Without the lodging change a little walk 'to the area before the river then to the markets close.
sale to tourists a lot of nonsense, clothing and beds for Thai food right in front of restaurants, there is everything and everything "cooked" at the time, so many smells (including unpleasant) and color combined with the heat are almost unconscious.
Contrary to the bed and felt the area farang nagging it is not chaotic, but it must certainly be seen in the riots that the streets are packed with all shops, restaurants, agencies, massage fish and whatever you can think of.
the evening sparkle dall'annichilente already bored of the signs I decided to walk and find a more peaceful place, through a channel and a street of restaurants known Thai (Thai-Chinese) and local outdoor tables.
One of the managers, and nicely without making sounds, catapult me \u200b\u200bto a menu giving me his desk, pen and paper, freedom of choice ...
At the next table a Western woman who saw me quite bewildered that I recommend the salad she was eating, well today I have to do anything J .
begin to talk and just tell him that I come from Italy starts talking in perfect Italian.
is Australian but the daughter of Italian immigrants, as many are here for business , sells clothing in markets around Melbourne, his city, hippie clothes to be precise, I could understand me ... besides that does other things quite special hippie would say a few months a year working and traveling in Asia, incredible woman Solar and full of positive energy, and after dinner we moved to a nearby library micro managed by an English course that also sells beer, drink, read no?.
The place is a bit 'on the edge of reality, there are 4 tables and guests "fixed" a little one English and Panza son ever to play the blues after a fair amount of beer, a German who lives in Bangkok from 9 years by selling spare parts for motorcycles in Germany, a retired Eastern Europe but scozzesizzato, and Sardinia with his wife, who has built boats for a lifetime, an African boy who stands there for days but no one knows why.
In this lively and seasoned angle spend the rest of the time chatting in their countries and lives, but most of Italy and definitely a step in that beautiful evening hilarious frame, then all to bed 23 to the city close and it all comes back, surreal desert, not a sound in the chaotic Bangkok.
Practically the last I spent two days touring the rest of the city and temples with her (and the usual people-relatives of tuc Tuccari - you always say that the temple is closed for only 10 baht and you will they visit other that no one knows, not even a Thai ... nenooo, oh well the first day but just bring all eh!! ), I have to leave for Cambodia and her return to her job but was really enlightening knowledge that gave me new aspects about Australia and its system (useful for when I'm there) as well as a dip in their memories of the beloved former "beautiful country" ... plus I got another friend from stress, I am becoming a burden on all continents J .
The next day at 7, a beautiful, bright morning in this peaceful corner of the city, the minivan will pick you up and off we go to the border.
arrive at Aranya Prathet and make us sit in the agency to fill out forms and get a visa, but I've been clear in Bangkok, are here only for transport, but they try to give me the visa them "for only" 1350 baht.
No handsome face from me, thanks ..
opposite but I attach a sticker kind of an orange square cm on the shirt saying wait for us the other side ... I'm not very convinced.
I no hurry and I am continuing my research, after 15 minutes with a military beret and sunglasses for drop blacks calling me, that makes me a sign with an eyebrow, chest out-militarized all-square looks at me from head to toe and I say to follow.
I exit door and smiling in Thailand told me after a foul, and say hello to me ... oh, well.
Actually it was the first thing I did when I was in line but some westerners have told me that you had to do before going out, nothing more stupid.
However, I do stamp the exit and entrance of Cambodia military in 36 seconds I stick the sticker on the passport, visa 800 baht a month. Half.
In the meantime, I find a pair, equal to his French Chandler, equal to her ... a thai thai, waiting for me thinking that they could share a taxi with me to Siem Reap but I tell him that he did everything Bangkok and that there should be someone waiting for me on this side, they look at the sticker and hesitant to follow me.
We do not have time to attend to the last things that we are surrounded by men in the neck with another card (type, Cambodian Tourism Association), we are told to follow them, I already started to strange but I see that all get on the free shuttle bus to the station, I speak of the agency and they tell me to follow them because of that.
We get on the bus and talking to tell me That adhesive that does not count and the fact that not having seen them will not begin to tell us what options we have to reach Siem Reap.
In fact, I have neither received nor anything, just the stupid sticker and no one was on the other hand, everyone in the minivan this morning they stopped there waiting to cross the border by taxi.
Doubts began to attack me but fortunately when I set the thing to Bangkok I left a deposit of only 200 baht and this morning when no one asked me the balance I so much less I spoke J .
We arrive at this station, brand new, looks like a small airport, just show us the resources available and the prices, inside us and only micro fast food deserts.
Now I'm not square, the rates are higher than what I know and I begin to say that I have to wait for those of the agency, they tell me that it is not, the money I've lost and I have to strength from them, I have no other options.
asks to be brought to the border but do not think about their own and if they laugh.
Even the couple with me is not at all in agreement on this matter but a little 'resigned to meeting began, I began to warm up and I demand an explanation from the two that I had been told to follow them on behalf of the agency but they pretend to say anything that is not true and I have to take the bus have their cha.
I begin to get excited slightly and I repeat my request to blow up one of them tells me that all red to turn back the tourists in Cambodia did not want him and decides who can enter or not ... all of a sudden I lay me down in front of that exhilarating exhortation and burst out laughing in his face, his blue back in the office.
Quiet and with a great face slapped me square in the waiting room began to think what to do, but after a few seconds I hear screaming my name, was the man who kindly asked me how the agency I was never waiting for the border, I explained what happened and he lashes out in fury on all the hominid station reproaching them for blatantly trying to "cheat" against us, especially with the impassioned Puffetto which becomes blue purple.
back to me and others to apologize on behalf of everyone telling us that everything is ok and in five minutes we leave for Siem Reap; they can come with us? I say referring to the Franco-Thai couple who had no reservations, I certainly respond, we're not Thai us, we are good people (imagine the face of the sweet little girl thai).
After 4 hours of van with six other foreigners and three of those evil, mendacious men who tried every minute with anyone (even me), to offer hotel and guest house with their fake smiles, we finally arrive at Siem Reap.
In sum ever border was more difficult, people really mean and false, a truly repugnant, misleading, though little has a border, bad first impression of this country.
Andrea, Siem Reap