Day 12, Traveling from Bangkok to Siem Reap

After a few days R&R from the train ride, we booked a bus from Bangkok to Siem Reap. Our journey was uneventful, maybe even pleasant until we hit the border (Aranyaprathet on the Thailand side, Poi pet on the Cambodian side). The bus pulled over to a few shacks on the side of the road and we were told to get out and take our bags, we'd be crossing the border on foot. In taking in the surroundings I noticed about 15 other perplexed and annoyed tourists huddled around plastic tables and filling out paperwork. After about an hour sitting in the 97 degree heat, the tourists were ushered towards the border where we were warned to keep all valuables in sight, watch for pickpockets, and stay together; this encouraging speech left everyone on edge as we walked towards the border. After some stamps and lines our guide made us pay off some police men to avoid the lines, $6 later we jumped on a bus headed for the Poipet bus station. At the station we were strongly urged to convert our Thai baht to Cambodian riel, little did we know that the exchange staff stole about $40 from each person, ouch. Hot, bothered, and hungry, the team was ushered into a taxi heading for Siem Reap. After a series of dodgy events we found our way to our hostel and went in search of food.