On the Buses

The coach service in Thailand is second to none, it makes national express look like a bit of an also ran.

Mostly the buses are air-conditioned and look to be in good working spec.

Some of the tactics that the drivers use from A to B can leave a little to be desired, but this is Thailand and driving as a whole different set of rules. (Or lack of them)

The cost is amazing! From Bangkok to Cha-Am which is 225km, a single fare worked out to £3.50 each way. There is a bus about every thirty minutes from one of the three main bus terminals in Bangkok, to nearly any destination in Thailand, even the far north and south.

It takes a bit of nerves to go and buy a ticket, but the cost will make it well worth while.

There is also a huge fleet of private coaches, these ply the trade on popular routes and take a lot of school children and workers to and from home. I have to mention these because they are all so weirdly painted, all airbrushed with many unusual designs. Many have a fantasy theme about them like in the photo, others with film stars.

For some reason, a coach is not a proper coach unless it as a picture or stencil of Al Pincino in the Scar face roll. Why I don’t know, maybe a macho thing, or if you piss the driver up, he will cut you up with chainsaw’s.