1pm: Picked up by a tuk tuk, about 10 of us crammed in with our backpacks. Taken to bus station.
1.51pm: Sitting in our 'VIP bus' , alot better than the last one we had, looking promising.
5.30pm: Arrived in Vientianne. This time yesterday I was sat by the river drinking Laos' speciality Tiger Whisky.
6.00pm: Waiting in bus station for next bus.
6.15pm: Off we go in another tuk tuk, definately not enoughroom for all 14 of us.
7.00pm: In our 'VIP bus' not actually that bad, soooo glad we paid extra for the privilege of being able to lie down. Glad i'm short, the beds just about the right length for me. They just turned off the lights and it's only 7pm, think i'm going to struggle to read my magazine! People in front of us taking valium, everyone seems to take it on the bus journeys here.
7.23pm: Some awful dance competition been put on the tv, just what I wanted to listen to!!
9.25pm: Raining heavily! Bus leaking slightly. Gecko at the back of bus. Made a stop off and got some rice, courgette and omlette.
10.51pm: Just let loads of locals on to the bus, getting crammed!
11.15pm: People talking far louder than necessary.
2.10am: How can someone snore this loudly? Maybe I should have jumped on the valium bandwagon.
2.20am: Arrive at the border, even though it doesn't open for hours.....
6.15am: Music put on. Who on earth wants to listen to this at 6.15am?!
6.45am: Get off bus, get passport checked. Some people considering moving bus because of the noise.
7.15am: Walk 15 minutes across bridge.
7.30am: Waiting around.
8.00am: Put bags through xray, now waiting again.
8.50am: Still waiting..........what are we even waiting for? Huge stick insect being passed around.
9.15am: Finally back on bus!
10.53am: Tv back on. English guy now playing rage against the machine on speakers in protest. Toilet stop but no toilet just an option to pee in the mountains.
11.41am: Ipod out of battery :(
12.28pm: Stop off for lunch. Didn't get one for breakfast. Guy casually smoking a bong as we walk in to the stop off restaraunt. Took me a long time to explain I only wanted tofu with my rice and not a random collection of meats (god knows what they were).
3.13pm: Bum hurtsso much! Hope we are there soon. Now been on the road for over 26 hours.
5.53pm: Still on bus!! (Nearly 29 hours)
6.35pm: Finally arrived in Hanoi, now to find our hostel.....
9.49pm: In our hostel now - the new Hanoi backpackers hostel which alot of people have recommended to us!! Had a yummy veggie burger for dinner. Looks very lively here but far too tired to consider a night out, off to bed now!
A picture of where we sat for 28 hours...... :
That was an epic journey! I love your description of it all - it really brings it to life.
ReplyDeleteLove Mum x
hahahaaa I can just imagine your face on that journey... ! xxx
ReplyDeleteTook us about half an hour to explain to the driver that we didn't want to go to the mall, just to Hanoi Backpackers - and yes the new, not the old.
ReplyDeleteGecko at back of bus - best line ever.
Can't even express how noisy that bus was. And that loud vietnamese local!!!!
Awful experience for 24 hours with lack of toilet and bundles of rehydration sachets.
No idea what that meat was but at least there was morning glory!!!
Don't forget about our encounter with a stick insect :).
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