Notes From The Road: From Mukdahan To Nekromantix, Buriram

Transcript

Hey People,

On a short stop back to Buriram. Got kicked off the bus on the way here after six hours. Bought the ticket in Mukdahan, which is the starting point for the trip. The woman made a typo on my ticket, so essentially I had a no seat ticket despite buying the ticket 24 hours in advance (when few were sold) and paying full fare. To make a long story short – told to skip = me contesting and showing all other info on the ticket, people waiting, waiting – I go to be left at night in a town and told to wait for the next available bus, could be a couple of hours, could be many hours. Driver still had my ticket, which meant, the next driver could tell me I don’t have a ticket and have to wait until the bus station opens again to buy one or charge me some horrendous price – all up to their discretion. So I jump back on the bus and request my ticket…and get an empty seat.

Lesson Learned:

Always learn to read the city you are either living in or traveling to. I think part of what helped me was that I kept using the ticket as evidence a mistake had been made my pointing to specific words. The people (looking at the ticket, etc) were shocked while I was doing so (i.e. made a comment about it). This is extra protection out here – if you encounter someone who is trying to manipulate you and they think you can read, they will have one less weapon at their disposal. (The bus driver I encountered wasn’t trying to manipulate me, he was overwhelmed when some women came on the bus and told him they had purchased my seat and didn’t want to sit anywhere other than together).

Anyhow, one night in and a stop at the bar I help out at every Saturday…next stop Bangkok.

xo,

ldf

nekromantix1 — Nekromantix Saloon, Buriram, Thailand, 2011

There is no other bar like Nekromantix Saloon in Buriram. From the concept to the mix of people to the quality and selection of imported spirits and beer.