This was published 6 years ago
The rudest and most arrogant immigration officials are in Cambodia
Be prepared for rude immigration officials in Cambodia.Credit: iStock
ROUGH LANDING
Having recently returned from Cambodia, I can advise any reader intending to enter Cambodia through Siem Reap Airport to be prepared to be greeted by the rudest and most arrogant group of immigration officials it has been my misfortune to meet in 40 years of travel.
Based on my experience, here are some do's and don'ts that might help to make the process a little smoother. Do ensure you have an up-to-date visa application (a new one has just been released). Don't separate the immigration form anticipating that only the arrival section will be required. Do try to familiarise yourself with how a fingerprint scanner operates.,m
Cunard's Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth in Sydney Harbour.
Cambodia is a poor country that needs all of the tourist income it can generate. It's such a disappointment that tourists should be welcomed into the country in such an aggressive and condescending manner.
Greg Brown, Dingley, VIC
TIP OF THE WEEK
NEAR MISS
We strongly advise using a ship's own tours at the various ports on the route.
We travelled on the Cunard ship Queen Mary from Cape Town to Sydney .
In Cape Town, we were met by a fellow master mariner who kindly showed us around the sights of that beautiful city. At Johannesburg, where we changed planes, likewise we were taken around the sights. Both these tours were before we boarded the Queen Mary. Then it was on to Durban, the Seychelles, and Fremantle, where we booked the ship's own advertised tours.
But at Port Adelaide we were met on the pier by friends of my wife who took us in their car to all the sights. On our return to the port there was a massive traffic jam. It being a Sunday, it seemed that all of Adelaide had come out to see the ship.
Traffic moved so slowly that we were beginning to wonder whether we could reach the ship before the departure time. Our friend suggested we run towards the ship, which we could see with the crane poised over it to lift off the gangway.
As we ran, with our friend crawling along the road in his car, and his wife running with us in her heels, our thoughts were on what would happen if the ship did not wait for latecomers.
We would have to fly to Sydney and make arrangements to board the ship, pack our suitcases, and leave while the ship was already boarding the next group of passengers. We only just made it. But the ship will always wait for late company on arranged tours. Take heed.
Kenneth Fernandes, Altona, VIC
TOURS DE FORCE
I have just finished reading Brian Johnston's cover story on tourist attractions (Traveller on Sunday, May 21), which was very interesting, and I have a couple of my own suggestions.
At the Eiffel Tower, you can do a behind-the-scenes tour of the tower, which is fascinating and devoid of queues (viator.com). At Stonehenge, you definitely can walk among the stones. It was a great experience that I did in 2015 and better than Salisbury Cathedral (stonehenge-tours.com). I can also wholeheartedly recommend guide Pat Shelley.
Beryl Cathro, Mawson, ACT
HEAT IS ON
In reply to the "Wild Times" query (Tipometer, May 27), unless you love extremely hot weather, January and February are not the best times to go on safari in Africa. I recommend Bench Travel, based in Sydney, who are experts in putting together all types of African holidays.
Barbara Roughan, Kingscliff, NSW
SCAM LICKED
John Dear and anybody mailing postcards in a foreign country should insist on – and watch – the post office clerk cancel the stamps, otherwise the cards are put to one side and the stamps steamed off later. It can be a nice little earner for the poorly paid clerk.
John B Quinn, Avoca, VIC
NICE TOUCH
In answer to John Dear's query, I suggest downloading the Touchnote app (touchnote.com). It allows you to use your own photos rather than just generic tourist images.
M L O'Brien, Armadale, VIC
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