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[ScubaBuddha]

poanoi, on 2011-09-05 07:36:24, said:

Or better yet, do your duty and record the incident
http://bigboyelectro...com/pen-dvr-4gb
and upload on youtube,

Every tuk tuk customer should be issued one of these. lol

I am hoping the big "4MB" written next to the camera lens can be removed?

[starcatcher]

I just made the trip to Sihanoukville. I made it from Mae Sot, so totally about 1.500 km's.

I had 2 double entry tv's in my passport, both from last year. But I only got a single entry because (honestly a joke) I had a overstay of 2 days (first time ever I had overstay).

But it's ok for me, as I want to leave Thailand anyway, as I'm tired of all that border- and visaruns. I lived in Cambodia before and I just came back to Thailand to do my (Thai) ex gf a favor. But anyway we finished and I want to leave. I just thought, double entry give me more time to arrange things.

But now I could arrange everything in Cambodia (rented a house already and also can start working again and immediately at a friends office) so enough time to prepare for moving

The visa itself: all they asked, was a bank statement from a Thai bank.

Why I write this:

If someone wants to make the same trip (but anyway I guess, Poipet is the same), just some warnings about the scams in Koh Kong.

They really found some new methods and really everyone, I had contact with at Koh Kong, tried to scam me. Everyone - incl. Khmer immigration.

If you just want to apply for a 30 days tourist visa (you can't extend it in Cambodia), I really suggest, apply for it online (E-Visa). It costs $25 and within 3 days you get it. At the border the immigration ask for 1.100 Baht, what is about $36.

If you use a motor-taxi, don't pay more then 50 Baht (they will ask for 100) and another 20 Baht for the toll fee (which is in fact only 1.000 Riel).

Tell them, you want to go straight to the bus terminal, otherwise more problems start: they ask you, if you go by bus and they also tell you, they are not sure, if they (agents, bus companies) are willing to take Thai Baht. And so they suggest you to exchange some money. I read of even more worst scams, but usually they try to explain '1.000 Baht is 100.000 Riel'. That's wrong! They say, since the war the Thai Baht went down so much. And many tourists are not sure and change their money. And start Cambodia with some nice losses (1.000 Thai Baht is usually about 130.000 Riel).

And anyway you never need Riel. You can change money in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville w/o any problems and scams. And you will get US-$ (and Riel just like coins), because the bus companies also take Thai Baht of course.

But pay directly at the bus to the driver - never use an agent. I went to Sihanoukville and such an agent asked for 550 Baht ($18) while the normal price is between $7 (travel agency) and $5.50 (bus company).

So, make an e-visa ($25), go straight (for 50 Baht plus 1.000 Riel or 10 Baht for the toll fee) to the bus terminal without any money exchange (as not needed) and pay the ticket fee to the bus driver only.

I met many people who believed the taxi drivers the war/Thai Baht story and they got scammed for amounts between $100 and $200. Also don't buy cigarettes atthe border as they are more expensive then in an average supermarket.

If you decide to stay in Koh Kong, go straight to your hotel or guesthouse w/o money exchange (anyway they use Thai Baht in Koh Kong) and don't believe the exchange quote of 1:100 (1.000 Baht is 100.000 Riel). It's a scam!

[emilyb]

I recently crossed there on a vacation a couple of weeks ago or so, not a visa trip or anything, but same deal.  I knew about the touts in advance and got an eVisa as usual.  The best part, though, was coming back through.  One of the touts wouldn't leave me alone, so I gave him some money just to avoid handling the visa.  I knew it was a scam, but he ran around to all the windows and I was busy tapping out emails, so what's $3 to sit in the shade, right?  

I cross back over into Thailand and I'm waiting for my van back to Trat and I see the tout come through the Thai border gate with his friend and I'm thinking, "That's funny, I thought they were Khmer."  He keeps walking, sees me and they make a beeline for me and start explaining that I didn't pay for a customs stamp and that it was THB 300, so I owed him THB 300.  We were having all these conversations in Thai, but I could make out most of what he meant.  I talked to him for a minute, pulled the whole "I'm jai dii, I gave you THB 100 already for a tip" thing and he then went into the "Pii, pii!" routine and this carried on for a while until the van driver got involved and started re-translating all of it because I think he thought I didn't understand.  He wasn't in on it, he was just trying to be helpfully Thai.  I explained back in Thai that there's no fee for anything and I told the kid that I wasn't going to pay anything.  This is where it went downhill a bit.  Like most crooks in this position, he can't do anything other than attack me (broad daylight, not his country, military everywhere, unlikely) or annoy me to death (no problems there!), so he proceeds to stand there and grovel forever and try to guilt me and explain that he will have to pay it himself at which point I sarcastically gave him a big wai and told him he was very generous and turned around.

