Renewed Passport

This afternoon I went to Philippine consulate here in Phnom Penh. I renewed my passport which will expire on September 2008. As I need to apply new visa, I was advised by my company to renew my passport. It's quite more expensive to acquire Philippine passport when you are out of the country. Though I was lucky that I do not have to fall and wait in long lines. For the three times I kept coming back in the consulate this afternoon,I was all alone and nobody else was there to follow-up any paper works. I'm not sure if I was just lucky or let's say the people in the consulate pitied on me. I applied for passport renewal at around three o'clock and by four thirty I was able to claim it. Actually, I was already there since one thirty. Anyways, later on I will tell you why I have to keep coming for three times. For now I will give you important reminders of requirements when you renew your passport based on my experience. By the way,this is for Philippine passport holders only.

1) Fee of $50.00
2) Passport size picture - make sure your face is close-up and almost occupy the whole picture.
3) Old Passport
4) 2 copies of old passport.
5) 2 copies of visa.

Now here is my real story. I arrived at almost one thirty in the Philippine consulate. Unfortunately, I was informed by the guard that the office will open only at two o'clock. But as the rain starts to pour, the guard allowed me to go inside the compound. It was not yet two o'clock but a man from inside the office already approached me and asked if I need any help. Gladly, I went inside the office. Sat down for a while until one lady asked what I need. I told them I need to renew my passport. But when they saw my photo, they didn't approve it. Which means, the $6.00 I spent to rush those pictures are useless now. Anyway, they told me it's for my own security purpose also. I have to go back again to one of photo shop in Sihanouk Street to take again my picture. But this time they were too busy to accomodate me. It took me forty five minutes now for 4 pcs. picture and pay $2.00 compared to the first one which took me only three minutes but need to pay $3.00 for a 4pcs picture.
While waiting for the my pictures, I ordered one glass of iced coffee in Lucky Cafe. I also fill-up the form for passport renewal which the consulate officer let me bring. After getting my pictures, went to a nearby copier and photocopied my passport and visa. Went back again to the consulate at around three o'clock to file my passport application with the correct picture. Fortunately the consulate staff attended on me got pity and ask me to just comback at four thirty and no need to come back on the other day. So, I have to go back again to Lucky Supermarket to do some grocery.

As I still have lots of time, I decided to just walk from Lucky Sihanouk to the Philippine Embassy. It was nice sight seeing opportunity also. There was so many grand houses and offices in Street 294. Makes me wonder the gap of rich and poor people in Cambodia. Well,I think all the thirld world countries has the common thing. There are very rich people and there are the very poor people. And the gap between these two social standing continously widen. I had been to three south east asian countries, Philippines - my mother land, Vietnam my first out of the country job location, and now I'm here in Cambodia. Vietnam amazed me with their motors and bicyles. Cambodia also has the motors and bicycles but what amazes me is being a thirld world country but having Lexus cars roaming everywhere. Luxury cars and grand houses can be easily spotted in Phnom Penh. Everytime I roam around in Phnom Penh,I appreciate more its culture and its wholeness. By the way, there is a new mall here, the Sovannah Mall, sorry but it is incomparable to our malls in Philippines. Philippines has the Asia's biggest mall. Mall of Asia they call it. It will take two days if you plan you visit all the stores inside.

Finally, after day dreaming while walking along Sihanouk Street, Street 63 and Street 294, I again arrived in the consulate and waited for some minutes more. Voila! before four thirty,I got my new passport and also the registration card from embassy.

I was too tired to have motor ride adventure so I decided to take a $4.00 tuktuk going back to the company. I love this day...