Angkor Wat, Cambodia, here we are
Trip Start
Feb 17, 2007
1
7
53
Trip End
Apr 29, 2007
Siem Reap,
Cambodia
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Okay, before I start with the whole incident about the taxi and hotel, let's talk about the immigration gates at the airport. There were a few different booths, like all airports, and one of them has a little tag that says "e-VISA." Joanna and I were so happy to see it because we thought it was going to be painless and fast since we've already got the e-VISA. But, the truth was that the luck was not on our side, we stood in line and waited for a long long time (with only a few people in front of us). It wasn't until the rest of the people who didn't have an e-VISA and bought the VISA on the spot were all cleared our line moved.
Now, back to the taxi-hotel story... To add to our surprise, ZG told us on the phone that the confirmed hotel reservation was full?! and wanted to move us to another hotel nearby at the same rate. At that point, we had no choice but say ok. Our thoughts were that we will go to the town center first and then look for another hotel. ZG said that he had talked to the prepaid taxi booth person and would let us take the taxi to the new hotel first and then they'll pay the $5 and also, the taxi driver would know where to take us. After we hung up, taxi booth guy completely "forgot" about this agreement and asked us to pay $5. With little choice, we paid and moved on.
As expected, the taxi driver also "forgot" about where we are going and kept recommending us to another hotel while asking us to use him for the rest of the few days as driver. We, of course declined. The goal was to get to the prearranged hotel (at this point, it's really not a "prearranged" anymore, ha.) and our minds were set. We had to put ZG on the phone a few more times to talk to the taxi driver in the hope that they'll sort things out. However, the taxi driver managed to continue forgeting whatever was conveyed on the phone with ZG.
After some more looping, he figured out that we weren't giving in, so he brought us to BeQuest (original hotel) first and then Heart of Angkor (new arrangement). We checked HoA and it was just way too shabby. We asked HoA owner if he could hold the room and we will come back - of course, the answer was No. We took the risk and walked out of HoA and walked back to BeQuest (man, it was hot). At arrival of BQ, we asked the front desk if they have any room. To our Nth surprise, they DO have a room. The rooms were clean and comfortable and we stayed ($13/night/room). This is contrary to what ZG had told us about all rooms booked out. I was furious at this point at ZG and demanded the front desk at BQ to see where I can find ZG. The front desk told me that he'll be in later at night. Our room was #110, and it was at the end of the walk way on the 3rd floor.
By the time we got settled in it was already late in the afternoon. We were both tired, especially after no sleep for too long, and both of us were ill. By dinner, time, we went out of the street looking for food. We ended up in a Chinese restaurant. The female owner was from ChaoJou. The food was okay. After dinner, we found a internet cafe and made an call to Rich to let him know where we are and everything was okay. Internet phone call was 1 min for 25 cents US (or 1000 Riel <local currency>). Internet usage fee is 1 hour for 75 cents US.
After dinner, we returned to BQ. At 10pm at BQ front desk, I found my driver, Raksmey, who I reserved over email to drive us around for the next 3 days. But, but, but, yet another surprise. Raksmey said that he could not take us around the next few days because he promised his current customers that he'll be with him for another day. After the entire day of problem, I was about to explode. Anyway, after some arguments, we settled that he'll take us around on 26/27/28 of Feb. As it turned out, it was actually a good thing that he had to take others around on 25th so that Joanna and I would get a day to recover a little from our illness.
ps., we did not find ZG at BQ as he promised tonight.
Travel Tip- as a backpacker, always try to arrive at a new town at the middle of the day where you have enough hours of sun light to handle the unexpected!
TT2 - always, always stick to your own hotel reservation plan and ignore anything gibberish the taxi driver tells you about what kinda bad things happen to the hotel.
Comments
It was a great story
I enjoyed reasing you blog especially this one. You should post some pictures so you can share more funs with us!
David