Rong Kluea-Thai border checkpoint.

After the Cambodian immigration clearance which was very swift without much hassle including my French companion,we walked through the short distance Thai-Cambodian Friendship Bridge .

The scenerio at the Poipet Thai border is bustling with the two sides actively doing business with one another.
The economically active populace living along the border with Thailand are heavily dependent on cross-border trades such as garments making,construction,transport and services.
This is a win-win situation as can reduce the impact of poverty and generate employment to the local youths.




The checkpoint is opened daily from 7:00am till 8:00pm to facilitate the movement of people and goods.
Local people are able to travel to Thai border town of Rong Kluea market by purchasing a border pass for Baht10.
There is no way heavy vehicles can pass through not even any sign of motorcyclist.
Only transporters using a wooden carriage carrying heavy loads of goods through and fro.

 Cambodia's economic liberalisation only happens in the late 1980s and with the ending of state monopoly,the country joined ASEAN Free Trade Area(AFTA).




Border crossing is a very interesting adventure as one can see the best of both world.
 The Thai border checkpoint office is not a big one and while my French partner took to the queue while I went to hunt for the embarkation card.

It was a weekend and just after the Cambodian New Year,there were massive crowds as most people were returning to work the next day.

 The Thai immigration officer is very particular that you fill in the address(road name) of your stay in Thailand.

As we emerged from the Thai immigration checkpoint,we need to go through another lane where the police will make a luggage check.

The tuk-tuk drivers were all on hand nearby to greet travelers.We failed to meet our other Cambodian group nor do we recognised the "bus company represenative" at the Poipet side.
There were two white Cathay Tour Bus at the border waiting to receive their passengers.
We showed them our ticket but were rejected.

Now we feel dejected and my French partner thought of staying overnight here but I suggested that we should enquire around.

As we walked out the only exit road beside the bank,we came into this main road of Rong Kluea market.

 Talad Rong Kluea is located in Aranyaprathet, Sa Kaeo Province.
Talad in Thai means market.As you come from the Thai Immigration checkpoint,that corner green colour building is the Kasikorn Bank Limited.
 This market is a heaven to source for secondhand brand name clothes,sneakers,bags and accessories.
Most of their goods were sourced from South Korea.
The quality were superb and cheap costing between USD2-USD10.
Most of the clothing items came via Cambodia because import tax is lower there.
This is a distribution center for Thais who come from all the major towns and cities to buy goods to sell in their shops and market stalls.






  We found this booth and enquire by showing our bus ticket to the lady inside.
She was very good enough to tell us wait for the next van here.
This inferred that the "bus company representative" in Poipet is not trusted as by right he should have told us to come to this booth and switch to a minivan and not making pretentious call for a taxi arrangement.

We waited till 6:00pm when the scheduled van arrived for our 4hours journey to Bangkok.

 From this encounter,I felt that travellers might as well take a local express bus to the border and just walk into Rong Kleua market,take a Thai express bus here or at Aranyaprathet(Baht48) back to Bangkok(6 hours).
Songtheaw(not tuk-tuk) to Aranyaprathet from market(Baht20). All the formalities are very straight forward and fast if your documents are in order.

The local bus will stop enroute to Bangkok at Chachoengsao and Prachinburi.
 Rongkleau to Bangkok Minivan (14 seater)

Time:06:30, 08:30, 10:30, 12:30, 14:30, 16:30. Fare:between Baht440 to Baht500.

From Survanbhumi Airport direct bus to Rongkleau:

Bus Fare:Baht187 Distance:239km Duration:3hrs 50minutes.

Avail:07:15am & 09:30am

Depart Rongkleau:12:30hrs & 14:30hrs.
Check it up phone: 02-1344099.Call Center:1490

The mini van,a Toyota Commander made its way out of Rong Kluea via this exit to Aranyaprathet.

 The market is sub-divided into zones such as Rong Kluea, Golden Gate, Dech Thai, Thesaban II, Thesaban III and Benjawan.

It looks quite similar to Chatuchak Market in Bangkok layout style.
A short drive from here there was a police checkpoint where in most cases passengers have to get down for further checks.Maybe they need to confirm that there were no illegal immigrants sneaking into Thailand.
One minivan next to us has a full capacity packed like sardine of close to 20 young Cambodian workers or maybe student.

Sunset in the horizon.It was a Sunday and the traffic along this highway was very light.Expect to get some slight delay and bottleneck near Chachoengsao when the Thais return to the city after the Songkran festival.
Expected time of arrival in Bangkok will be 10:30pm and will end near the Victory Monument.