The worst bus experience ever.
On the 8 of November I packed all my stuff I was motivated to leave Cambodia and move to a new county. I get to the hotel reception and they let me know that I was not possible to get a bus until tomorrow … OK one more night in Downtown Siem Reap, after all I had a lot of fun in this hostel why not one more night. The 2 English guys I was traveling with left around 2 pm I am back alone on the road. But not for long, when I get back to check in in my room a girl Alena was getting the same information that me, no bus for Laos until tomorrow. Few words later we decided to book the bus later on together. The hostel is offering quite a good price and it’s more easy. I spent the dat chilling at the pool and planning Laos. The 7 pm free whisky shot arrive, I join Alena and we start talking. Seems that she is super nice for a US girl, she gave the same compliment back « quite nice for a French girl ». Few beers later time to get off the pool and shower to finish the night. I fall asleep for an hour, her too few minutes later she said « one more beer ». Oh I like this girl. One more beer (and some sucid shots) and a night later in Pub Street, in one hour the bus is leaving. Amazing I will sleep all the 14 hours I am so tired.
But this plan did not work as planned, in fact the bus look really really bad, no sit rest for most and my seat does not have pillow on the chair…
Long story short I am not going to sleep. OH there is also no AC. The bus start Alena decided to sit on the floor so much more comfortable.
Still 11 hours to go. The driver stop for a smoothie, but did not let us pi or buy food or even buy water … Hell bus :) We finally arrive at the board. Here I read all about the scam that happen and they get even better now when you get off the bus next to the board office a kind of governmental guy with a blue short wait for you and ask you even more than planned and it took at least 1h30 to make all the visa. 35 dollars for French and German, the other paid 45 dollars. Obviously a picture is needed and cost 3 dollars at the restaurant where you stay. The owner has a nice camera and print it all for you … 50 dollars and a papaya salad later, we have to cross the boarder by foot to reach the next bus. Everyone look so relaxed … a new bus and no one inside amazing … Until the bus get completely full even in the corridor and it’s also full of mosquitos. Next step we reach at night one hour later the pier of the 4000 islands. No more expectations everyone is exhausted and laughing about what could happen next. The boats get 10 people in each and we drive with no light in the middle of the 4000 islands no more sounds, no one talking we just admire the beauty of the dark night, the stars and the lights of the boat driver matching the coast. (Do not forgot to withdraw at before taking the boat there is no ATM on the islands).
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