Travelling by bus

Unlike the UK, travelling by bus is quicker than by train, and therefore it is more expensive. You might wonder why you would go by bus when you can enjoy the views if travelling by train on a much cheaper fare. I think the reason is that travelling by bus is part of the Thai education system that encourages the cultivation of fearlessness — travelling by bus is an experience that is bound to frighten even the most care-free individuals.

The long distance air-con buses are the fastest vehicle on the road, even when over-packed with passengers. As I boarded the bus at 4.30am this morning and saw the young eager driver edging to get going, I knew I was in for a special treat. Luckily for me I was only 2 seats from the front so I would be able to watch all the action. I slept for a couple of hours until the feeling of bones being rattled by the bus traversing the pot holes became too intense to sleep. The further northeast you go, the worse the roads get. The roads become more like a series of potholes; most drivers slow down to avoid them, but the bus drivers just glide (?) straight over them. To maintain this high speed compared to the other vehicles on the road, there needs to be a lot of overtaking. Bus drivers are either very skilled at overtaking or they are just plain crazy. The bus spends as much time on the opposite side of the road as it does in its lane. The general lack of discipline in Thai driving works to the advantage of the buses which just weave in and out of the oncoming traffic. Any mistakes (or near misses) are accepted and other drivers are very good at nearly driving off the road to avoid the bus.

Another bus I travelled in we had several very near misses within the first 10 minutes of being on the bus. The driver was obviously a little concerned, so he stopped and bought some flowers that he placed around the Buddha image in his bus. He took off again at high-speed, safe in the knowledge that this simple offering will ensure a safe journey. Sure enough, we arrived in one piece.