Very early on Sunday morning, we hopped onto a local bus and rode off to the northern bus station in Bangkok. There, we managed to book a bus to the Thai-Cambodian border crossing at Araya Praphut. We were actually very nervous, for we had read about so many horrid experiences people had with the Cambodian officials on the other side. It appeared that they cared more for the bribe, then doing their jobs correctly and following procedures. So after a lengthy bus trip, we arrived on the hot Thai side and made our way through immigration (the officials still look at William with disbelief. His bearded face makes them rather sceptical!)

We actually made it through the Cambodian side without facing any terrible visa rip offs or unpleasant officials. The only scam we could not avoid was the “processing fee” one has to pay for the visa application. Rubbish, but at least that was it. Our first experience of Cambodia was a really ghastly one though, for the border town one walks into is a dust-and-dirt ridden, bare, and scourging place. And we would have to walk up and down the streets, waiting for our bus to Battambang that departs in the evening. Our hearts fairly sank when we saw this place, for Cambodia is a poor country still struggling to rebuild itself after the terrible regime of the Khmer Rouge. If this was what the whole country would be like, we would be a little disappointed.

We arrived at Battambang’s bus station outside of town, and then had to haggle a moto (a motorbike used as a taxi to transport people) for a fair price. To our great surprise, the driver next motioned to us to both climb onto his scooter. We still laugh about this little trip: two foreigners with all their luggage (which includes a football) pressed up to a Cambodian driver, snug as ever. I have never been physically closer to two men at one go, being seated in the middle!