Ripped Off on the Night Bus – Bangkok, Thailand
Tuesday, June 12th, 2007I was so sleepy and the seats on this particular night bus were so cosy. The blankets were fluffy and I had two seats all to myself, so I spread out. I threw my bag on the floor since no one was in the seats around me. I slept well that night. Too bad Erika and I were both missing credit cards and cash the next day (and my new favorite bubblegum pink beach towel – the nerve).
This is the kind of lesson that needs to be learned each time. I don’t know how many times I’ve been told to keep my bag on my lap and squeeze it to my chest as I sleep on the bus. But this bus felt safe. It had a big painting of The Hulk done in professional airbrush on the side of it with plush curtains and friendly staff. But by the next day at least one person on that friendly staff charged over 2,000 dollars on Erika’s credit card. She’s protected against theft, so she’ll be alright but damn. They were sneaky enough to move things around in our wallets, taking only one card and some cash and when we ran into some other people from the same bus, the same thing happened to them. Even our luggage in the lower compartment had been searched through. We were lucky to notice it early on and we were lucky not to lose our passports and other things.
So again, to those who might want to put their bags on the floor just that one time in that really nice snazzy-looking bus, don’t do it. Take your bag in your arms like a long lost lover and hug it all night long.
bonniecaton