A promising start with “pick up from hotel” arriving in the form of a leaky boat pulling up on the rocks under our hut, a wet trouser leg boarding and a chug past palm tree islands to the bus stop.
The first bus took us to the border where we all had to gather our bags and cross on foot going from desk to desk. At every desk some extra dollars were gathered from each person to line the wallet of the official. A dollar for the exit stamp from Laos, a dollar to have your temperature taken and be given a leaflet about bird flu (advice was if you get a fever see a doctor), some extra dollars for the Cambodian visa and a final dollar for a stamp to enter Cambodia. At least the Cambodian official had the honesty to cheerfully admit that the dollar was for his family.
Once we had all crossed it was on to a new (well different) bus which took 3 hours more than the promised 10 hours, dropping us in Phonm Penh with just enough energy to pick a flea pit hotel on hideous backpacker hangout, Lakeside. Actually the lake is being filled in for more development so more like pond-side.
Phonm Penh, Cambodia. Thursday 1st April.
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- Waiting for our bus
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- Portable Sticky Rice
