2011 - NZ To SF - Day 80

Day 80: (1 August 2011):
- Breakfast, internet, wait for departure. Relieved to see boat guy already here.
- Worried when 10:30 departure time come & boat guy in nowhere to be found.
- Boat guy arrive. Slow walk to boat. Stop to talk, buy (red) fuel, etc.
- Drop us off, then leave & brought 2 guests from out guesthouse. Then leave, more people arrive, fill 2 boats then go. Leave a bit after 11am. Hope 11am departure time is from island, not bus.
- See a few boats with tourists on way to dock.
- Wait for bus. Minivans come. Looks like some rough prioritisation system: we are not booked into a specific vehicle.
- A bus arrive & we get on. No rainwipers in pouring rain.
- Excruciatingly slow. Potholes, cows. Stop every once in a while to pick up people, refuel, toilet, shops. Ppl come on bus to sell. Some get off a bit later. Get to Pakse ~3pm.
- Change bus @ Pakse. Rice cake snack. Old grease on it. Agent buy our tickets. Look like wo would have same trip if we just showed up & got tickets.
- Even slower. 1st 2hrs, progress maybe 20km. Ridiculously slow speed. Now 8am seems possible, didn’t even consider it before as is ridiculous. Bus carry vegetables, etc. too.
- When get dark, ask passenger. Still 4hrs. to Savannakhet & 8 to Thakek.
- Along with 2 tourist pairs (one pair was already going to Sav.), we decide get off at Sav.
- Arrive ~10-11pm at Seno, 30km from Sav. Told to get jumbo/shared taxi. 5k each.
- Pouring rain just before get on. Overfull. Felix & I squeeze / hang off back. Dark drive. Rain. Realise should have looked to stay in Seno. Dinosaur sculpture & some light decorations.
- Take us to guesthouse. Open. 60k/room. Ours small like bathroom.
- Bowl of foe at bus station. Closing store. Meat on sticks stored in hanging plastic bags. Pastries: mostly stale. Store looks like small home for family.