Well sorry I have not updated this sooner but we have been very busy. To start with it was an interesting border crossing. We were told we were travelling in a VIP air conditioned bus. Well it was true we were travelling in a bus, but a small mini van which picked us up from our hotel at 7am which we were told would take us to the bigger bus. An hour later and we are still driving round Siem Reap, as ther bus driver seems to be lost already... not a good sign considering we have not gone anywhere.
Turns out one of the guests was suppossed to be picked up fom his hotel, but had in fact gone to the tour company office, which the bus driver couldn't find. We had been to the same hotel 3 times to look for this guest. After that we continued on some really bad dusty pot ridden roads, at this point we are guessing this is the big bus. It was really used well on the roads as the doors were buggered so dust kept comming through. The bridges on the roads were literally built one on top of the other, when one rusts away they build another on top. Cows and other animals just cross the road in front and overtaking on a dusty road when you cant see the car ahead was fun... even Gavin was a bit nervous.
Eventually we arrive at the border
We get to the border and wait only an hour or so to go across constantly being hastled by kids begging. We had already given all our pens away to the children at Siem Reap who loved Gavin's flashy christmas tree and easter bunny pens.
We then wait another hour while they get the bus together. It turn out to be one big open truck which about 30 of us pile into with bags which takes 20 mins away to our double decker air con bus. Of course we have to wait another hour in a cafe before that goes.
We get to koa san road (back packer heaven in bangkok) at night to see huge groups of people sitting on the grass (the bus stop) waiting for their busses to chang mai. Its the day before holiday season so everything is in chaos. We find a nice hotel thanks to an english couple who recomend one thats only been open for a week and wander out for some food. New year season has started as we see the stalls for water appearing all over the shop.
Posted by alexd at April 16, 2004 06:12 AM