Look Who it Was Random video

Bus ride from Pakse, Laos to Hue, Vietnam

2,372 views · Published 26 February 2013 · 7:17 · Indexed 25 October 2026

Channel: Jay Philip Williams · 2013 · Travel & Events

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Notice the guy yelling a few clips in. Not sure what his problem was, but he ended up getting off the bus. Later, notice the money changer. She got on the bus shortly before we got to the Vietnam border.

Here's the day's schedule:

• Got up at 5:00 AM.
• Caught a tuk-tuk to the "bus station" at 6:30.
• Got on the bus at 6:40.
• Watched while all manner of other "luggage" was loaded (like chickens and rice) and people boarded the bus.
• Wondered why the seats in the bus were so high, until a footrest (a 50Kg bag of rice) was placed under our feet.
• Left at 7:00.
• Picked up some more people while leaving Pakse, Laos.
• It was a bus for about 40 people—there were about 60 on board. Plastic seats stretching front to back down the aisle added another person to each row. The chickens rode on the roof, so they didn't take up any seats.
• Stopped for almost an hour while people's paperwork was checked (so I was told) and some dude crawled under the wheel well to work on the brakes (there was fluid on the ground—I was mildly worried after that until I became convinced the brakes were good to go).
• Got to the Laos border about 4:00 PM—dozens of passengers crowded up to the window and they all handed their passports over simultaneously despite the fact that there were only 3 agents behind the counter. I stood back, waiting until everyone else was done, knowing that the agents could only process 3 passports at a time. No need for competition.
• Walked to the Vietnam border (a hundred meters away, or so) at around 4:30. There were 2 lines to the passport windows. I was in one of them. The dude behind me was grinding up on me. A few seconds after I glared at him for invading my personal space, he tapped me on the shoulder and motioned for me to move forward, as a large gap of around 8" had opened up between me and the guy in front of me. Maybe he thought that he would get to the window faster if I didn't leave such a gaping hole in front of me. Whatever.
• Got back on the bus and hit the road again at around 5:00.
• Arrived in Hue, Vietnam at around 8:00 PM.
• Got on the back of a motorbike with my backpack, camera bag, tripod, and laptop, and Moon got on the back of another one with her suitcase. Hit an ATM on the way to our hotel.
• Showered, then walked around and looked for a place to eat dinner. Took some photos and video of some of the performers who were celebrating in the street for the Moon Festival.
• Ate dinner. Some of the little outdoor places seem to like miniature tables and chairs. It's even low to the ground for me! I had fried rice and Moon had some kind of noodle soup.
• Typed up this post.
• Went to bed.

See my Asia photos: http://www.jpwphoto.com/f561024062

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