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dicey eye

Over night in Thailand

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dicey eye

PoiPet has virtually no stores that sell Western food on a consistent basis. Its hit or miss when looking for Western staples like cheese, ham, mayo, peanut butter or butter. Sometimes they’re in stock, sometimes not. The “not” times can run up to a couple months.

My alternative in getting Western foods is trekking to Battambang, a three hour drive on precarious roads.

Decided to try a different tack, go across the border to Thailand and attempt stocking up the Western food items there. The Big C stopping Mall is merely 4 miles as the crow flies from my house.

For expats crossing over on land it is mandatory to stay overnight. Can’t  just scoot over and back the same day. Since I wanted to keep up my exercise regime of swimming 40 laps a day I looked online for a reasonable hotel with a decent pool.

Went to Thailand July 6th and stayed at Tournesol Boutique Hotel for the night. The room and amenities were merely OK, nothing to write home about and no English language TV options. But the free buffet breakfast was tops. Buffet included fried eggs sunny-side up, ham, chicken, beef, rice dishes, bor-bor (a local porridge), a variety of fresh fruits, corn flakes, toast, milk, coffee, tea and hot chocolate. Nice spread, nicely done.  

Searched all over Big C shopping Mall for the usual suspects ham, cheese et al. Found everything but  bags of unpopped popcorn and tortillas. Not there. Shucks. Western food is difficult to find in this neck of the woods.

Will I use the Thai option again? It’s close and only takes 20 minutes to get there. Didn’t enjoy the excursion so I’ll probably not do it again.

The trips to Battambang are filled with wilderness side-trips swimming in lakes, trekking the mountains and feeding the monkeys, all which I'm fond of. Also, need those tortillas and popcorn.

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Edited by dicey eye
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andy
6 hours ago, dicey eye said:

It’s close and only takes 20 minutes to get there. Didn’t enjoy the excursion so I’ll probably not do it again.

 

You could only do it once again anyway if using the free entry stamp, only two per calendar year from your first entry, allowed on land crossings, so you can go once more before the 6th July 2020, but no problem if you fly into Thailand, or get a Thai visa.

If it was me dicey I would keep hold of that last stamp, due too the better and possible medical treatment on the other side, for yourself or Pip.

And that maybe your answer! Pip, she can pop over with no restrictions, not having to stay over for the night, she could go there and back in a taxi and have full contact via mobile phone. That's the perks of the nationals living in the boarder towns. The Thai's do the same coming to play in the casinos and buying cheap booze and cigarettes.   

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dicey eye
58 minutes ago, andy said:

that maybe your answer! Pip, she can pop over with no restrictions,

I asked Pip if she would do that. Her blunt reply, "No way, I hate Thailand!" She moaned and groaned for 3 days before this trip.

Not an option for me.

Edited by dicey eye

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phuketrichard

Andy;

Quote

only two per calendar year from your first entry, allowed on land crossings

wrong
Its 2 visa EXEMPT entries by land /calendar year ....Jan 1-dec 31

Khmers get unlimited 14 day visa exempt entries

Her blunt reply, "No way, I hate Thailand!"

Curious: what does she hate about Thailand? My gf has lived an worked here for over 7 years and actually prefers it,

Now, if only her family was here as well, we wouldn't be moving to Kep

Edited by phuketrichard

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andy
3 hours ago, phuketrichard said:

wrong
Its 2 visa EXEMPT entries by land /calendar year ....Jan 1-dec 31

Khmers get unlimited 14 day visa exempt entries

 

I did not know they had set dates, starting 1st January and ending 31st December. (I don't think the Thai's copied the same dates as the Work Permit in Cambodia) that's put me straight, getting it wrong from the first Visa Exempt stamp in the passport, only like I said allowing one more stamp in that year period. Still the same though only two visa exempt entries in the 12 month period, one year. 

