Crossing Cambodia Border @ Poi Pet.

The story you about to read is base on true life experience.

I have been traveling Thailand and Cambodia for some time now without experiencing border crossing. On 9th July, 2011, a dude lure me into taking an adventurer trip through Thai-Cambodia border haven been in Thailand for two weeks. Honestly, I was a bit nervous due to the recent unrest border tension between this two countries.

Thai Border Office

I took taxi to Pratunam park at 11:45pm as I was told buses leaves at 12midnight. Unfortunately there was no bus going to border at 12midnight and next turn would be 2am. There was no other option than to wait around till departure time. I did few shopping at nearby 7eleven to keep myself along the trip. Finally, bus came at 2:20am and we left after 10minutes. Journey was quite smooth and everything was just fine with six of us in the bus. Bus driver trying to make more of the empty spaces, by picking few passengers on our way.

We eventually arrived at the border at 6am and that was pretty fast too. I was thinking it would take much longer from Bangkok. I had a huge relieve on me we got to the border earlier and was seriously thinking of second time. At 6am local time, border was yet to be open and passengers hung around for like an hour. Officers arrived and gates were opened at 7:15am and crossing Thai border was so easy and immigration officers were friendly to everyone including me and I was finding this first time experience really fascinating, taking pictures, talking to the locals and enjoying the morning view too. Took few minutes also to walk into the popular crown casino at the border. Its was said that crown casino is the sole sponsor of  2010/2011Cambodia premier league winner, phnompenhcrown FC.

Cambodians queued up trying to cross into Thai border 

Cambodia Arrival's Entrance

Now my happy trip is about to get soured. On the Cambodia arrival post, the immigration officers on duty were looking very unfriendly and seemly waiting for whom to reap off for cash. I noticed everyone on line had money in between their passports and this include locals. I thought they were doing that for their unduly businesses as the border is known for. I stayed focus and mind my own business of trying to get to phnom penh on time. A very haggard looking Cambodia immigration officer Named Mr. Keo on card number P048 came my way asking for my passport with so much authoritativeness. I gave it to him and then asked me to wait after 5minutes. I was a bit nervous then I asked why only me. He didn't bother to explain why he was going away with my passport. I felt uncomfortable with that attitude and I tried to go with him wherever he was going with my passport then another immigration officer came but a calm and gentleman named Mr Neak on card number P044 asked me to please wait that everything would be okay.

Mr Keo made a phone call to superior officer informing him of the situation. He said to him on phone in khmer that business has come and this one looked good to handle unknowing to him I could understand a bit of khmer language. Moment I heard that, I knew what I have gotten myself into. So many of similar reports has been on television, radio and newspapers on this border and have no idea how one could escape from this money trap. To make things worse, I have barely 500 baht left on me!

Chief immigration came and asked me into his office. I was faced with horrible questions and threats. He claimed my traveling passport was fake and he would have me arrested, deported to phnom penh and sent to jail. I told him clearly that there was no such thing as fake on my passport. He noticed much confidence in me and felt very unease for him alone. He called yet another man to threaten me more. This man came pushing and shouting on me seriously. He said horrible things to me. Accused me of perpetrating illegal items through border and was just looking at him. They scanned every page of my passport if they was any forged and sign of such on my passport and obviously nothing to hold me for.

He attempted to remove my current Cambodia visa then I told him that wasn't part of immigration duty. He turned to me and said we are going to send you back to Thailand and stamp your passport that you will be unable to get into Cambodia with this passport ever again. I looked at my watch then I realized how long this has been taking. Its been three hours of stress, threats and horrible feelings that I was going through in hands of these heartless people. I wanted to go back to Thailand but, then they held my passport hostage and not willing to handle it back to me. I was trapped and the only escaped route I had thought of was to go over the other side of the border to get money from nearby ATM at least they would allow me if they know I was going for money. I had never in my whole life accept defeat in such manner but life was involved and who knows what they could come up with after all this. I was a bit gripped with fear and need to bail myself out.

While contemplating on what next to do, my confidence came back and said 'NO' you can't do this after all you been through in hands of this men. I went back and sat on the bench looking and thinking. They called me in again. This time they made me two options: pay $500 or phone a friend to send me money. I opened my wallet to let them see how much was on me and if that maybe considered for my ransom. They said I looked rich and there was no way for them to allow me go with such amount. He ordered me out of his office and all attempt made to get someone talk to them on phone proved abortive as they refused to speak. I made calls and everyone kept saying same that's bad place to be. I kept my courage to face them and this time I went pleading for my passport. I resorted to prayer as Christians would  always do in such a difficult situation because I so much trust in God. I prayed that God should touch this man heart and he would let me go.

After praying, they thought I was performing magic and situation went tough with me. This time he was pulling and pointing fingers to my face. He said Africans are bad people and they don't need one in their country. This time I was saying no word and was seriously thinking way out. I knelt down begging this superior officer and asked him if I was his child been treated in such harsh way by another man how would he feel or react!

Finally, miracle came after six hours of trauma. He called me and said I will let you go but when next you crossing this border, you would have to pay me $150 and I looked up to heaven and said thank you LORD. I agreed instantly because I wanted to be free and let go. I didn't argue further when he said this to me. He took my phone number and asked the other office to stamp me in. I was relieved and took  my passport and language then leave. This was how I escaped border hurdles for the first time in my whole life of traveling.

Now my question to the audience is: would you advise me to go back to pay this money to the people that have done everything to frustrate me? If you were in my shoes, what would you do? My conscience won't let me since I agreed to pay him and even though I sworn never to do any further border crossing here again.