Skip to main content

Experiencing the cross

Now Cambodians and Thais could cross each other's borders without visa. They could stay as tourists up to two weeks, and all they need are simply their passports.

Just a week before the new agreement implemented, I had a chance to experience the border crossing without using my passport (I confessed I forgot at home) but ID card. The purpose was just to shop at the Cambodian-Thai friendship market located in Thailand.

I had two options, one was to go for a Border Pass that allows me to stay in Thailand for a week and get it revalidated every week. The second choice was to get an Immigration Card that grants me rights to wander around the border market up to 8 p.m. I went for the second one as it fit with my plan.

Instead of standing in the queue, I could sit. But my turn was not guaranteed.

The card making process was simple: waiting, taking a photo, showing ID card, paying fee, and waiting again. It was not long, just around five minutes, but waiting in the queue before that was a pain. Anyway, it was worth to do so as the shopping experience next was pleasant.

This is the market but I am sorry as I took only one photo. I was interested in its goods more than its images.
  
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Cambodia needs Toyota or vice versa?

If the plan to build a Toyota factory in Cambodia succeeds, it will be a new step in the country's development. Both sides, Cambodia and Toyota, will benefit of course. The question is who will gain more? And how can Cambodia maximize its benefits from this investment? Toyota is looking for new markets after its sales decreased this year. Cambodia's rapid economic growth for the last few years and its low cost of labour are two attractions for the company. Those factors should make Cambodia a good market for Toyota. Some rich Cambodians are waiting for the chance to buy the latest Toyota cars to drive in the streets without paying import tax. But poor, rural Cambodians will not see any benefit from the new auto factory. They might have hoped that the factory will provide jobs to their children but their children's farming skills will be of no use to Toyota. Cambodia, of course, will receive foreign capital from a Toyota factory. The country will also have the opportunity...
2 comments
Read more

Snakes, give me a break!

A street vender in Kompong Cham today asked me to try this special dish. "Brother one of these snakes will fit well with a can of beer," she suggested. I was not convinced as snakes are always my scary creatures. They do not look delicious although they were cooked with promising ingredient. "No thanks, just looking," I replied and left. Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4
2 comments
Read more