The fiasco

Well, in a prior blog I mentioned a visa issue. Today was the day of reckoning. I worked through a travel company to help arrange this trip and about 30 hours prior to takeoff I was informed that the visa letter (needed to enter Vietnam) had NOT been issued. They told me we would need to delay entry in to Vietnam for 3 days. Needless to say, our original trip was Vietnam then Cambodia. So in a panicked 5 hours of bargaining with airlines, switched international flights, rearranging reservations we managed to flip our trip to start in Cambodia while we await our visa letters. As of last night they were still ‘in process’. Today’s plan was to have a relaxing morning then fly out to Vietnam at 3pm. So we anxiously checked out phones for the visa letter…. And no luck. Our visas were not approved by our flight out so we scrambled to change plans, staying in Cambodia at least another day. Then we went out and explored the city a bit and received news that our visas would NOT be approved before we have to LEAVE Vietnam for our return trip…. panic. 

Emily was ferocious on the phone with the travel company as they completely hosed us AND we were already in Cambodia. She went full mamma bear and was able to get a full refund for the whole trip/fee for Vietnam. But the travel/airline tickets were the issue. We had to rearrange all of our international travel… again and on short notice. Needless to say $$$$$…..  Though after looking at pictures of our snow covered home we opted to become bohemians and stay in Cambodia for the remaining days. Turns out, their 5 star super deluxe hotel is $90/night. Emily and I went to dinner at a restaurant recommended to us by an ex-pat which was the best meal we’ve had so far and discovered that Siem Reap is the culinary capital of Cambodia! We discovered many more amazing places to try. Over delicious and unique Cambodian-fusion food we planned out the rest of our trip.. the graduation from panic to excitement was lubricated by lychee martinis and passion fruit whiskey sours.  Tomorrow we are off to the floating villages and a Grand Prix meal at Cambodia’s #1 restaurant. And of course as we lay our heads down to sleep the tourism company shoots a text stating they will not refund us…sigh…