Overnight bus to Bangkok - 9th September
Tuesday, September 18, 2007 at 01:29PM This was a fucking nightmare.
First part was kinda far out as we were loaded into the back of a ute and SPED toward the bus depot. I capitalised the word sped becasue I have a feeling our driver is paid by the trip, not by the hour. Tyres were screeching around each and every corner and the brakes were locked up more than once. Couldn’t see much of what was going on as there was a canopy thing set up over us in the tray, this was probably a good thing.
It all went downhill from there.
Our bus looked nice from the outside, a brightly painted double decker number that called itself the VIP bus. I’m sure with a bit of thought I can come up with a suitable alternative meaning for that acronym but to be honest I can’t be bothered. Anyways the seats folded back so far that almost all leg room behind them was cut off. Now maybe a small Thai type could squeeze their legs in the space that was left but I didn’t have a prayer. I spent the whole trip alternating between being rolled up in a ball on the seat and sitting uncomfortably diagonally on the chair so that my legs could go out into the aisle. Then there was the air conditioner that must have been lovingly taken care of for a long time - like since air conditioners first came out. I say this becuase all it had was on and off - no middle ground. So it kept on clunking on for about 20-30 seconds every couple of mins. And it was LOUD, so loud my headphones couldn’t overpower it. Even with Linkin Park cranking I still heard it clunking in and out.
Oh but I saved the best for last. The tour opperators kindly supplied us with an onboard toilet - which was nothing more (apparently, I didn’t go in it) than a container you shat in, which slowly filled up though the trip, and it was RIGHT UNDERNEATH US. The end result was a bloody uncomfortable, erratically noisey, shit smelling 14hrs to Bangkok.
Never in my life have I been so happy to get into a city and no, I didn’t even consider taking any pictures…
Copyright © 2007, Ben Heys. All rights reserved.
Reader Comments (3)
glad you are enjoying yourself. great bus ride, you'll never forget it. When do you meet up with John? Glad you survived the tsunami, earthquake and plane crash.What are you doing to that country? The photos are brilliant, beautiful colour water. I like the houses on sticks. keep enjoying yourself. Keep the blog going it is excellent.
Haha! i thought the ute driving was kinda fun. the bus trip to Bangkok, don't' remind me! Even the blanket covering my nose couldn't' filter the smell. Oh yes, let's not to forget to mention the flush wasn't working. You also have a terrible sense of smell and if you can smell it, guess it was like for me! *faint*
Go back and get a photo of the bus dammit!