BUSSES, TRAINS and BORDER CROSSINGS

Spent the last few days making the overland trek from Sihanoukville in southern Cambodia to Vientiane, Laos - via Bangkok- by tuk-tuk, bus, minivan, songthoew (back of a pickup truck), motorcycle taxi, VIP bus, skytrain, underground subway, overnite train and tuk-tuk. Luckily I had a few days - but it can be pretty cranky making when 2 border crossings are concerned.

Overland border crossings can be frantic - at least mine have been - and here's how they play out......

First, make your way to the border to get your EXIT stamp, avoiding the touts who want to "help" you fill out your forms, carry your bags, walk you to the Exit point, etc. All for a tip of course. Remember - Maintain smile, patience and composure as Border Officials tag on extra fees for "overtime" and anything else they can think of to part you from your money before you leave the country. Remain Calm.... they have your passport!

Next: walk, ride, or run the gauntlet of guys who want to "help" you fill out your forms, carry your bags, walk you to the Immigration office for the country you'd like to ENTER! All for a tip of course. Maintain smile, patience and composure - remember your blood pressure!!

Get the ENTRY stamp - then gather your wits for negotiating your ride into town....more fun!

Top 3 highlights of this recent travelganza?

The Bronze Medal goes to the Aussie guy at the Cambodian Border who fell for ALL the scams and handed out $20 bills instead of $1 bills to all the touts. Guess he was so excited to get to Pattaya (sex city) he just lost his mind!?

The Silver Medal goes to the lovely, clean and connected Bangkok Skytrain and Metro (underground) system - that gets me everywhere quickly and cheaply. Got into Bangkok by busby early afternoon, took 2 skytrains and the subway to Hua Lamphong train station, dumped my bags for a few hours, then jumped back onto the skytrain to the Siam Centre mall for a huge salad and a late afternoon movie (Avengers!), all before catching my overnite train to Laos. Zoom Zoom!

But the Gold Medal goes to my "Whiskey Madam? Whiskey?" travelmates on the overnite train to Laos. No sooner had I arrived to my cabin when OyOy, my Thai cabin mate, pulled out a bottle of Johnny Walker Red Label and started pouring. Three for me and 9 for her. I counted. The Porter, her brother (really), kept popping in with ice and soda and the occasional shot. This carried on until we ran out of conversation that could be mimed and OyOy started snoring. Next morning, it started up again at 9 a.m. This time the Porter didn't even pretend to be working - just plopped himself down and pulled up a glass for the last 3 hours of the trip into Vientiane. HA!! Gotta love those travel days!!

Picture is from Hua Lamphong train station - random shots from a travel day...