Username Taken wrote:Just to clarify on 'playing the game'.

Khmer gets pulled over by traffic cops. Khmer hands over 5000 riel, then goes on his/her way.
Foreigner gets pulled over by traffic cops, then has to argue that he didn't run a red light or his headlights are not on. Wastes a lot of time but often ends up paying anyway.

Local Sangkat cops go into a Khmer small business and tell them that they have to buy a fire extinguisher for $30. Shop owner negotiates the price down to $18. Smiles all around.
Local Sangkat cops go into a foreign owned business and tell them that they have to buy a fire extinguisher for $30. Foreigner starts jumping up and down, waving his arms all around and going on about corruption. Insists he's not going to pay. Calls his favorite motodop to come and help him. Ends up paying $25 for the fire extinguisher plus $5 to his motodop for helping him.

Foreigners don't understand how to play the game.

also you cannot find any difference between khmer female and khmer male about giving tea money ?
surely between khmer and western, as you said

why does my gf get charged 100 baht everytime we drive into Cambodia?
and why does she pay it ? LOL

Samouth wrote: Actually when I was waiting at the immigration department at Vietnamese side. Some people put from 10000 to 20000 dong in their passport most Vietnamese and no doubt they had their passports stamped first.

Yep, I recently slipped in 20,000 VND on the Viet side . Only done it once before, but since it's all been redesigned at Bavet, the immigration officer told me to get back in line. A whole couple of bus loads were waiting. I just went to the other desk and slipped in the $1, he immediately stamped it and I was off. Normally I just walk past everyone and place it on the desk and they do it for free withinh 3 or 4 mins.
Another Viet that was doing the same as me put in 50,000! I don't like corruption but sod waiting 45 mins.

BTW, when I was waiting for my passport to be stamped at Phnom Penh airport, the immigration officer wasn't really friendly at all. Look like she hates her job. It was in the early morning,she hadn't dealt with many people yet, so she wasn't tired at all, no excuses for her to be rude. I am not sure if she or them in general would do the same thing to tourists.

Not sure, but I have never had bother with them myself. Haven't been through the airport for a few years now though, so it may have changed.

I know the Viets say that people in the street in HCM are rude, but I never found that myself, unless they mean ignoring you. That happens quite a lot if your a foreigner. People here don't really tell me much about anything to do with that sort of thing. Do you find people on the street in PP behave rudely to other Cambodians a lot ?

EDIT: Hang on, I just remembered that on the way out the Cambodian immigration officer that stamped me out was extremely rude and surly. I just asked him what was wrong? He also wouldn't lend me a pen to fill out the form. It was OK though because the other immigration guy was, as is normal at Bavet, cool and lent me one. Did they try and charge you a dollar for the stamp Samouth?

..

I don't have answers for everyone, I remember I was around 15 years old ---- I HONESTLY can not recall where it was (I will ask my Dad). I don't know why I am having de Ja vue

(?? at the moment). My Father and myself did a border run to Burma (Myanmar). It was all very exciting back then. I can not even recall what province, regardless to say it was quite a few hours from Chiang Mai. That is where we lived. We went to this town, I had my passport stamped, we had to walk down the road for a few hundred metres (please correct me if I am wrong - first time at 15 in the country). We both got into this long tail boat, we had to go up the river. All the smugglers boats were heavily covered and I was told by the boat owner and my Father not to LOOK TOO HARD, they were smugglers. (This was in about 91-92). (I might be a year or 2 off here - earlier I mean).

Anyway, the boat took us up the river to Myanmar. This particular passport office - OUT ON THE WATER! - I will never forget it. 45 minutes approx.

Dad (My Father) told me prior to approaching this building - "Put all your cash down your socks - leave 1000 Baht in your wallet!

Dad did not pay the long tail boat operator - as he said - "If I pay him now, he won't wait around - he will just take off!" - I will never forget that. I will give him extra for waiting - which he did.

We went into this house which looked like an old queenslander on stilts - but on the stilts - it was out on the water connected by a jetty, we had to pay what we had for the to stamp our passports - 1000 Baht back then - I was at school - that was like "OMG - $50!!!" anyway, I followed Dad's lead, and we went back to the boat and then down the river to this passport office, where we were stamped "back in" to the country (Never had to pay)...... I mean I was 15! what a bloody adventure..... I will never ever forget!


I actually have to find out where that was - I remember there were market stalls and all sorts of things...... I will never forget, I have been to many other places - that was the only place I (we) were ripped off....

Gav

We were stamped prior to leaving the country, then we had to walk down the busy road (stalls etc), hop into a long tail boat - go up the river, pay the "fee" and come back,walk down the road. and get our passports stamped again, but -please - put it in the eyes of a 15 yr old, what an adventure. ---- yeah..... amazing thailand back then... I am just talking about a border run.... things change perhaps??? 1000 baht each was expensive I thought - especially then....but I did not know...

Those customs officers at Myanmar were heavily armed as well, I guess it is hard unless you put it into perspective....