He still wouldn't leave and at this point I'm starting to get irritated because I want to enjoy my hot tea and sit there anonymously, but instead I have to argue with this tout who is embarrassing me in front of all these Thai people by trying to shame me into paying for a fee that doesn't exist.  That's when I let him have it with the full "Arai wah!" - not yelling, but firm and with a slightly raised voice - followed by something to the effect of "Little boy, you tried to steal from me in Cambodia and I gave you money just to be nice, but now you have come into Thailand where I live and you are trying to steal money from me again.  There is no fee, but if there is a fee and you forgot then you're not a very clever crook.  I am already in Thailand, you can't do anything, so I won't pay you anything.  Now please get out of Thailand and go steal from someone else, crook!"  I never lose my temper in Thailand, but he was really pissing me off and he isn't Thai, so I figured I could get away with pulling the fed up elder routine.  I could see some of the Thai people chuckling and smirking as he left all huffy, so I guess I got the call close enough.  Felt good anyhow.

The thing that gets me is, man, the stones on this kid coming to the other side of the border and finding me and demanding more bribes after I already tipped him and went through immigration and was in Thailand!  Amazing.  So pass that one on to anyone headed there - the touts will actually come into Thailand to try and extort money from you yet again.  Really hadn't seen that one before.

[IMA_FARANG]

SCubaBuddha

Quote

Ana told me something strange before sending my passport off which I still don't understand. She said several times, "We can no longer get you a 6 month visa. You must understand that this is a 3 month visa only, NOT a 6 month visa." I asked if it was going to be double entry even showing her my used double entry TV, and she said, "Yes." So I explained to her how with extensions and properly timed border bounce it could be up to 6 months. She was adamant it was "Not like that." I assume she doesn't understand how it works, and that someone probably told her that "The visa has a 3 month validity" which of course refers to the fact that you must use the first entry within 3 months. Anyone has any ideas let me know. Anyway, the visa I got is a regular dual entry tourist visa. Nothing special.

---------------------
Look carefully at your dual entry visa. Is it stamped somewhere with something similar to "This visa must be used by (date)?
I think what she was trying to explain may be that BOTH of those two entries must be made by that date. Yes it is a double entry visa but it is only valid for that 2nd entry if it is used BEFORE that stamped date.
So one day before that date you make a border run to the nearest border, cross the border, then return. When you do you will get another 60 day stamp. That second 60 day stamp can be extended in Thailand at the immigration for 30 days....so that double entry visa becomes:
first entry-60 day stamp. But actually you do border run on day 59  so equals 59 days
second entry - 60 days                                              so equals 60 days
extension on the second 60 day visa for 30 days                     so equals 30 days
                                                                -----------------------
                                                                total        149 days
Check your visa carefully if that is what it says.
If so, use that stategy I suggested to max your time.
I believe there is a 1900 Baht fee for that extension, but it's cheaper than another full blown visa trip to Cambodia.

Edited by IMA_FARANG, 2011-09-13 16:27:30.

[wtk]

ScubaBuddha, on 2011-09-04 01:56:41, said:

Ana told me something strange before sending my passport off which I still don't understand. She said several times, "We can no longer get you a 6 month visa. You must understand that this is a 3 month visa only, NOT a 6 month visa."  I asked if it was going to be double entry even showing her my used double entry TV, and she said, "Yes."  So I explained to her how with extensions and properly timed border bounce it could be up to 6 months. She was adamant it was "Not like that."  I assume she doesn't understand how it works, and that someone probably told her that "The visa has a 3 month validity" which of course refers to the fact that you must use the first entry within 3 months. Anyone has any ideas let me know. Anyway, the visa I got is a regular dual entry tourist visa. Nothing special.

ALL of the entries must be used before that date or they become invalid!

[poanoi]

ScubaBuddha, on 2011-09-05 13:56:53, said:

poanoi, on 2011-09-05 07:36:24, said:

Or better yet, do your duty and record the incident
http://bigboyelectro...com/pen-dvr-4gb
and upload on youtube,

Every tuk tuk customer should be issued one of these. lol

I am hoping the big "4MB" written next to the camera lens can be removed?

I just bought a pen similar to, if not identical to this pen in MBK, 640*480 resolution at 1500 baht.
I have recorded 1.5 h straight which consumed half the memory, but it also has provision to hook up with external battery.

The 4 GB thing is just a sticker that can be relocated.

Now if anyone know what the law says on video-recording crimes in  Cambodia/Thailand and it's use in court of law ?

Edited by poanoi, 2011-09-14 13:08:01.

[starcatcher]

emilyb, on 2011-09-13 15:10:53, said:

...and start explaining that I didn't pay for a customs stamp and that it was THB 300, so I owed him THB 300...

