Sihanoukville Express, Bus Ride from Hell
Today I have a guest post from fellow blogger Ken Dunlop from The Vancouver Traveler. Ken spent several months traveling around Southeast Asia, and he graciously offered to share a bit of his trip with you. This is one of what I am sure is many anecdotes about getting around in Southeast Asia.
So, you find yourself in Sihanouk Ville in Cambodia, and you are desperate to get into Thailand. Not wanting to travel the four hours to Phnom Penh in order to fly, the lady at the Internet Café presented a great plan, “Mr Ken, take the bus…it is good ride and only 8 hours.”
Yup, you have it I took the bus.
The day began at 07:00 for the tuk tuks ride to the bus depot, for the 07:50 bus departure. The bus is one of those huge highway buses, not the kind we think of in North America, but one that actually has an area under the bus where you can bring your moto (motor bike), plus all the luggage. The bus is all decked out, two TV’s nice big comfortable seats…and thankfully working aircon.
But don’t get too comfortable yet. . . .
I have to warn you though, do not get too comfortable as unbeknownst to me, one hour down the highway, we will run into a river that does not have an operating bridge over it. That’s right, off the bus, grab your bags, (all three of them) and board a raft to get taken across the river.
Once on the other side you board another bus, and each time this process happens the busses get less and less comfortable. You get to do this two more times before you finally make it into the border town of Koh Kong. Eight hours and sure enough you are at the border of Cambodia and Thailand.
However I am headed to Jomtien Beach in Thailand so there is another 4 hours of travel. This will mean 12 people in a 15 person van, complete with easily 30 pieces of luggage. Fourteen hours later, sure enough, we were in Jomtien Beach, a trip only five hours longer then originally promised.
Take it from me, fly next time!!
Photo credit: Ken Dunlop
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Tags: Asia, b5media, Cambodia, flight attendants, flyaway-cafe, Ken Dunlop, Southeast Asia, Thailand, The Vancouver Traveler, travel, travel & tourism, travel blogging, travel blogs, travel information, Travel Tips, vacationRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Air Travel, Car Trips, Getting Around, Travel Tips
2 opinions for Sihanoukville Express, Bus Ride from Hell
Clint
Apr 3, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Was in Cambodia a month ago and your experience doesn’t surprise me. But couldn’t help but laugh about the bridge in the second picture. I imagine the ferry was a cheaper way to cross.
oddball
Apr 5, 2008 at 8:10 am
I have just had a friend here in Cambodia who took the bus from Koh Kong to Phnom Pehn , he said it was a good , comfortable ride that was far better than the old mini-bus ride , he had to walk over one foot bridge because the main bridge is still under construction , the other 3 the bus drove over with the passengers intact .The lady was correct , it was 8 hours to the borger .
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