This Cambodia trip was the most unexpected and unplanned trip I have ever been on. Although I had intended to travel there, I never anticipated it would happen so quickly because my 14-day visa-free had expired, and I had to leave Thailand urgently to avoid paying fines. This blog will follow my chaotic trip from Bangkok to Phnom Penh, along with some advice and tricks.
I was informed that I could not extend my visa anymore, only a night before I would leave for Cambodia. So, I checked all possible routes to leave Thailand (including those to Laos) and found a train heading to Cambodia the following day at 6:43 a.m. You can check the schedule online here (https://dticket.railway.co.th/DTicketPublicWeb/home/Home).
I even went in person to the train station (Hua Mak station, to be exact) to make sure it would leave at the exact time they announced online. Luckily, yes, it would, but I couldn’t purchase the ticket in advance and had to just buy one on the day I departed. It was a 275 train from Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong) to Ban Kong Luk Border. They only offered the basic seats, which were just with fans and not AC, unlike those going to Laos. But it’s so cheap – 45 tbh (£1) (or 49 thb if from Bangkok Railway Station) for a 4.5-hour journey!
Then, I returned to my condo and packed for a week’s trip. It was truly exciting as I love adventures and enjoy things unplanned as long as they aren’t life-threatening (laugh). It was my first time visiting Cambodia, and I had always wanted to go there mainly to see Angkor Wat.
The next morning, I left home as early as 6 a.m., and it was just a 15-minute walk to the Hua Mak station. There, I bought a ticket – they don’t make seat reservations, so any seat is available unless it is for the monks, which they indicated clearly.
The station was not very crowded, likely because this was not the starting station as the train came from Bangkok Railway Station. So, if you want a good seat, get from there. The train arrived at 6:47, so 4-minute delay, which is acceptable to me. It waited briefly for people to get on.
My first impression of the train was positive – people were chilling, no one was being bad-mannered like shouting and spitting, and the train itself was very clean (I was even stunned), unlike those in my country Myanmar where trains smelt shitty, now probably worse.
The seats were okay – although not very comfortable, it was much more than 45 baht could offer. They also have overhead steel racks for the luggage.
Then, it was off to the border. I would say it’s an underrated way to see real Thailand – it passes through many villages and towns, big and small, not to mention the spectacular views along the way. One thing I must mention here is the air – as soon as it left Bangkok, the air became fresh and clean, likely because of the rain, but the freshness was undeniable.
It was a 41-stop journey, 47 if it was from the Bangkok Railway Station where it started, so it stopped very frequently, and there are fewer chances you will get proper sleep unless you are a deep sleeper.
Despite this, the ride was calm and serene – you will see herds of buffalos grazing, groups of small monks playing around, birds darting in random directions and a cold breeze sweeping through the soft green grasses. And it was smooth and steady, too – no bouncing at all, unlike those in Myanmar.
And you don’t really need to worry about filling your stomach if you are okay with any food, for food vendors are coming in at every stop. You can get everything from drinks to local snacks. But it’s not a bad thing to be cautious of getting food poisoned – if that’s the case, then better get your own snack or food in advance to the train.
After four and a half hours, the train was nearing the border – you’ll know without checking your phone, as there are border gates with traditional steeples or roofs visible from a distance. Soon, the train stopped, and everyone disembarked.
The immigration office was right next to the railway station. The Thai side of the border was quite well-equipped – there were small, good restaurants, ATMs, and most importantly, a Seven-Eleven.
I went directly to immigration because I was eager to leave Thailand, as my 14-day visa-free stay had already expired. Following the sign that read “Passport Control and Departure,” I headed up to the second floor. Exiting Thailand was quite straightforward – you simply hand your passport to the officer, and they stamp it. In my case, I had overstayed by one and a half days, so I needed to pay a fine of 1,000 THB. As a rule, there’s a fine of 500 Baht per day for overstays, up to a maximum of 20,000 Baht for 40 days or more. The officer was nice and didn’t even ask me why I had overstayed.
I felt relieved as my anxiety about overstaying was finally over, and I moved on to the Cambodian side of immigration. After crossing the road and going up the stairs to the right of the border crossing station, as indicated on the signs, I reached immigration for foreigners entering Cambodia.
As a Myanmar citizen, I didn’t need a visa to enter, so I hadn’t prepared anything in advance and felt anxious again. I asked an officer who was really helpful if I needed to complete any forms, and he handed me a yellow form or an immigration card (shown in the picture below). I filled out the form, and that was all I needed apart from my passport.
If you do require a visa to enter Cambodia, you can obtain a visa-on-arrival for $30. You’ll need to bring a passport photo and fill out the same yellow form. Officers will take your passport, yellow form, and photo and return your passport with a visa sticker in it. Be cautious, as some people have been scammed – you may be asked to pay more than $30, which you should refuse.
The line was longer than on the Thai side – I waited about 15 minutes. When you reach the immigration officer, they may ask where you’re going, how long you’ll stay, and where you’ll be staying – nothing to worry about. They will then stamp your passport and allow you to enter. None of my luggage or backpack was checked.
continue reading on episode 4 here
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