Border Crossing

Getting into Thailand is free for Americans. As long as you have a passport, the border guards greet you with a grin and a quick stamp. Getting into Cambodia requires a little more effort.

If you're smart, like Amanda, you buy your visa online beforehand. You can print it off and it only costs around $20. If you're dumb like me, you can buy it at the border for around $35, and you have to deal with enthusiastic entrepreneurs who offer to fill out your paperwork for you, as well as offering your rides into the nearest big town, Koh Kong. These guys are distinctly not your friends, and having to deal with both them and the corrupt border guards leaves you with a great initial impression of Cambodia. But there are really only two options, smile, suck it up and pay a little more, or get angry, realize you have to suck it up anyway, and pay a little more.

Oh well, at least here they smile at you when they screw you.

- Doug