On the plane to Cambodia – wondering if they will let me in.

Last Friday at the British Embassy – 650 papers. Letter from my friend Francisco who I stay with in Bangkok, confirming I was staying with him. As the consulate had told me when I called them.

‘Do you have proof of his address?’ I was never told I needed to provide proof of his address…backwards and forwards, his ID won’t do…finally found his lease and e-mailed it on. No idea if that would do, waiting all weekend to hear on Monday morning. Bearing in mind I had to have a confirmed flight ticket to apply for the emergency passport. 

Applied for my actual passport same day as well. Phew. 

Monday, 8.30 – call from Embassy. ‘Are you resident in Thailand?’. ‘No’. ‘Then you cannot return to Thailand as per your travel ticket and itinerary’. Despite the second call I had made to the consulate before I applied which confirmed that in fact I could return to Thailand so to go ahead and apply.

I lost it. To cut a long story short, 2 hours later I finally had emergency passport in hand. 

Next day, today, I head to airport 3 hours early with multiple papers in hand. Immigration have to stamp my passport with a copy of my tourist visa to exit. The visa I had dutifully extended for 30 days on Samui, and was dutifully adhering to by leaving the country before its expiry on the 19th November.

One hour later, having told me twice that they could not stamp it because they did not have record of my visa extension, I see the airline rep approaching. I go up to see what is happening….they had called him over to cancel my seat on the flight. The initial immigration woman I was dealing with I could see was super frustrated by all of this and didn’t agree with her colleagues – one in particular who was clearly on a power trip. 

The airline guy then tells me I have to go to immigration in town – cancel my flight, re-book for tomorrow. I burst into tears. They were all shocked…as was I. The cool woman clearly, in a quiet but determined way decided enough was enough, even with her 2 bosses there. She went at the computer with determination and found something that seemed to work and stamped my passport almost before any of them could say anything! Bloody fantastic! Within 10 mins my bag was back on the flight and I was heading towards the gate. 

And now the plane is landing in Siem Reap, Cambodia. I am writing this offline, will update it I hope from my Cambodian hotel. And not from my return flight to Bangkok….

And I’m in – absolutely no hassle at all – yippppeeeeee!!!!