Day 1: All Booked for the Next 3 Days

Weather Update: Sunny with increasing clouds. High of 29°C.

Travel Plans

I've booked my bus, which departs at 2:00 PM on Sunday and arrives at 5:30 AM. I'll be spending Christmas Day in Phnom Penh and New Year in Siem Reap, Cambodia, near the Laos border.

Farewell to Bangkok

I've enjoyed my time in Bangkok, but navigating the traffic can be a challenge. The road rules exist, but stepping off the curb requires constant vigilance as the traffic rarely stops for pedestrians. It's a continuous battle between the public and the vehicles.

The Journey to Cambodia

The bus journey took 3 hours to reach the border. The roads are mostly two-lane highways, but they felt like an obstacle course with rough, uneven surfaces. There were times when I unintentionally left my seat due to hitting a pothole or the wavy road surface that had me bouncing up and down.

Border Crossing

The border crossing was surprisingly straightforward. I expected more security, but we didn't have to pass through any scanners or undergo bag searches like in other countries. I was picked up and dropped off twice by motorcycles with no helmets to my pickup point for the trip to Phnom Penh. It's concerning to see parents riding with their children standing on the front part of the bike with no protection. In case of an accident, the children would suffer the most, highlighting a significant lack of safety measures.

The Sleeper Bus Experience

I managed to get some sleep on the bus, despite being woken up by passengers joining at various stages of our journey. The difference between the advertised nighttime sleeper and reality was stark. The luxurious coach photo was misleading—what we got were flatbeds on the floor of a coach, which was extremely cold with the air conditioning blasting all night and very thin blankets that didn't keep you warm.

Despite the challenges, I arrived safely at 5:30 am.