bus experience in Laos

Day 12 - A day of travelling from the north to the east. Last nite we were told there would be a nite bus from here to the east. We checked out the rooms, were waiting at the guest house reasturant from 7-11, there was no bus. So tired we gotta re-check in again n stayed for the nite. Woke up 730am (early monring again), trying to head east. We were told there was bus in the morning at 8am or 9am, but once again, there was no bus. We were then told go to the bus station at 11am again for the bus. apparently there was the only bus leave town to Sam Neua. I had no clue where the nite bus and early bus thing came from.

Went to the bus station again (most of the time we spent our time checking out bus schedule how to get out. it was unbelievabily difficult) there was a bus left at noon, but it was full!!! wicked!!! there was no sign where to buy tix, what the schedule was n now was full. i wondered how people got their tix from. Apparently they were all locals. A group a travellers including myself were stucked in the bus station in the pissing rain.

There was an offer which was 200,000kip (usd 28) each to charter a minibus in a group of 8. After an hour of bargain, the locals saw the desparation in our faces, so, NO BARGAIN!! that wasn't a good sign.

820pm, after 7 hours ride, no food, we finally stoped by a resturant in the middle of no where for some noodles. We had a group of 7 here from different countries. We couldn't have our fried rice. apparently the guy who took the orders didn't have a clue what we said. so we sat there for half n hour waiting before we ordered soemthing else from a more communicative lady (still need to speak laos, no english...) First experience of complete lost in translation.

After another 5 hours ride, we finally arrived Sam Neua at 2am. We couldn't find a budget guest house, so we decided to stay at the bus station for the nite. The driver wasn't very nice. He was so desparately to get rid of us. The nite was cards + lao lao nite in a cold n quite bus station. what an experience. interesting thou. we had fun drinking lao lao. my nites are getting from a shit hole to no hole to hide. haha!! Nice.