It was now Wednesday and we’d lost count how many actual hours it had been aince waking up in Chicago on Monday. The completely sold out Thai Airlines flight left Bangkok at 7:55a. It was miraculous how Thai Airlines took off on time, attendants managed to serve meals to everyone on the plane, and distribute three different forms to be filled out for Cambodian entry, in less than one hour!
On the ground in Phnom Penh at 9:05a, we were first off and first into the line for Visas. Walk to the counter with a large Visa on Arrival sign above it: Give one form, one photograph and Passport to the first person; walk past a line of personnel sitting behind the counter to where a sign says, “Cashier”; wait while passport slowly makes its way down the line to the casher who inserts Visas and hand over $20 US. Only US dollars are accepted.
motorcycle traffic in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Phnom Penh tuk-tuks
Additional Cambodia Visa Information:
– You can obtain a Visa on Arrival at Cambodia International Airports in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh with a passport valid for at least 4 months from the expiration date; one recent photograph and tourist fee of $20.00 US only.
– Visas can also be obtained at the following points of entry. Cambodia-Vietnam border: Bavet International Checkpoint and Kha Orm Sam Nor International Checkpoint. Cambodia-Thailand border: Cham Yeam International Checkpoint, Poipet International Checkpoint, and O’Smach International Checkpoint.
fruit market in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Phnom Penh park
National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh
Passports in hand, we walked to Immigration for formalities and into baggage claim. Standing there, we noticed an ATM and decided to get Cambodian Riels. This was our third trip to Cambodia and my, how Phnom Penh has changed since 1999. Steve and I had no clue that American Dollars were now considered the “unofficial currency” of Cambodia. Duh… We entered pin, number “100,” and a nice, crisp $100 US bill came spitting out! (You should have seen our faces.) I’ve got to say that this is the first time a foreign country has ever preferred US Dollars to any other currency; let alone their own.
Luggage arrived intact and outside Baggage Claim was a long line of kiosks: Bank, SIM cards, tour operators, and one for taxi and tuk-tuk. A flat rate taxi is $9 US to one point in central Phnom Penh; such a deal because traffic is horrendous. The heat and humidity smacked us in the face as we gratefully got into an air-conditioned taxi for a short ride into Phnom Penh and Riverside Suites Hotel.
fresh vegetables for sale in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
At long last, we are there…