Slow Train to Cambodia

We are in Cambodia now, staying in what is the Ree Hotel Siem Reap. Five star, it could be a while before I stay in a place like this again. Not really my style but certainly a change from what we are used to. Nice big pool though.

We left our Guesthouse at 4.45am and caught a taxi to the railway station for a 5.55am departure. The train was right on time. It was easy to get tickets as I am sure it is a well used trail. There are only 3rd class tickets but the seating was fine. We swivelled one of the twin seats so we were facing each other. It is the poor mans train, it only cost 48Bt ($2NZ) for an adult and half that for a child to travel for 6 hours to the boarder. It must have stopped 15 times in Bangkok and another 30 on our way.

Every so often some traders would get on board and sell various items, which many we were unable to identify. We were well stocked luckily and bought some corn later on. A pastry with beans inside seems to be very popular.

Holly is still as popular as ever and entertained the local passengers anytime she venture down the isle. Some people left and just had to touch Julia and Holly. The Immigration people on the boarder had Julia and Sophia sitting on their lap. They are very family focused in this part of the world.

The landscape on our journey was rather bland. Once we left the outskirts of Bangkok there were continuous rice paddies and the occasional villages and towns. The train stops everywhere and there were always people coming on and off the train. Some of the stations were very small.

Eventually we stopped at a town call Aranyaprathet. From there we caught a tuk tuk to the boarder, about 10kms. I should have known but he dropped us off at their illegal visa office. There were about 8 Europeans sitting around filling in forms. It just didn't look right, told the guy ushering us in what I thought of him and started walking down the road towards the boarder. The guidebook warns about places like that. I was annoyed because we had luggage, a family and about a 200m extra walking in the heat because of it. 

The real official officers were very helpful and an hour later we were out the other side, meeting our good friend Dan who came from Siam Reap to meet us. It was quite serial being in the front seat of the car. Didn't last tho as I had to sit in the back seat for the second hour, Sophia sleeping on my lap.

Cambodia is what I would call more authentic. Lots of bicycles and dirt everywhere. Rubbish is left on the side of the road. The people are just as friendly especially when you go walking down the road. I went to a couple of stores last night and people were very helpful.