Bus ride=Disco ride

All of Thailand's transportations have scared me at some point.  Buses have been the most frightening, let's not forget the awful blue and green buses of Bangkok that don't stop to let you get on and just keep rolling on as if they expect to you run and jump in...  The river taxi was also scary.  The most frightening time was with my parents at Christmas when there were so many people inside that I could have sworn the boat was going to pop open or sink to the bottom of the river.  Tuk-tuks are never safe, always speeding through traffic on three wheels expecting the other giant vehicles passing by to stop for them, I'm always amazed nothing happens to me on my journeys to places here.

Taxis, well these are crazy everywhere, but I'd have to say Bangkok holds the craziest ones I've ever seen or met.  Half the time the identification picture at the front of the taxi isn't of the same face you see driving you.  Some speak in rapid Thai thinking you understand, and somehow manage to keep you alive as they dodge wild buses and miraculously miss hitting pedestrians as they are crossing the street. 

Last night was the same story.  We were coming back from the Mission College and had a long ride ahead of us, 10 hours on a high bus.  We knew the trip wouldn't be easy.  What we didn't realize was that there was no air conditioning!  Not twenty minutes into the trip, every part of my body that was touching the seat I was sitting on was covered in sweat.  Ew!  It remained drenched for most of the ride back.  Things started getting really crazy when suddenly there came loud disco dancing music from the speakers.  I was really trying not to be peeved at this point: I was hot, sweaty and tired.  All I wanted to do was sleep, but how can one when music is blasting?!

As I was looking at around, a little annoyed at my situation, I realized something awful was going on.  There was a tiny TV at the front of the bus, revealing girls dancing in bikinis... and it was stationed right in front of the bus driver!  I was so shocked.  How can he drive and watch this at the same time? I was utterly confused and started praying right away for my safety.  Seriously?  Was he serious?  

Well good news is that I'm safe and sound and I've already completed my day of teaching, so I'm okay.  But how stupid can people be?  I felt like I was in a disco bus the entire time, if there is such a thing.  I'm sure if the bus weren't going so fast and if the roads weren't so bouncy, the passengers would have been dancing in the isles.  What a weird experience!