The long journey into Cambodia

Well the last morning in Vietnam, we went to see some fish farms on the Mekong delta. They raised mainly catfish and carps there. But soon we're told that those people (like me) who booked the "fast" boat to Phenom Penh will not be able to do so because the boat is out the service and that it is also overbooked (who knows what the real story is). We're also told that we'll get our money back (US $7) although most people paid $8 (the tour company took a cut there).

A lady on the boat went bulletstic, I think it is because the tour is well below expectation and now the final blow. She demanded the boat guide gave her the full tour package refund ($43) and the guide actually cried as a result. Most people are calm knowing it is the tour company that is responsible and not someone like her.
Anyway the last item on this tour was visit to a Cham village, no one was in any mood of visiting. Although the visit to the family toliet was very interesting. The houses along the Mekong delta are build on stilts, so the toliet is just hole with long drop down to the river. In our case it was low tide, so no water at that time (use your imagination ;)

Our journey to Cambodia started with a "slow" moto boat ride up the Mekong to the border. We disembark for lunch, had our Vietnam exit stamp, and cleared custom, got Cambodia visa (for those don't have one yet, like me it is $25) and walk over to Cambodia side to get on another "slow" boat for Cambodia. The official visa rate is $20, but most people paid "bribe" to the official/agent.

The lunch place is also function as currency exchange in which you paid in Dongs and in return you get Cambodia Riels. But the money ladies were pulling a fast one on the tourists with conversion rate of US $1 = 3000 Riels, the real rate is around 4200! I told them no, want my changes in Dongs. I rather keep few dongs as souvenirs than to give it to the blood suckers. I then told some of tourists about their scheme, and the ladies denied it is 4200, but now they raised to 3500. They were not too pleased with me.

Anyway on the slow Cambodia boat, the "guide" also let people exchanged money, but his rate is more reasonable at 4000. I exchanged US $2 just to get by.
We then disembarked at an warehouse 1.5 hours away from Phnom Penh and took a bus over potholes ridden roads into the city. So 9 hours later we arrived in Phnom Penh around 6:30. Of course it was dark and we're in a new country/city, we decided to check in at the hotel the bus dropped us off instead our original plan.

I roomed with a German lady into an AC/TV/hot shower double-bed room for $10. The price here is pretty expensive (just like Saigon). But from what we saw, Cambodia is lot poor than Vietnam, although things are changing as well.

I'll stay here for couple days, before I head up to the famous Angkor Wat in Siemp Reap