Unplanned Travels

Last Thursday, I unexpectedly found myself all alone in the country of Cambodia. I do not say "unexpectedly" because I accidentally crossed the border, but because when I woke up that morning, and up until I was already two hours away from home, I had no intention of going to Cambodia on that particular day. Here's how it happened:
The day started out like many others: hot and sunny. I got the chance to skype with my family, and then Rodney and I started out to the immigration office in the capital city of our province. Most long-term visas in Thailand require the visa holder to check in at immigration every 90 days, and Thursday was 90 days into my stay. Rodney was due for a check in the following week, so he was hoping to be able to check in early to save a trip. After two hours, we arrived at the Chachengsao immigration office and filled out our check in forms. Rodney went first, and was able to get his visa stamped. But then when I handed over my passport and paperwork, the immigration officer wouldn't stamp my passport. Through much gesturing, a couple English words, and a bit of Thai, we understood that we had to go to see another officer in the same building. So we waited in line to show this other man my passport. Thankfully, he knew more English than the first officer. He explained that the visa I have is not actually a one year visa like I believed it was. Instead, it is a visa that is good for 90 days after I enter the country, but it can be used an unlimited number of times for a year after I received it. This means that instead of merely checking in at immigration every 90 days, I must actually leave the country and come back in every 90 days. So if I didn't leave the country before the end of the day, I would be in Thailand illegally.
The Timothy House where I live is only about an hour from the border of Cambodia, but at this point we had driven about two hours in the opposite direction. Thankfully, we had left fairly early in the morning and did not have any plans for the rest of the day. So we turned the car around and headed for the border. Before crossing into Cambodia, I first needed to get a Cambodian visa. This is a pretty simple process--it costs $20, and all I had to do was fill out a short application and give it to the immigration officer at the Cambodian consulate on the Thai side of the border. Since Rodney's visa does not allow for multiple entries into the country, I was on my own from there.
Because of a large border market in the town where I was crossing into Cambodia, there are many, many tourists. (Or perhaps the border market was started because of the high volume of tourists, it is hard to say for sure!) This certainly made my experience easier, but it was also a much longer process. I spent the rest of my afternoon standing in lines. I discovered that there are many helpful Cambodians and Thais at the border---and most of them are looking to get your money. Before I even reached the first line to cross into Cambodia, I had someone offer to get me a Cambodian visa for 1,200 Baht. (200 more than its actual price.) So I practiced the fine art of politely refusing to get ripped off. Although it is illegal, it is a common practice for someone to take your passport, bring it across the border and get all the necessary stamps for you. They can skip the lines and get it done quickly, but they charge you for it.
After several hours of driving, and many hours of standing in lines and walking to other lines, I am now legally permitted to stay in Thailand for another 90 days. I also have a shiny green Cambodian visa and four new stamps in my passport! I didn't get to see much of Cambodia, but maybe I will get to visit again to see more than simply the street next to the Thai border.