Can it get any worse?? aka 40 hours to Siem Reap PART I

Well I am here- though last night it was doubtful that we would make it. Between sleep depravation, this cold I cant seem to shake, the bus and its endless troubles, and the fact that the "salesman" selling us on this ride was a total and complete liar, I thought we were done for and would be stranded overnight in the middle of NOWHERE.

Here is the first installation of my hellish trip from Gwangju to Siem Reap Cambodia.

Woke at 9 on Thursday morning because Chris wanted me to go with him to his university to put out the fire that was giving him grief. His boss- a woman with a reputation for being rather mean- but one who we find incredibly nice, was at an anger level of 8 out of 10 because Chris wanted to take off 2 days before the end of term to meet me in KoSamet and spend his birthday on the beach. I suggested that it might be better for him to go alone, rahter than take me. It just seemed too much like "I brought my mommy- please dont be mad at me". But I could see Chris's point of view since this lady and I get along great and he thought if I explained that I was the casue of the early ticket, she may be less mad. Unfortunately he will be staying in Korea for his birthday and coming stand-by.

So that was my wake-up call and I was feeling rather ill from my cold. I was slow and sluggish but got out the door at 11:15 am to go to the bus station. Keep in mind my flight was at 7 pm.

Bus ride of 5 hours, and I was in Incheon. I was the first person at check in and was asked if I would like to switch to a direct flight to Bangkok because the flight was oversold. I agreed and checked in anyway. They said they would tell me at the gate. I had 2 hours tro kill and spent my last bit of Won buying a belt puch made by victoria knox to wear UNDER my clothes. Safty thing. I have 800 bucks on me. No cash machines in Cambodia and no travellers checkes in Thailand (so I was told- I dont thing that is entirely true).

I was told at the gate that I could stay on that flight. Darn! So I flew the 2.25 hours to Taipei and waited for three more at the airport for the connecting flight. I felt remarkeably well considering it was now 1 am and I was sick.

Flight to Bangkok was a breeze and as I got out, I was approached for a taxi. Now I normally never go for these guys, but you have to consider that I have 17 grand worth of camera equipment with me- without which my trip here will be almost pointless. Almost I say because I do want to see this place as much as I want to photograph it. So I went for it becasue it was 3 am, in Bangkok, all alone and I was feeling a wee bit vulnerable. 7oo Bhat later (35 CAD) I was at the train station. I FELT SO RIPPED OFF! The driver was very kind though and warned me not to eat or drink anything offered to me by strangers.

The old train station was beautiful, and there were maybe 50 people waiting for various trains, in various stages (and positions)of sleep. I went and bought a ticket- 48 Baht- (1.50 CAD) and had to laugh out loud. I waited three hours, and refused to sleep becasue I was too nervous. And it was the LONGEST three hours in my life. I saw a very tall girl come in, who was obviouislt not Thai, and I thought "I have to talk to her, she must be going to Ananya Prathet (Thai border town to Cambodia and the last stop for that train). She is sitting next to me right now- so I obviously did talk to her. But I will have to tell you on the next installment cause I am HUNGRY and we are going for dinner.