The disadvantage of not having a watch or phone is that it makes it hard to get up for the 8:00 bus to Cambodia, the one that takes me from the ferry port near Trat straight to Sihanoukville. So I had to do it the slightly less convenient way.
A pick-up from the ferry port to Trat Bus Station and then a minibus to the border. I get to the border and was immediately surrounded by 'guides' and when they had my attention the kids were trying to undo the zips on my bag. I eventually make it to the visa office, the sign on the wall said 'visas US$20' but unfortunately I arrived on a national holiday so today it was US$50. Plus another US$20 because I didn't look like my passport photo. Then I had to pay the 'guide' who 'assisted' me through the process, and finally I had to pay a relative fortune to get a taxi to Koh Kong. This is what I was expecting at the border purely on the basis of a conversation with a couple of overly dramatic Germans who had just been through Cambodia. Reality was hassle-free. Sure they were 'guides' but if you told them to go away a few times they didn't bother you and I managed to share a taxi with a Spanish couple to Koh Kong.
The bus to Sihanoukville wasn't until 8am the next morning so i shacked up at a more than reasonable place in town for the night and watched the Saints v Cats game at a bar on the riverfront.
Cambodian karaoke blaring from the TV aside the bus trip was pretty amazing. The Cardamom Mountains remain largely undeveloped - just the Elephants, Tigers, Bears and poachers.Well worth a visit in the dry season.
Sihanoukville is a new city, only 60 or so years old, so there doesn't seem to be much around as far as cultural or historical interests go. But it does have a beach with lots of bars. Bars which have rolling Happy Hours. Happy Hours which consist of free beer or whiskey mixers. I made it 5 days into my dry September. There is no rational reason to turn down free drinks. Lots of signs up in bars for western staff, no pay but you get free accommodation, food and beer. Hmm, tempted.
A pick-up from the ferry port to Trat Bus Station and then a minibus to the border. I get to the border and was immediately surrounded by 'guides' and when they had my attention the kids were trying to undo the zips on my bag. I eventually make it to the visa office, the sign on the wall said 'visas US$20' but unfortunately I arrived on a national holiday so today it was US$50. Plus another US$20 because I didn't look like my passport photo. Then I had to pay the 'guide' who 'assisted' me through the process, and finally I had to pay a relative fortune to get a taxi to Koh Kong. This is what I was expecting at the border purely on the basis of a conversation with a couple of overly dramatic Germans who had just been through Cambodia. Reality was hassle-free. Sure they were 'guides' but if you told them to go away a few times they didn't bother you and I managed to share a taxi with a Spanish couple to Koh Kong.
The bus to Sihanoukville wasn't until 8am the next morning so i shacked up at a more than reasonable place in town for the night and watched the Saints v Cats game at a bar on the riverfront.
Cambodian karaoke blaring from the TV aside the bus trip was pretty amazing. The Cardamom Mountains remain largely undeveloped - just the Elephants, Tigers, Bears and poachers.Well worth a visit in the dry season.
Sihanoukville is a new city, only 60 or so years old, so there doesn't seem to be much around as far as cultural or historical interests go. But it does have a beach with lots of bars. Bars which have rolling Happy Hours. Happy Hours which consist of free beer or whiskey mixers. I made it 5 days into my dry September. There is no rational reason to turn down free drinks. Lots of signs up in bars for western staff, no pay but you get free accommodation, food and beer. Hmm, tempted.
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