An introduction to Cambodia.

March 9, 2010

Finally, we're on our last leg of the boat trip that will take us from Vietnam to Cambodia.  We're going to be making two stops along the Mekong river.  The first, to get the paperwork for our visas (or whatever we had to stop for.  Sometimes, you never know what's going on on a "tour" and just have to trust your guide; or have faith that you're going where you're supposed to be going - which ever one works best for you); and the second, to go through the border to get our visas and passports stamped.

Our guide asks us for our passports and papers.  What papers?  You know, the customs declaration or departure card... ah yes, those papers... the ones I threw away when I first got to Vietnam?  Ya, those ones.  Perfect.  I'm on a slow, I mean fast boat on my way to Cambodia - am I going to have to go back?!? Oh My God.  Our guide, who doesn't speak much English, keeps repeating my own sentiment out loud, "Oh my God, Oh my God, Oh my God" when he learns I don't have this paper anymore.  His reaction is making me feel so much better.  There's no way I could be the first one who has lost this piece of paper.  So I ask him if there's anything I can do and he tells me to give him 200,000VND or $10USD and it should be fine!  So what was he freaking out about?!  Afterall, we are in a country where you can pretty much pay for, or pay someone off for anything.  Minor heartattack,  but I'm good now.  Good, until I see the dock we're about to land at to get the visa paper work (or whatever).

It's our first stop and it's pretty comical because it's common place here in Vietnam - a totally unsafe way of disembarking and embarking a boat.  Oh I wish I had a picture this CRAPPY dock, or should I say crappy PLANK that is maybe a foot wide or so, about 10 feet long and no railing.  One unbalanced move and you've just earned yourself a parasite (or two) from the Mekong.  My foot slips about half way so I end up almost crawling the rest of the way.  This poor woman who was about 65 or so literally crawls across the entire thing on her hands and knees.  Seriously - they do this trip EVERYDAY!  You'd think they'd put up a proper dock because in Vietnam "safety [is] first".

The border stop is no better, you know, it's only THE BORDER!  Infact, the plank (it's not worthy of being called a dock) is worse, and the kicker is that we sail right by a perfectly "newish" dock with a proper ramp and railings to get to the crappy plank.  I ask our guide why we couldn't we go to the dock that is actually safe and the guide says he doesn't have enough money to pay the guards to dock there.  Huh? I think with a tilt of my head and squinting of my eyes...  you only do this trip EVERYDAY! Oh right, we're in Vietnam...

The last time we walk the plank is actually in Cambodia, but this time we have our backpacks and bags, which makes it even better.  But we're all alive and without parasites to tell the story.  Okay I'm being over dramatic but it was quite funny.  Bu-bye Vietnam.  Hello Cambodia!

We board the bus that takes us to Phnom Penh.  We'd heard rumours that when you get off the bus there's security guards to hold off the tuk-tuk and motorcyle taxi drivers from the new tourists.  No word of a lie, security is there when we arrive... and for good reason.  As we look out the windows of the bus, the tuk-tuk and motorcycle taxi drivers are like vultures who haven't eaten in a week waiting for their prey.  You couldn't make eye contact with them in fear of being eaten alive.  Beth and I look at each other with wide eyes and gave a knowing nod that we'd stick together.  We already don't like this place. Thankfully, we're able to seek refuge in the cafe by the bus stop as the vultures aren't allowed in.  We plan where we we're going to stay in "peace".
After Justin does a quick survey of the neary-by hotels, we take a tuk-tuk to the riverfront and find a nice little hotel. So far not a great vibe in Cambodia, I hope it gets better...