How NOT to travel

How NOT  to travel

“Mom, it’s okay these two Cambodian men have me in great hands.” After a flight cancelation from Siem Reip, Cambodia to Laos my only next option was to bus it. The Cambodian airport was a newly established airport. When your flight is cancelled, there is just no one at the gates. No one to help me or speak English well enough to inform me on what was going on. I resorted to tears to get me some help around the airport… yes, of course it worked.  The next thing I know I am in some back room where they are trying to find me a new flight by pen and paper and use of cell phones..It was the most bizarre airport encounter I have ever experienced.  Still, after a restless search there were no flights. I was informed at the bus company that there was  a sleeper bus from 8am to what I thought 8 pm.. looking back at my ticket it did say 8AM- 8AM if you can do that simple calculation.  Not being the smartest traveler I didn’t realize this bus was going to be a 24 hour journey. I’m picked up from Siem Reip and enter on a van where you are arm to arm, leg to leg squeezed in. About 45 minutes later I say “excuse me, when are we switching to the sleeper bus?” “Maybe in about 7 hours,” someone replies. “WHAT?? I was supposed to be on a sleeper bus with meals and accommodations.” Laos being an unplanned adventure, I did zero research on this country. I didn’t have a book or a map and had no idea on the names or pronunciations of any of the towns. I thought okay, I will wake up and let my friends whom I am meeting from camp handle the rest. After the 7 hour journey on a squeezed in van where it was so bumpy you couldn’t even read I am dropped off in the middle of Cambodia where everyone is talking in every other language except English.. Literally it was like I was being kidnapped. If I could afford to have Obama come down in a helicopter and rescue me, it wouldn't even be possible because I there were no coordinates to even find me.  As I am sitting at this drop off point, an intelligent and kind Cambodian man informs me that only myself and another man, both in their early 30s are the only three people going to Vientiene, Laos. Most people were being dropped off more south where the ride wasn’t as far. But, Vientiene/Vang Viang was where my friends were. The Cambodian man,  Sorn Roatha, explains to me  that the bus company misinformed me that the bus would be direct from Siem Reip to Vientiene Laos. As, I am sitting in the middle of Cambodia, my two choices were to stay there for the night or to go with Sorn Roatha in a car that he arranged. “I’m calling my friend now I need to be in Vientiene by tomorrow morning so I don’t have time to stay over night here, do you want to come with my friend and I, says Roatha?” So, what do I say? "Ummm, Yes, I guess I'll go."   Wanting  to get out of my awful situation as fast a possible, I trusted this man. It’s truly amazing how when you are traveling abroad how much of your life you trust in the hands of transportation and strangers. The next thing I know I am in another van with at least 5 more Cambodian men. I continue on and we make a quick stop. As I see the faces of 6 westerners (France) my heart feels a little better. Thank gosh- white people!! Five hours later on this van, we stop. I get out with the other westerners and we are crossing boarder control on foot from Cambodia into Laos to get our visa’s—it was pretty cool. Next, back on the van and about three hours away from this 10 hour sleeper bus. Finally we arrive to REAL big busses, that I imagined from the beginning, traveling directly to my destination. Sorn Roatha, my fellow friend and I grab dinner and he helps me receive a sim card to call my mom. “Mom, I have no idea where I am and I’m scared but don’t worry these two Cambodian men are taking great  care of me.”—soothing statement for any parent, right?  “Katie, stop crying! You are going to look vulnerable and get taken advantage of if you are in tears.” My mother, so brilliant was absolutely right. As I needed the comfort, telling me to stop crying was the smartest thing she could have done in that moment. But, I was so scared. I literally laid my life  in the hands  of strangers whom I am so lucky were truly true gentlemen whom did take excellent care of me. Next thing is next and I am finally on the sleeper bus in the right direction. I take a sleeping pill as passing out was my only option after this day. I hear the bus stop and people talking in Cambodian or Lao language, I don’t know.. “The bus is broken down,” I hear. “NO, NO, NO, NO, this is not happening.” An hour later the bus is fixed as I pass out from pure exhaustion. I wake up the next morning at my destination and I get to my hostel to finally rejoice with my friends. I never got to say goodbye to Sorn Roatha for being my hero that day but I hope to find him on facebook one day to thank him.  27 hours later—I finally made it safe and sound. Laos is a hidden secret and a beautiful country completely tourist free!!!  I went tubing and motorbike riding through the Valley’s. There are hidden caves and blue lagoon’s all throughout the valley that you can only get to by bike.  I even extended my stay here as I am loving it so much. My long trek and journey was 100% worth it. I met a boy and we ran around this beautiful country on our bikes for days and tubed down the rivers all night. Laos is so chill, everywhere you eat, you lay. Tables are set up with pillows and mats so that you can lie down while waiting for your meal and after. I don’t know how I am ever going to eat in a chair again.. “Happy” shakes and eatables are in all of the restaurants and literally everyone just chills and goes tubing down the river. I LOVE THIS COUNTRY!!  Moving forward, I am now on my way to South Thailand where I am going to get my scuba diving certification. Word of advice.. Never get on busses without throughly checking times and asking questions about the route. Know your country even if it’s  basic town names so that you know where you are and what is going on. Always have a map as you can not count on the internet out here. I know it sounds basic but this was a blog about how NOT to travel.
NAMaste I’m blessed to be alive and MOM I LOVE YOU!!!