Refused exit at Chong Chom - Osmach border crossing.
After reading reports here, and talking to a guy that crossed at the Kap Choeng - Osmach border crossing only 2 weeks before, I decided that's were I would enter Cambodia.
This is what happened.
I turned up at the border, parking outside at the customs office. I was told to go to the immigration box first, some 20 metres away.
There I filled out a form with the help of a friendly, helpful and good English speaking immigration guy.
He asked me what my plans were, and I told him, I was riding through Cambodia for a month, and would re enter Thailand at Koh Kong - Hat Lek border crossing, to which he stamped my passbook, and said "have a good trip".
I then headed back to the customs desk were there was now one general, and two stooges waiting for me.
First question was "were you go", I said the same as I had said to the immigration guy, one month in Cambodia, and exit at koh kong.
He replied "no no no, you cannot, its to far" Thinking he was concerned for my well being, I said with in good humour, that I had come from Chaing Mai so Hat Lek was no problem.
Again I get, "no no no, you cannot go, you can only go to siem reap and come back". So I said, OK I only go to siem Reap and come back, thinking once Im in Ill be right.
Then he says, "no no no, you can only go to siem reap for 3 days, and that I must leave may green book with him as a guarantee I will come back.
I show him my passbook and green book, and say its my bike, rego in my name, and many farang cross here with bike no problem, adding I had been to Laos fours times with no problem etc etc.
Again, "no no no, I will not sign papers for you, you not go Cambodia". I could see this was going no were, and I wasn't going to jump up and down, Im in no hurry, Ill cross some were else, so I walked back to the immigration box to get my exit stamp cancalled, and told him what had happened, he look a little embarrassed. I asked him do many farang come through here with bikes. I could see he didn't want to say much. He just said it was no problem with him if I wanted to go, but if customs say no, I cant go. I thanked him for he's help and headed back towards my bike at the now empty customs desk. The three stooges were no were to be seen. Yuk Yuk Yuk.
I know your going to say Moe, Larry and Curly just wanted some extra tea money, which may have been the case. But I didn't sense that was the problem at the time.
After reading reports here, and talking to a guy that crossed at the Kap Choeng - Osmach border crossing only 2 weeks before, I decided that's were I would enter Cambodia.
This is what happened.
I turned up at the border, parking outside at the customs office. I was told to go to the immigration box first, some 20 metres away.
There I filled out a form with the help of a friendly, helpful and good English speaking immigration guy.
He asked me what my plans were, and I told him, I was riding through Cambodia for a month, and would re enter Thailand at Koh Kong - Hat Lek border crossing, to which he stamped my passbook, and said "have a good trip".
I then headed back to the customs desk were there was now one general, and two stooges waiting for me.
First question was "were you go", I said the same as I had said to the immigration guy, one month in Cambodia, and exit at koh kong.
He replied "no no no, you cannot, its to far" Thinking he was concerned for my well being, I said with in good humour, that I had come from Chaing Mai so Hat Lek was no problem.
Again I get, "no no no, you cannot go, you can only go to siem reap and come back". So I said, OK I only go to siem Reap and come back, thinking once Im in Ill be right.
Then he says, "no no no, you can only go to siem reap for 3 days, and that I must leave may green book with him as a guarantee I will come back.
I show him my passbook and green book, and say its my bike, rego in my name, and many farang cross here with bike no problem, adding I had been to Laos fours times with no problem etc etc.
Again, "no no no, I will not sign papers for you, you not go Cambodia". I could see this was going no were, and I wasn't going to jump up and down, Im in no hurry, Ill cross some were else, so I walked back to the immigration box to get my exit stamp cancalled, and told him what had happened, he look a little embarrassed. I asked him do many farang come through here with bikes. I could see he didn't want to say much. He just said it was no problem with him if I wanted to go, but if customs say no, I cant go. I thanked him for he's help and headed back towards my bike at the now empty customs desk. The three stooges were no were to be seen. Yuk Yuk Yuk.
I know your going to say Moe, Larry and Curly just wanted some extra tea money, which may have been the case. But I didn't sense that was the problem at the time.
