2nd and last Cambodia Visa Run Complete!!!

On Thursday Jodie and I took the day off from Mercy to complete our last and final visa run. The drive was much more manageable in the company of normal less talkative and annoying passengers. At the border we were of course bombarded by little children repeating “madam, madam” over and over in search of money. This time I came a little bit more prepared. I brought a long some of the little notebooks and pencils that I brought a long with me from Canada. Of course when I reached into my bag, a group of them swarmed me and as they snatched up the little notebook and pencils in seconds and ran off with them to avoid it being snatched up by another kid. One of the American passengers translated what the children were saying as they stood at the door of the van. They were saying “I will use the money for food, for real” and they said that over and over again.

This same passenger told us that he had been living in Thailand for 6 years and that he spent 3 days in a Thai detention centre because he was a victim of visa renewal scam at Khao San Road. At the time he was working as a teacher and he didn’t have time to do a visa run so he was advised to go to this place on Khao San Road that would give you a renewal stamp. He went believing it to be legit but later learned that it was not a proper stamp and so he was detained. At the time, an American President was visiting in regards to an OPEC summit and extra security measures were being taken at the borders. He was not the only victim, 8,000 other travelers were detained in the country during this period. Another traveler who he met while being detained ended up spending a 6 months in the Thai prison because of the same situation. He along 25 other farangs (non-thai) people sat and awaited their fate squashed together is a small room. It was a messy situation because he was being accused of fraud in what they claimed to be an attempt of replicating the border stamp. Of course this company was to blame but it took a couple of days along with a court hearing to prove his innocence. This happened in 2003 and he said that whole ordeal including court proceedings spanned a two year period. I know that if that was me, the moment I was released I would be on the next flight home. I was shocked hearing his testimony of the event along with the fact that he has continued to live here after the fact.

Anyways, off I go. Mom and Tiffany will be here in 36 hrssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!Sorry for spelling and grammar. I didn't get a chance to edit it.

Sending love from Thailand

Misty