I finally made it to Phnom Penh, but not without some minor issues. When I was packing my bags in the US, I only checked the baggage limits on Delta. Not sure what I was thinking, but I didn't checked the limits on the airlines here in Asia. Or rather, why wasn't I thinking?!??! China Southern only allows 20 kgs for economy class (which is about 44 lbs..and this is TOTAL..yea, not much). For each additional kg, it's roughly $15 extra. I had about 16 extra kgs...which would've been $240 for each flight I took and I had 4 flights!! Luckily, I was able to figure all this out while I was still at the hotel and spent the morning repacking my suitcases. I had to leave one suitcase at the hotel in Beijing and ended up with 20.5 kg and no extra charge! :) My carry-on was heavy though!!
Lesson learned: Good thing I am small so my clothes are light and don't take up much room...don't put on any weight while in Asia or I'll have to buy new clothes...
Once I got to the airport, my taxi driver dropped me off at the wrong terminal since the hotel told him the wrong terminal. It was a mess trying to figure out the right terminal, finding the shuttle bus, and lugging my suitcases around. Good thing I got there early...I was completely exhausted after all that.
Lesson Learned: Hotel people are just as clueless as the taxi drivers who are just as clueless as the tourists....
On the flight to Phnom Penh, there were some forms to fill out. Somehow, I must have missed it while the flight attendants were passing them out (I must have been sleeping!). Now...you would think the flight attendants would've woken me up, put it somewhere for me, or come back by to give it to me. NOPE!! I saw some people filling the forms out and had to ask one of the attendants. She appeared to understand what I was asking and went to get some forms. When she came back and I asked if I needed to fill them out (since the 2 Americans next to me didn't get forms either), she just walked away!!! So I just assumed I didn't need to fill them out...wrong assumption!!!
Lesson Learned: Don't fall asleep on the flights...or if you do, sleep with one eye open so you know what's going on....
Now onto my Cambodian connection...I was in line to get my visa with the $20 bribe money in my hand when I realized the folks around me had passport sized photos to go along with their visas. I don't remember my parents telling me about the picture and now I'm afraid they are going to reject me because I don't have a picture (and I'm nervous about even bribing them!). I get up to the agent and once he realizes I was born in Cambodia, he starts speaking Cambodian to me. I tell him I don't understand him and then he asks if my parents are Cambodian. I say yes (which isn't true since they are Chinese, but hey...I trying to survive here) and then he says I only have to give him $10. I had the $20 in my hand, so I gave that to him thinking he's going to be please with the extra bribe money. He takes away my passport and leaves me standing there for awhile and I'm dreading the long line I have to be in to pay for the visa (and the line is growing). When he came back..I realized he hooked me up!!!! I didn't have to wait in line to pay for my visa (the fee says "gratis" so I guess bribe money doesn't count, but it's normally $20), he gave me $10 back in change, a multi-entry visa with no expiration date, and in the remarks section, it says "permanent stay". I was very pleased. :)
Lesson Learned: Being born in Cambodia and bribing goes a long way....
When I got to the welcome area, I scanned around for familiar faces and didn't see any. I was getting worried until I saw a sign that had my name on it. WOW!!! About 10 of my relatives came out to meet me at the airport and this is 10pm at night!!!. I felt so special. :) I had no idea who they all were...but every one of them was so nice and friendly.
Lesson Learned: Relatives can be totally awesome even though you've never met them....
So even though the day started out rough, I am very pleased with the way it turned out. Tomorrow, we are waking up bright and early (6am) and going to Siem Reap for a couple of days.
