March 8, 2017

We are in Thailand – Together. Why would I put that, well we almost weren’t together. More about that later.

We had a nice breakfast at the hotel and chatted to a young American woman who was traveling on a Fellowship to study women in monastic life. She had been to India, Thailand and was now heading to Siem Reap and then to Australia. A very interesting conversation.

We had a nice ride to the border.

As we were heading out of Sisophon we spotted this outcropping of rocks. There was a large temple complex and some steps up to the top of the outcropping.

We have noticed a few Muslims in this area and we are not sure if this is a Hindu temple or a mosque.

Department of Land Management, Urban Planning, Construction and Cadastral – what is Cadastral?

As we came closer to Poi Pet the road narrowed and we lost the shoulder in places.  They are building a new Container Shipping Yard and other buildings  which we assume will accommodate offices and commercial space.  In the meantime the workers live on site. 

Some of the trees in this area are coming into bloom, it looks like spring even though the temperatures are getting hotter every day.  It is still the dry season.

The PoiPet/Thai border is supposed to be one of the bad borders to cross between Thailand and Cambodia. Primarily because of the scams perpetrated on unsuspecting tourists who have arrived by bus. As we are on bicycles, we don’t get bothered as much.

When we got to the border we spotted the departure office for Cambodia. There were a few n’er do wells hanging around therefore, we decided we would take the time to go in the office individually. I went in first, while Ralf looked after the bikes. Five minutes later my passport was stamped, my fingerprints taken and I was outside. The same with Ralf two minutes and we were ready to roll into Thailand.

We followed the traffic while watching out for an immigration office where we could get a “visa on arrival”. The rules have changed and the Thai authorities want you to apply for your visa before you leave your home country. However, according to the Thai Consulate in Canada, Canadians travelling into Thailand by plane would get a 30 day visa automatically, crossing at land borders it would be 15 days. The information on the website was very confusing. If you apply for your visa before leaving you pay $35.00 at the border it would be $40. Some countries were visa exempt, from visas and would get an entry stamp in their passports for free.  We had no idea what was going to happen at the border.

We had travelled through Vietnam much quicker than we anticipated and by taking the boat up to Siem Reap, we are two weeks ahead of schedule. Consequently we needed a 30 day visa. Our flight out of Bangkok is on April 3, 2017. We headed to a booth that said Passport Control, we were given a form to fill out and then sent back to the main hall where we would be processed.

We were waiting for about an hour in line. A little bit of excitement when a girl passed out on the floor. Her and her partner were taken to the front of the line and processed. I thought that was a good idea, maybe we could get moved ahead if I faked a faint! We decided we would wait in line with everyone else. I had our flight tickets out ready to explain we needed a 30 day visa. I told Ralf go to the oldest guy, he will probably have the authority to give us a 30-day visa.

I went up first (an older guy) – Passport, flight ticket, and a smile. He handed me back the flight ticket without looking at it! He looked through my passport, and asked me where the Cayman Islands was located! I explained we had to fly to the Cayman Islands from Cuba to get to the U.S. Then he stamped the form, my passport and wrote something on the stamped passport. I didn’t have a chance to beg for 30 days. No charge.

I went straight through the exit door, checked my passport – Yeah I got 30 days.

I waited for Ralf, and waited and waited. The people who were about ten people behind us came through, but no Ralf. I poked my head through the door to see what was keeping him. He was nowhere to be seen. I almost had a heart attack. I asked an officer if he knew where my husband was. Fortunately, the girl who had passed out was still waiting to get her approval, she told me he had to go back the other way.

Great, where the heck was he!! Why would he have not followed the sign that said exit and not try to go back so that he could find the bikes.

I went back out and followed the exit signs, trying to find my hubby and the bikes. I spotted Ralf, what a relief. “Did you get your stamp” say’s Ralf “Yes”, says I. “I didn’t” says Ralf. Crap, I was officially in Thailand, Ralf was in No-Mans Land!

Ralf had told the lady immigration officer we were on bicycles. She directed him to go back to the booth where we had first started, where our bicycles were waiting patiently for us. We went up to the booth, a different officer checked my passport. Shook his head that they hadn’t stamped Ralf’s passport. Ralf had to stand to have his photograph taken, we gave the new guy the plane ticket. He asked Ralf when we were leaving, stamped his passport and the form and we were on our way.

Yeah Ralf got 30 days as well. Now we can head to a beach and relax for a week before heading to Bangkok.

As we cycled away from the border, Ralf spotted two windmills!! Windmills in Thailand, I was still recovering from almost losing Ralf at the border. Not fair to spot windmills.

We found the guesthouse (Chusiak Bungalows) very easily. It is not in the main Town, but it is a really nice guesthouse with bungalows. If it had a swimming pool it would be excellent and I would have spent the afternoon lazing by the pool.

There is a little restaurant across the road, which we headed to after showering. My first Pad Thai in Thailand, it was good. I am looking forward to eating some good food in Thailand, I was a little wary of the food in Cambodia, all those flies buzzing around the meat in the markets put me off eating meat.

After relaxing for the rest of the afternoon, we headed back to the restaurant across the road and had dinner. I had a really nice half a roast chicken with rice, Ralf had pork with chilli and basil leaves and a very spicy papaya salad. Very good meal for $12.00.