticed a car full of tourists they ushered us over to the curb alongside a shop (out of view). Stupidly I answered them when they asked me to step out of vehicle and being my bag - what happened next was two of them went through all my things and noticing my camera and phone started asking for papers - trying to make out that I needed to have papers to prove ownership of items. They did this funny thing where they had me sit in back off police car and empty all the contents of my bag into this side door thing; the young officer then pulled out a knife and made out it was in my things - bloody criminals!! This continued and they started searching more thoroughly and saying they were keeping my phone and camera. The others were still in the taxi and I am guessing they just couldn't understand enough Spanish to work out what cops wanted. Oh and at this point the corrupt cops have our passports somewhere?? I eventually was allowed to go back to taxi and now the others were being searched - the cop who searched me was not happy and come back for a second go and pointed to my other bag and that he wanted to search it; I told him know and then more of the cops came and forced me back to the car. At this point I called for help and the cops started yelling at me and grabbing their guns telling me to shut-up and get in car: I am now nervous as there are about 8 of them and I can see there all criminals. One guy grabbed my bag and started handing out pieces for the others to search. All of my dollars were hidden in my toilet bag and unfortunately they went straight for the toilet bag and spend 5 or so minutes going through it - at this point I have no idea of they had found and taken dollars. I tried to joke with them, to stop them searching my stuff but they persisted and there was literally nothing I could do. The others were searched a little but not to the extent I was - I am guessing because I understood a little of what they were saying. My stuff was eventually given back and crammed on bag and I really had no idea what they had taken. My iPad, phone and camera were safe and that gave me some comfort. I sat back in the car feeling horrible and wanting to do something - but what? The Japanese were lucky and only had their small bags searched and about $40 taken. The taxi driver got back in the car and then we informed him we still had no passports; luckily Shoku and her lovely and innocent smile worked a treat and our passports were returned.
Thankful to be on our way again our taxi driver then informed us there are 4 more police checks we will need to pass through before entering Colombia. The journey to San Antonio (Venezuelas last town) was a rather uneasy one and we were all thinking and preying there would be no more checks. We arrived with no more problems and headed straight to immigration to get to our passports stamped and pay for our exit stamps - even the customs official in the office was a p****and I could see the insincerity in his looks and his actions. At this point I checked my toilet bag for $$$ and I think all of it was there and checking the rest of my things I could see they hadn't stolen anything. I changed the last of my Bolivars whilst the others brought a bunch of snacks for there long bus ride (they will be going to Medellion). After waiting at the bridge for the traffic to ease we finally crossed into Colombian territory and in less then 20 minutes had our passports stamped and ready to go. Arriving in Cucuta we were all very thankful to be the hell out of Venezuela and for me back with the friendly Colombians. I said goodbye to my Japanese friends at the bus station and our driver dropped me out at the airport - in the hope I might find a cheap flight to Bogota aswell as paying for my ticket to Panama. After wondering around and asking the cheapest flight I could find was about $130 so I decided I would instead take a bus. I found out that if I walked about a kilometer from the airport I could take a bus into the centre where I could change some dollars and pay for my flight reservation to Panama. The city of Cucuta is a mad circus of people coming and going, changing money, selling everything from fuel to fruits and just an overall chaotic nightmare of a place. After 5 change houses I finally found one that would change dollars for pesos and guided me to where I could pay my airfare reservation. After paying my airfare reservation I picked up a few cheap avocados off some guys pushing around a cart of them (turned out not be very good ones) and then jumped on a bus back to the bus terminal. There were a few companies selling bus tickets to Bogota and luckily one was leaving straight away so to avoid sitting around the bus station for 2 more hours I brought my ticket for the bus about to leave. As soon as I boarded we were off and once again a thankful feeling has overcome me - being greatful to be getting away from Venezuela and these seedy boarder towns. The roads were windey and bumpy so the first few hours there was certainly no chance of sleep. For dinner we made an early stop at a roadside resteraunt and I was made well aware that I was not in Venezuela anymore with the huge price increase - paying $2.30 for a litre of water. I also got to have one of my favorite Colombian drinks that I have not had in quite some time; aqua panella - made from cane sugar and served as a hot and slightly sweet beverage. For dinner I had another avocado and a chocolate shake and started piling on my clothes ready for the freezing night ahead.

OBSERVATIONS:
- San Cristobal - police check: Corrupt and thieving police
- Cucuta Boarder crossing
- Back to friendly Colombia
- Goodbyes to Japanese friends
- Overnight bus to Bogota