I guess, he really made a loss with you . When I was on the way back, there are 2 counters from the Khmer Immigration (with 3 officers inside that time). But they took only passports at one of these counters, although there were 15 foreigners or even more waiting. But some of the touts got money from foreigners and gave their passports to the second counter, where they didn't take passports, with some money inside. So they got the stamps, even without their last "innovation" - the fingerprint scan; while the money moved below the desk

I've never seen another border checkpoint in Southeast Asia with more scams then Koh Kong - on the Cambodian side of course. In a way, I felt happy, when I was back in Thailand...

And in 3 months I have to go there again, with all my belongings (furniture, motorbike etc.). So I wonder now already, what kind of surprises waiting for me   But good luck, it's really only Koh Kong. In Sihanoukville I never got scammed like in Koh Kong. Not more at least then anywhere else in Asia...

[david555]

starcatcher, on 2011-09-13 09:12:16, said:

I just made the trip to Sihanoukville. I made it from Mae Sot, so totally about 1.500 km's.

I had 2 double entry tv's in my passport, both from last year. But I only got a single entry because (honestly a joke) I had a overstay of 2 days (first time ever I had overstay).

But it's ok for me, as I want to leave Thailand anyway, as I'm tired of all that border- and visaruns. I lived in Cambodia before and I just came back to Thailand to do my (Thai) ex gf a favor. But anyway we finished and I want to leave. I just thought, double entry give me more time to arrange things.

But now I could arrange everything in Cambodia (rented a house already and also can start working again and immediately at a friends office) so enough time to prepare for moving

The visa itself: all they asked, was a bank statement from a Thai bank.

Why I write this:

If someone wants to make the same trip (but anyway I guess, Poipet is the same), just some warnings about the scams in Koh Kong.

They really found some new methods and really everyone, I had contact with at Koh Kong, tried to scam me. Everyone - incl. Khmer immigration.

If you just want to apply for a 30 days tourist visa (you can't extend it in Cambodia), I really suggest, apply for it online (E-Visa). It costs $25 and within 3 days you get it. At the border the immigration ask for 1.100 Baht, what is about $36.

If you use a motor-taxi, don't pay more then 50 Baht (they will ask for 100) and another 20 Baht for the toll fee (which is in fact only 1.000 Riel).

Tell them, you want to go straight to the bus terminal, otherwise more problems start: they ask you, if you go by bus and they also tell you, they are not sure, if they (agents, bus companies) are willing to take Thai Baht. And so they suggest you to exchange some money. I read of even more worst scams, but usually they try to explain '1.000 Baht is 100.000 Riel'. That's wrong! They say, since the war the Thai Baht went down so much. And many tourists are not sure and change their money. And start Cambodia with some nice losses (1.000 Thai Baht is usually about 130.000 Riel).

And anyway you never need Riel. You can change money in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville w/o any problems and scams. And you will get US-$ (and Riel just like coins), because the bus companies also take Thai Baht of course.

But pay directly at the bus to the driver - never use an agent. I went to Sihanoukville and such an agent asked for 550 Baht ($18) while the normal price is between $7 (travel agency) and $5.50 (bus company).

So, make an e-visa ($25), go straight (for 50 Baht plus 1.000 Riel or 10 Baht for the toll fee) to the bus terminal without any money exchange (as not needed) and pay the ticket fee to the bus driver only.

I met many people who believed the taxi drivers the war/Thai Baht story and they got scammed for amounts between $100 and $200. Also don't buy cigarettes atthe border as they are more expensive then in an average supermarket.

If you decide to stay in Koh Kong, go straight to your hotel or guesthouse w/o money exchange (anyway they use Thai Baht in Koh Kong) and don't believe the exchange quote of 1:100 (1.000 Baht is 100.000 Riel). It's a scam!

On Airasia there is a promotion currently , i booked my flight to Phnompenh for a total of 2570 bath (roundtrip-flight) it is an early booking for as my double entry + extensions end....

Subject: Your AirAsia booking has been confirmed.

From: itinerary@itinerary.airasia.com (itinerary@itinerary.airasia.com)

To:

Date: Wednesday, 14 September 2011, 15:25

Booking Confirmation

Thank you for choosing AirAsia.

Your booking has been confirmed and your travel itinerary will be emailed to you very soon.

