Entering Cambodia by boat.....

Trip Start Oct 28, 2007
1
6
33
Trip End Nov 21, 2007


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Thursday, November 1, 2007

Ok, so we decided to enter Cambodia via the Mekong Delta.  This particular border crossing is not one which accepts visas organised by internet which is what the Cambodian border is encouraging all international tourists to use.  On that basia, we still had the hassle of organising Visas when we arrived in Cambodia.  By using Sinh Cafe, we avoided the hassle - Sinh Cafe do it all (while you sit and have lunch and drink beer!).

Early wakeup call (banging on the door) at 6am followed by a slightly "meagher" breakfast of bread roll, 2 mini franks and 2 packs of butter....John didn't hesitate to order a second breakfast for the measley sum of 70c.  We then experienced a 2 hour traditional rowing boat ride (Vietnamese ladies stood while rowing us around floating fishing villages).  We watched how the fish were fed (through a 1m x 2m hole in the bottom of 1 of the floating houses) before visiting a Cham (Moslem village). 

Next we boarded a longboat for a 2 hour trip up the Mekong River.  We sat in deckchairs and met Becky and Andy from Sheffield in the UK.  When we arrived at the Cambodian immigration / customs office, our Capital Tours guide took our passports, completed visa application forms and money to process.  We had lunch while being entertained by local children being children (wanted to use cameras etc).  Once our visas were processed, we boarded another long boat for the 10min journey to the official "border" between Vietnam and Cambodia.  Here we stepped off, had our passports stamped and stepped back on.

The boat was very warm, so 6 new friends (Becky and Andy and Wessel and Fiona from Amsterdam, Holland) climbed and sat on the roof.  The boat wasn't going very fast, so the roof was fairly stable.  As the boat kindly sold beer, we decided that beer oçlock had well and trully hit at about 2.30pm so each couple bought a round to while away an hour or 2.  After 2 hours or so, we actually landed on Cambodian soil and awaited a mini-bus.  We marvelled as 2 people stashed the packs of 12 backpackers (and us 2 wannabees) and 14 people into a mini bus...before we enjoyed a 90min journey to Phnom Penh. 

At 6 we arrived, greeted by many offers of hotels, tuk-tuks and the like.  Before the 6 friends departed, we agreed to meet at 7.30pm.  We then tried to book a flight from Phnom Penh to Siep Reap but as the booking offices were closed, we were told that our best bet was top go to the Phnom Penh airport at 8am the next morning.  So, we proceeded to walk to the riverfront and found some accommodation.  At 7.30, we met Fiona and Wessel.  Unfortunately, Andy and Becky were unable to join us.  We found out that Becky's grandma had died the day before and everything had finally caught up.  So, we parted our ways. 

Wessel and Fiona joined us at a traditional Kmer restaurant where John discovered "Amok" (a traditional Cambodian fish dish).  We then enjoyed a few drinks together and finally said our goodbyes at midnight (after remembering that dutch kiss 3 times on the cheek).  Ah.....sleep at last.
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