Bus Travel In Thailand

Khao Lak to Koh Samui is right across the country. At this part of Thailand it is not so far across as the crow flies but where there is a baht to be made (and there are many) the Thais manage to turn this trip into an epic journey. We began our trip at 8am with a small mini bus from Khao Lak. It was a windy 1 and 1/2 hour journey to Krabi. The road was beautiful and mountainous. Very windy and Maggie was sick along the way. We stopped off part way for toilet break (squat) and eats. At Krabi we were all told to get off the bus. "Everyone out, out!" From here the passengers all disperse to different parts of Thailand. It is basically a waiting depot. You are given a coloured sticker according to your destination. You feel like cattle in a cattle yard of back packers. Your 'brand' is a massive B for Thai Baht. After 10 minutes or so a songthaew turned up. At first I thought we were doing the rest of our trip on this. It took us to another cattle yard (I mean bus depot) still in Krabi but about another 10 minutes away. Every place you wait you are encouraged to spend, spend, toilet, drink, food, accommodation at your destination etc. Finally our next bus arrived, large and decrepit. It took ages to make the trip to Surat Thani. It was stuffed with back packers and flash packers (that's our demographic, aging BP's with more cash.) It also transformed at some point into a local bus picking up locals all along the way. It noted 152 km to Surat Thani when we left Krabi then 148km on the outskirts of Krabi. I went to sleep and when I woke up 1/2 hr later it was 152km to Surat Thani!!! (Bus trip to Hell!!) Finally we arrived at Surat Thani. The bus doesn't take you directly to the ferry. It goes right into town to, you guessed it, another bus depot where you wait and wait for another bus to the ferry. BTW Surat Thani is probably the most boring town in Thailand. Of course while you wait you are encouraged to buy, buy again. Everyone has an angle. Finally the last bus rolls

up. This is the worst of the lot. It stank (of unmentionables). My seat was by a window where my head proceeded to cook for a whole hour. We arrived on the dot of 4 pm while a Thai guy literally screamed at us, "Get off the bus! get OFF THE BUS!!! Ferry leaving now, NOW!" We ran to ferry and threw backpacks and kids down onto gang plank. That was the worst of the journey over. The ferry to Samui was lovely. Samui always looks beautiful from a distance and some parts are still beautiful close up too. We had dramas finding our accommodation but it was worth it. It is probably the quirkiest place in Lamai. Josh said Issy would love it. Will share all in an upcoming post.