Tourists Systematically Extorted at the Cambodia-Laos Border (VIDEO)
Re: Tourists Systematically Extorted at the Cambodia-Laos Border (VIDEO)
Same here...not once have I been asked for tea money by Immigration officials when flying in, and I fly in/out very regularly. Land borders yes, but I have always stood my ground and never paid requested tea money, politely and respectfully of course, no help getting frustrated and aggressive.Anchor Moy wrote: ↑Sun Oct 14, 2018 8:55 pmI have never had issues at PIA , but the land borders are systematically cheat systems. They will ask for a stamp fee and/or health fee. Smile and just say no.Kung-fu Hillbilly wrote: ↑Sun Oct 14, 2018 2:03 pm Coming through PP airport a few years ago the immigration guy asked softly as I handed him my passport "Five dollars for me?" I feigned deafness a couple of times at his repeated question with "What?", until he would have had to yelled it across the terminal had he continued his corrupt pursuit. He waved me on angrily.
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Re: Tourists Systematically Extorted at the Cambodia-Laos Border (VIDEO)
I can't know for sure, but perhaps entering on a tourist visa may have had some bearing, or my goofy appearance.PSD-Kiwi wrote: ↑Sun Oct 14, 2018 9:00 pmSame here...not once have I been asked for tea money by Immigration officials when flying in, and I fly in/out very regularly. Land borders yes, but I have always stood my ground and never paid requested tea money, politely and respectfully of course, no help getting frustrated and aggressive.Anchor Moy wrote: ↑Sun Oct 14, 2018 8:55 pmI have never had issues at PIA , but the land borders are systematically cheat systems. They will ask for a stamp fee and/or health fee. Smile and just say no.Kung-fu Hillbilly wrote: ↑Sun Oct 14, 2018 2:03 pm Coming through PP airport a few years ago the immigration guy asked softly as I handed him my passport "Five dollars for me?" I feigned deafness a couple of times at his repeated question with "What?", until he would have had to yelled it across the terminal had he continued his corrupt pursuit. He waved me on angrily.
Re: Tourists Systematically Extorted at the Cambodia-Laos Border (VIDEO)
Are you Asian looking or dark-skinned? Asians and darker skinned people DO often get extorted by Immigration even when arriving via air. They usually leave whiteys alone.
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Re: Tourists Systematically Extorted at the Cambodia-Laos Border (VIDEO)
Nah, I'm a whitey.
Re: Tourists Systematically Extorted at the Cambodia-Laos Border (VIDEO)
Thanks for the handy tip, but I haven't touched any US dollars for years now. I used to carry around a roll of $1 bills and hand them out to helpful locals in order to get rid of them. Now, I prefer to use just local currencies and hold Swiss francs.Well sigmoid, if you were in the know you woulda had USD handy in small denominators, seems like farang like to splurge/ burn cash as soon as they hit the khmer border.....
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I may be going to hell in a bucket,
but at least I'm enjoying the ride.
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Re: Tourists Systematically Extorted at the Cambodia-Laos Border (VIDEO)
That's very strange. The price of a tourist visa is $30. And I don't think they take baht, but maybe if you have nothing else... They sure don't accept riel or kip.sigmoid wrote: ↑Sun Oct 14, 2018 1:06 pm Well, it's all part of the game and if you want to play (enter the country), then you have follow the unspoken rules and pay up. It's a piddly amount that at the end of your life won't make any difference.
The time I crossed this border about 5 years ago, the immigration dudes presented a handmade sign that said "Cambodia visa: 1500 baht" (about $45). I gave them three 500-baht notes and they gave me a visa.
As they say, don't sweat the small stuff and you'll enjoy life a lot more.
Re: Tourists Systematically Extorted at the Cambodia-Laos Border (VIDEO)
Oh, it must have been that time I was temporarily trapped in an alternative universe and the $10 bills had a picture of the Thai king on them instead of Hamilton.That's very strange. The price of a tourist visa is $30. And I don't think they take baht, but maybe if you have nothing else... They sure don't accept riel or kip.
Anyway, I am sure you have travelled through this particular crossing on the border with Laos on numerous occasions.
Regarding the price, the point is that they were overcharging me but I didn't care. Due to the bus having broken down in Laos, I arrived late at the the border alone and was just trying to get through before sundown and get to a hotel and some dinner in Stung Treng asap.
Although neither of them truly exist, sometimes time is more important than money.
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I may be going to hell in a bucket,
but at least I'm enjoying the ride.
I may be going to hell in a bucket,
but at least I'm enjoying the ride.
Re: Tourists Systematically Extorted at the Cambodia-Laos Border (VIDEO)
Thai - Cambodian crossings want baht. I agree it's up to the individual to pay or hold their ground to extortionate payment. I am certainly against paying for above something of value. Refuse to this some say. How long are you going to wait for them to refuse you entry in the hot sun.
Always "hope" but never "expect".
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