Cambodia casino

On Tuesday afternoon Jos, Otto and Douwe have been robbing for years. We play for money, but the losers never give it to the winners, but put it in the pot.

After a few years and careful administration, we know that we all lose about the same and that the amount saved is too little for a flight to Tripoli, but too much for a nice dinner. Because we still have some spare days left, we decide to go to Cambodia by car to try our luck in a casino. In Thailand strictly forbidden, but legal just across the border. And of course in the hands of Thai entrepreneurs.

Immigration

A few days before I go to Immigration in Soi 5, as I have a simple annual visa and now need a re-entry visa. In the morning it is always a cauldron there, but in the afternoon it is usually quiet. I downloaded the relevant form from the net and completed it at home. I have copies of the relevant pages in my passport and even a copy of my rental contract and bills for electricity and water to my address and in my name. Only those of the passport appear to be necessary. The entire procedure takes less than twenty minutes and costs 1.000 Baht.

We leave on Sunday at half past ten. After a four-hour drive through beautiful mountainous terrain, we reach the border town, right on the coast, just behind Hat Lek. First the Thai customs. It is not much trouble for the four people, three forms have to be completed for the car. They are obtained at three counters, but we are constantly directed to the next one, so there are no problems. We are allowed to cross the border and after that it gets a bit more complicated. Helpful guys first take us to a table with a banner with the word quarantine above it.

Fingerprints

We are allowed to sit down and then a doctor comes with a digital thermometer. He holds it against our heads and we all have 37,3. This doctor costs 20 Baht per person. A charming and ingenious way to make a living. Then the guys take our passports to the right counters. Ultimately, we have to get there ourselves and a digital photo is taken of everyone. Jos has to give fingerprints. To do this, she must first place four fingers of her right hand on an illuminated box and then the thumb. Then the same with the left hand. We men are ready to follow the same procedure, but it is not necessary. Of course we ask why they do and we don't. You are old people is the answer. Jos receives an unexpected compliment for her youthful appearance. When the car is also allowed to enter the country, no obstacles will stand in our way.

Koh kong

The border process took about an hour and a half. We are now in Koh Kong. Twenty meters further we see the Grand Hotel, but we shouldn't have that. We booked at the Koh Kong Resort. The casino is also located in this hotel. The hotel is located directly on the sea. The room rate by the sea is well above 3.000 Baht, but luckily there is an annex across the road. No sea view, but a price of 1.000 Baht, including breakfast. A beautiful luxurious room, fully equipped. If you come from Pattaya, you can spend a night without a sea view.

It's drink time, so we're going to visit the town of Koh Kong. This is about 15 kilometers from the border. A wide four-lane road with many holes takes us to the center. We drive on the right, because Cambodians all do that. Koh Kong is a bustling town, which mainly flourishes due to the attractive prices of spirits, cartons of cigarettes and medicines. We are looking for a café that should be visited by all foreigners and that bears the curious name Otto. Our Otto eventually addresses a number of Cambodian beauties, who, after extensive discussion, point to a side street three meters away. Now we see the sign: Otto, bar and international cuisine. The cafe is closed. So we look for a seat by the water to watch the Cambodian sun go down.

After the SangSom is knocked back, we go back to Otto's bar. It's open now, but we don't find Otto and we're the only customers. So our international contacts are still making do. Western meal is good. It is striking that until now we always find Cambodians who speak good and well-spoken English.

Casino

Back to the hotel. The casino is not what a casino should be in our eyes. Red plush and immaculately dressed croupiers. Cold tiled floors and walls. A lot of one-armed bandits, but not with fruit. Mostly with variants of the number 7. The roulette is fully automated. A round table with the roulette wheel in the middle. Around it ten places with a slot where 1.000 Baht bills can be inserted and a screen that indicates the balance and the floor plan of the roulette field. You can click on what you play. If you win, your credit will increase. In short, completely atmospheric.

We try our luck at the fruit cabinets without fruit, after we have of course bought the appropriate coins. Let me be brief about it. In total we put in 8.000 Baht and in total we leave with 30.000 Baht. So no profit for the Thai owner of this casino. Nor for me, by the way. Fortunately, the winner offers a meal tomorrow.

Tired but satisfied we look for our rooms and after a good night's sleep we meet again at breakfast. There is a large duty-free shop in the hotel. We stock booze and cigarettes there. And we decide that our casino experience is enough. We're going back to Thailand.

Back to Pattaya

The border is no problem. Even Jos is not checked for fingerprints. Apparently it is judged that in this short span of time she could have done little harm. We drive north along the coast. Beyond Trat, our attention is successfully turned to a good location for a Christmas gathering. When we get back to Pattaya, we feel like we've been away for a long time. It was only two nights.

Is the above piece a recommendation to go to the casino? No, and if you still want to, go to another, more cozy building. The piece just wants to say that getting a re-entry visa takes ten minutes if you go to Immigration in the afternoon. And that you can import and export a car fairly easily, at least when you want to go to Cambodia.