An early start, not being a great sleeper I got about 3 hours, I was rudely awakened by the alarm clock at 04:10. I was in the station getting my ticket at 04:50 and trying to find somewhere open for a breakfast. All those people who have said there are good breakfasts available at the station probably weren’t there before 06:00!! I settled for sausage rolls and a coffee at Amazon.
The train departed on time and made it’s way very slowly through central Bangkok and out towards Lat Krabang, it was 25 minutes behind schedule by then. After leaving Bangkok it did catch up most of the time before losing it again nearing Aranyaphrapet Arriving almost spot on noon.
Tuk tuk drivers everywhere as per usual outside train stations in Thailand, then again it’s the same all over South Asia. I managed to get a decent driver to take me to border for 100 Baht which was the fare I had been told during researching the trip. As per information I was taken to a visa shop to get a visa, after stating I already had a visa He was no problem and dropped me at the entrance to the Thai border control.
It annoys me here that I bank with Kasikorn but whenever I try to use their exchange services I am directed to another bank. Even after showing my bank card and pointing out the advertised exchange sign they still direct you to another bank.
After exchanging the last of the Thai Baht I had into US Dollars it was then onto the Thai border control. Straight forward exit from Thailand and even a smile from the immigration lady who dealt with me. There’s a bit of a walk between the border posts where there seems to be plenty of casinos in operation. Cambodian immigration were just as easy and pleasant as the Thai side. Fill in a form, present your passport with the print out of the Cambodian e-visa and all stamps done. I wasn’t asked for my fingerprints as had been stated in prior information.
The free bus to the International Bus Terminal from outside the border control was, basically, a salesman’s delight!! One fella up and down the bus trying to sell tickets for taxis, buses and minibuses to Siem Reap. Trouble was he kept changing both the prices and the information.
And so eventually 12 of us pile into a minibus ($10) to take us to Siem Reap. The driver was permanently trying to put the thing in the wrong gear and to my mind should have bought a new clutch for his minibus about a year ago. The air con was useless and when we stopped for a break at a shop of his choice, he spent most of the time throwing water into the engine compartment before kneeling down to look at the underside of his vehicle – either that or he was praying it would start again!!
We eventually got to Siem Reap and were dropped off at the bus station, please refer to the above photo!!
The tuk tuks are a little different here as in they are towed by a motorcycle, some are elaborately designed too. The obvious touting by the drivers with outrageous prices ensued, 200 Baht to your hotel if you book the driver to take you to Angkor Wat tomorrow morning. I called the hotel and they sent a tuk tuk within 3 minutes, the hotel is no more than 500 metres from the ‘bus station’!!
Now checked in and going to have an early night. The hotel owner seemed a little surprised I was travelling on my own, I understood when I got to the room.
I will try to upload some video of the train going through Bangkok tomorrow.