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| May 09, 2007 5:45 pm |
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re: re: re: International Thread - Carry On Sharing |
Ernie Martin
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On the way to Cambodia-
Just couple years ago in May, I was touring SE Asia. Made arrangements from Bangkok, Thailand by tour bus to visit Seam Reap, Cambodia. (Cost US$20). I bought the air-condition bus ticket at Bangkok's main train station, 2nd floor.
After reaching the Cambodia/Thai border and going through the motions of immigration, all the tourists from different buses were told to wait nearby a lobby of a small hotel for a small Cambodian bus and it's driver will assist us around noon. The border was very, very dusty and I did wear a mask for protection and breath "clean" air.
Majority of the travellers were young Europeans and sprinkle of Americans and Canadians, and no Cambodians or Thai's for that matter. We were about 25 people.
The small bus didn't show up until 4pm. It's about 4 hour drive from the border to Seam Reap on unpaved/dirt "highway" going through the agricultual heartland. The bus broke down half way because of engine/electrical problem around 6pm. Thank god we stopped for dinner somewhere.
While we were waiting for the driver and a mechanic to fix the bus, local boys and girls (in primary school) were hitting the tourists with local products to buy. They spoke excellent English and the kids knew world geography execeptionally well, and were very superior in their general knowledge of the world affairs compared to American kids. Finally, after the bus was fixed, we reached Seam Reap at midnight, thats right midnight and checked in.:-)).
To make matters worse, on my return trip to the Thai border, the bus axle broke because of the dirt highway and stones/pot holes and jerking. Here we go again and the afternoon temperature around close to 100 degrees F and maybe 95% humidity. I was bathing in sweat.:-)). Thank god for another restaurant on the way. Again all the tourists were foreigners, including sprinkle of Japanese. We had to tranfer into pick up trucks and I rode back of a pick up including 10 others with some rain pouring. I was very glad to reach the frontier of Thai border at 4pm.
Thailand has good highways and good buses and I was on my way to Pattaya by bus, a seaside town in Thailand.
I don't advise people travel by bus into Seam Reap. Fly if you can.
Happy travels!
Cheers,
ErniePrivate Reply to Ernie Martin (new win) |
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