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 The Bus From Hell $9 usd Cheap Charlie backpackers are being needlessly tortured in Cambodia. Although they may not know there is a better way or in fact they are purposely torturing themselves to save a lousy $7 usd this Tiredhiker does not know. On my recent overland trip from Pattaya City Thailand to Saigon (HCMC) Vietnam I mistakenly thought this "Bus From Hell" was the only way to go overland. I too wished to save some money and I wanted to know how to do it for any future trips I may take and also to update the overland guide on this website. Just the savings from not paying the two airport taxes actually pays for half of this trip so I gave it a try. (Not to mention that a few days in PP is always welcome !). It was 12 hours of Hell ! Every pot hole in the road resulted in pain. And God only knows how many holes there are in this road that is when there was a road. Backpacks jumping up off the floor. Backpackers flying through the air. Every bump resulted in some form of torture. Twelve hours of having my body and guts twisted and wrenched. There was no sleeping in this non stop shaking, bumping and banging hell. Even a sip of water from a bottle was nearly impossible. I was sick for 2 days after this ride. The cost is $9 usd. Tickets can be bought at the Capital Hotel in Phnom Penh Cambodia. Leaving at around 6am every day. All masochists take note.  Ride In This Van for $16 usd The Van pictured is from a Vietnamese company that sells tickets for $16 usd and they are 2 to 3 hours faster than the "Bus From Hell" ! I arrived in PP at 5pm and although the ride was rough at times it was completely survivable. They travel only 3 times a week. PP to HCMC Tues, Thurs & Sat, HCMC to PP Tues, Thurs & Sat at ~ 6am. After a shower and a bite to eat I was ready for a night at Martini's Disco in PP, one of my most favorite discos in the world. I found out about this company through my Vietnamese guide. Too bad I did not know about it before. They are less than a kilometer from the Capital Hotel and you are crazy not to spend the extra $7 for this service ! |   Old Fogee With A Hand Rolled Stogee  The Road That Was Not There  Out-Of-The-Way Temples |