Scheduled to leave on a 7:30pm sleeper bus to Hoi An, a 12-hour trip that cost $10US, we decided to take our luggage on board. People arriving from that direction found themselves left with wet bags and dirty clothes as the streets were flooded meters deep.
The initial part of the trip was kind of like having a sleepover with mom. We were dressed in comfy clothes, side by side in bunks under blankets. At the time, we thought 12 hours would feel like days. Some people were making the journey all the way to Hanoi ... if I remember correctly that would've added an extra 16 hours on a bus with no bathroom.
We made one stop in the middle of the night/morning ... probably around 3am. I got off the bus and was sure to hit the bathroom twice but about 2 hours later I found myself having to go again. It was then that I kicked myself for thinking that water and a small snack at the rest stop was a good idea.
I didn't want to go up and ask the driver about the next stop so mom did. On her second time asking she was told to wait five minutes. Within the five minutes the bus pulled over to the side of the road and opened the door. As I stepped outside in the dark I could see we were in the middle of nowhere. Squatting by the bus was the only option. With on coming car lights right on me I could only smile and think about the immediate situation and how this is probably the norm. I was quickly reminded that I was very far from what I consider home.
It was hard to sleep after that. I knew it would start getting light soon and our stop was just over an hour away. Of course the bus made a bathroom stop about 30 minutes after my experience. Could I have held it? I'd think yes.
The drive into Hoi An, for me, was the most interesting of the whole three weeks. It gave one a look into the real Vietnam. Imagine this out of place bus driving down country lane roads where pedal bikes seemed to rule. Water was everywhere ... debris hung over cable wires letting one know just how high the water was on the day prior.
The small dwellings and shops that lined some roads had a distinct water line. This line showed about a ruler's length above most front doors. Fences of dirty clothes were strung about even though the rain was coming down.
Some quotes taken directly out of the Viet Nam News:
- 5th flood to hit the central provinces this month
- thousands homeless, scores dead and remote regions holding on by a thread
- 400,000 houses have been submerged
- landslides have destroyed several national roads
- 2,400 houses are facing the possibility of starvation
and lastly:
- The Canadian Embassy announced it was sending C$100,000 to flood hit areas
All this being said, I have some great things to say about Hoi An. Eyes posted at a later date.
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