Booking Number: Booking Date: Wed 14 Sep 2011

Guest Details:

Name

Flight Information:

Date Flight Depart Arrive

Wed 29 Feb

2012

FD 3616 BKK (BKK) 15:15 PNH (PNH) 16:20

Thu 08 Mar

2012

FD 3617 PNH (PNH) 17:05 BKK (BKK) 18:15

Inflight Services:

FD 3616 BKK-PNH

Guest Seat SSR Information

FD 3617 PNH-BKK

Guest Seat SSR Information

Total Fare Price : 2390.00 THB

Total Fees : 180.00 THB

Total Amount : 2570.00 THB

Payment(s)

Date Type Amount

14Sep11 Master Card : 2570.00 THB

Balance Due : 0.00 THB

[ALFREDO]

-SCUBABUDDHA-
Phuketrichard is right, Food, Thaifood and Falang-Barangfood are easy to get in combination.

near the Lions Circle up to Sokha beach from an Austrian-German Restaurant-Schnitzelwirt Owner, Christian, with his Thai GF,

from the Austrian Beergarden Rest. in the middle of the town-main road, side-Soi, Roman with his Thai GF

from the German Freedom Htl Rest. in the middle of the town, side-Soi, Stefan with his Thai GF.

and some more.

[tropo]

IMA_FARANG, on 2011-09-13 16:20:40, said:

SCubaBuddha

Quote

Ana told me something strange before sending my passport off which I still don't understand. She said several times, "We can no longer get you a 6 month visa. You must understand that this is a 3 month visa only, NOT a 6 month visa." I asked if it was going to be double entry even showing her my used double entry TV, and she said, "Yes." So I explained to her how with extensions and properly timed border bounce it could be up to 6 months. She was adamant it was "Not like that." I assume she doesn't understand how it works, and that someone probably told her that "The visa has a 3 month validity" which of course refers to the fact that you must use the first entry within 3 months. Anyone has any ideas let me know. Anyway, the visa I got is a regular dual entry tourist visa. Nothing special.

---------------------
Look carefully at your dual entry visa. Is it stamped somewhere with something similar to "This visa must be used by (date)?
I think what she was trying to explain may be that BOTH of those two entries must be made by that date. Yes it is a double entry visa but it is only valid for that 2nd entry if it is used BEFORE that stamped date.
So one day before that date you make a border run to the nearest border, cross the border, then return. When you do you will get another 60 day stamp. That second 60 day stamp can be extended in Thailand at the immigration for 30 days....so that double entry visa becomes:
first entry-60 day stamp. But actually you do border run on day 59  so equals 59 days
second entry - 60 days                                              so equals 60 days
extension on the second 60 day visa for 30 days                 so equals 30 days
                                                                -----------------------
                                                                total        149 days
Check your visa carefully if that is what it says.
If so, use that stategy I suggested to max your time.
I believe there is a 1900 Baht fee for that extension, but it's cheaper than another full blown visa trip to Cambodia.

You're giving away 30 days doing it that way.

Get an extension on your first 60 days - total 90 days.

Do you second entry at 90 days just before the visa expires.

Total 180 days

[ScubaBuddha]

tropo, on 2011-12-01 03:25:02, said:

IMA_FARANG, on 2011-09-13 16:20:40, said:

SCubaBuddha

Quote

Ana told me something strange before sending my passport off which I still don't understand. She said several times, "We can no longer get you a 6 month visa. You must understand that this is a 3 month visa only, NOT a 6 month visa." I asked if it was going to be double entry even showing her my used double entry TV, and she said, "Yes." So I explained to her how with extensions and properly timed border bounce it could be up to 6 months. She was adamant it was "Not like that." I assume she doesn't understand how it works, and that someone probably told her that "The visa has a 3 month validity" which of course refers to the fact that you must use the first entry within 3 months. Anyone has any ideas let me know. Anyway, the visa I got is a regular dual entry tourist visa. Nothing special.

---------------------
Look carefully at your dual entry visa. Is it stamped somewhere with something similar to "This visa must be used by (date)?
I think what she was trying to explain may be that BOTH of those two entries must be made by that date. Yes it is a double entry visa but it is only valid for that 2nd entry if it is used BEFORE that stamped date.
So one day before that date you make a border run to the nearest border, cross the border, then return. When you do you will get another 60 day stamp. That second 60 day stamp can be extended in Thailand at the immigration for 30 days....so that double entry visa becomes:
first entry-60 day stamp. But actually you do border run on day 59  so equals 59 days
second entry - 60 days   so equals 60 days
extension on the second 60 day visa for 30 days so equals 30 days
-----------------------
total 149 days
Check your visa carefully if that is what it says.
If so, use that stategy I suggested to max your time.
I believe there is a 1900 Baht fee for that extension, but it's cheaper than another full blown visa trip to Cambodia.

You're giving away 30 days doing it that way.

Get an extension on your first 60 days - total 90 days.

Do you second entry at 90 days just before the visa expires.

Total 180 days

Just came across these replies....Yes that is how I understood it. BOTH entries need to be before the expiration date. I did not explain that correctly.