We asked at the front desk where the closest bank was and they told us it was by the central market (a tuk tuk ride away). However, there was a tuk tuk driver at the front door who told us there was a bank just across the park, about a 5 minute walk away. So we set off on foot to find this bank. Sure enough, we found it after about 10 minutes...and then were promptly told they didn't exchange money like that. Now we decided to walk to get breakfast and catch a tuk tuk after. We got to Costa Coffee (a 15 minute walk away) and ordered the most expensive breakfast so far - like $15 for a coffee, iced tea, muffin, and ham and cheese sandwich. WHAAATT??? More expensive than Starbucks! HOWEVER, they took MasterCard, so we were happy and well fed. It was already almost 9 and we needed to get to the bank.
We got a tuk tuk driver right ouside of Costa Coffee and showed him the bank we wanted to go to on our very clearly labelled map. We began driving and he stayed on the wrong side of the road for probably about 3-4 minutes.
What is happening here you ask? Oh, just our driver being a free spirit...
We drove for a few minutes before he turned around and said "Central Market?" "NO, we don't want to go to the central market - we want to go to the BANK. Here it is on a MAP." "Oh. Ok." So we turned around. Another 5 minutes passed. "Bank?" "Yes, we want to go to the bank." "Oh."
He turned around twice before asking someone for directions and turning around for a third time. At this point, we had wasted about 20 minutes in the tuk tuk, basically in the area of the bank but never crossing paths with it.
After another wrong turn, we finally told him this was fine, got out, walked about a block and found it ourselves.
Unreal.
At the bank, they quickly exchanged our old dollars for new ones (hooray!!!!) However, it was now about 9:30 and we needed to be back at our hotel by 10:30 to have enough time to shower and pack our bags before check out. We decided we didn't have enough time to go to both Wat Phnom and the market and, after seeing about a thousand temples in the past week, we decided to go to the market instead.
We walked into the Central Market and I immediately got a bit overwhelmed. It wasn't actually a tourist market, it was, rather, a market for locals to do their shopping - toiletries, perfumes, watches, household goods like kitchen items, etc. etc. We wandered around for a few minutes, I bought a bracelet made from old "Cambodian coins" (let's be honest, they are made in a factory to look like old coins...), and we decided to pack it in. We caught a tuk tuk back to our hotel, arrived around 10, showered, packed, and were ready to go by 11:15 (yay for nap time!)
After a quick nap, we walked downstairs for the last time (3 flights of stairs with all your stuff will really getcha!) and caught a tuk tuk to the airport. We got to the airport around 1 pm. Since our flight wasn't until 5 we had quite a while to wait, during which I blogged and we played 2048 on our phones, and tried to figure out our next stop after Singapore. We're a little caught at the moment since we had planned to go to Bali, Indonesia, but it's the rainy season there so we are still trying to make up our minds...
We boarded our flight (another 1 hour trip - SO AWESOME!) and arrived in Bangkok around 6:15. We went through customs and then decided to call Wells Fargo from the airport (since they have international toll free calling from Thailand) before getting dinner.
Oh, Wells Fargo. I have no words for you. Well I do, actually. I have several choice words for you that I intend to keep off my blog.
Jon and i went to Wells Fargo the day before we left the states to open a checking account specifically for travel. When we opened it, we were given temporary cards for the account and told they would work the ENTIRE three months we were abroad. I asked this question MANY times to ensure that we would not be stranded. We were assured many times that YES, even though the cards were temporary, they would work the whole time we were gone. Yet we had tried to use them several times in the past 5 weeks, only successfully using it one time in Tanzania. I called Wells Fargo, explained the situation, and the woman on the phone told me that our temporary cards were only activated for 30 days and they had been shut off. WHAT THE WHAT??? I asked what we could do and she asked for an address where Wells Fargo could send permanent cards. I told her we didn't have one as we are travelling internationally and moving basically every 3 days. She informed me there was nothing we could do short of being sent new cards. WHAT???
I asked if it would be possible for us to use our Wells Fargo credit card and have them waive the international and cash advance fees. She transferred me to someone in their credit card department who told me the only thing we could do is take out cash with our credit card and then request that Wells Fargo reimburse us, but that there was no guarantee of reimbursement. Even though it is 100% THEIR fault that we cannot access our money.
So basically we can't access ANY of our money in Wells Fargo. We currently have 2 checking and 2 savings accounts at that bank, and yet we cannot get access to ANY of it.
I wrote to them on facebook and twitter, and Jon sent them a lengthy email about the situation. We have both been customers with them for the past 10 years, and yet we feel as if that means nothing to them. If it is not rectified by the time we get back we will be closing all accounts with them.
We are quite fortunate that we opened our Barclaycard credit card before we left the states. It's been great, with no international fees while used as a credit card, but since it is not meant as a debit card, we have HUGE cash advance fees every time we withdraw money. That said, at least they allow us to take out money, unlike OUR OWN BANK WHICH CURRENTLY HOUSES OUR MONEY.
Can you tell how annoyed we are?!?????
After deciding to just use our Barclaycard to take out Thai Baht from the ATM, we grabbed dinner at the airport before heading to the train "station" aka the train platform. We arrived a bit early...we got there at 8 and our train wasn't until 10:50. Needless to say, by the time the train arrived we were more than a bit punchy, making up lyrics to "Lean On Me" about how much Wells Fargo sucks :-D.
Our train finally arrived around 11, we boarded, and it is time to pass out.
Jess' highlight of the day: our super quick flight to Bangkok
Jon's highlight of the day: finally getting a decent cup of coffee
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