 

Visa Exemption and Bilateral Agreement          (Last updated: May 13, 2019)

Passport Holders who can enter Thailand without a Visa

The VISA EXEMPTION RULE allows tourists from 64 countries1 to enter Thailand without a visa. They are granted to stay a maximum of 30 days if they are entering Thailand via an international airport or entering through a land border checkpoint from neighboring countries.

Under the new provisions of the VISA EXEMPTION RULE and BILATERAL AGREEMENT effective December 31, 2016, passport holders of 55 countries are entitled to enter Thailand under this rule provided that they meet the following criteria:

https://www.thaiembassy.com/thailand/new-visa-rules.php

3 hours ago, phuketrichard said:

Khmers get unlimited 14 day visa exempt entries

 

Same has I was saying "basically come and go if they hold a passport". Koh Kong were to get a passport office, and it would only be open a few days a week, I still don't think it has happened. But hang on their is this little book issued for Khmer living on the border, it costs $10 and there are plenty of pages. Then again with most borders having the Thai night market on Thai soil, the Khmers are just simply let over to do their shopping. Also I have had Khmer come with me over the border in the past, they obtain a permit off their Immigration police at 5000reil for 24 hours. On the borders many have family on both sides.

I also know a westerner who said, he lived here like is Khmer neighbours, but he didn't have the same benefit's of freedom like they did. He had gone to the right people, and I know it's true because both official's from the countries involved did all the paperwork at my bar. He never told me how much he had paid, I have that funny feeling it was not cheap money.      

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dicey eye
6 hours ago, phuketrichard said:

My gf has lived an worked here for over 7 years and actually prefers it,

Does your GF speak Thai?

My common law wife does not which is her main problem. She finds the lack of easy, fluent communication a major problem. Also she has very close family ties.

She has at least a dozen friends she chats with and cooks with and sings with weekly in Cambodia - she likes the camaraderie among Khmers. Also the 2 houses she owns are emotional anchors. I imagine there are many other reasons for her Thai dislike that I'm that not aware of. But that distaste is emphatic.

Edited by dicey eye

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andy
19 hours ago, dicey eye said:

Tournesol Boutique Hotel for the night

 

I can understand you with the swimming pool, "luxury hotel dicey my old man, with all the fancy's and breakfast too". Would you happen to be spoiling yourself. :)

This is the hotel I used to stay near the bus station, the street food was excellent around there too. The added bonus I could leave the car there, the people at the guest house would take care for me and my Thai lady at the time, there wasn't much point tacking it to Seim Reap. I visited many times to Angkor Wat Park in the years past.  

 

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phuketrichard
19 minutes ago, dicey eye said:

Does your GF speak Thai?

My common law wife does not which is her main problem. She finds the lack of easy, fluent communication a major problem. Also she has very close family ties.

She has at least a dozen friends she chats with and cooks with and sings with weekly in Cambodia - she likes the camaraderie among Khmers. Also the 2 houses she owns are emotional anchors. I imagine there are many other reasons for her Thai dislike that I'm that not aware of. But that distaste is emphatic.

hey,  just cause u dont speak the language or ur family is not around is NO REASON  to hate the thai's

pretty fucked up attitude>
 

Yes she speaks some, ( didn't speak a work when she first came over)  but she learned and since she works in an english language pre school, english is preferred to her speaking thai>
 

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dicey eye
1 hour ago, phuketrichard said:

NO REASON  to hate the thai's

She did not say she "hated Thais", she said she "hated Thailand". Thais and Thailand are two different things. I'm not sure but I have a feeling she has no animosity towards the Thai people.

1 hour ago, phuketrichard said:

pretty fucked up attitude>

Rather excessively judgmental dude.

Different strokes for different folks. Vive la difference! Chill.

Edited by dicey eye

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dicey eye
2 hours ago, andy said:

luxury hotel

Nowhere near luxury - $25 per night. When I was editor of the PM's newspaper I stayed several times in luxury, $1000 per night places. (comped of course). So the Tournesol is technically far from luxury.

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