This is Thailand y'all...Part 3

I should have never thought easy, I can handle this.  Life decided to show me to never think it’s easy in Thailand.  Now it was up to me to get to Korat to catch the bus instead of having someone pick me up.  I was messaging another consultant at my agency (not Joe) and she told me that there was only one bus line that runs from Korat to Sakonnakon and it left at 12:20 am and 1:50 am.  My first thought was that is a weird time, but there are many over night buses in Thailand so it very well could be.  I even clarified the time and was told 12:20 am.  And Google was failing and I coud not find the times online.

I'm like shit better leave now.  I get checked out of my accommodation and get a tuk tuk to the bus stand outside Sikhio. While I’m there I message the girl who will be my new coordinator to let her know what is going on so someone can meet me at the bus station in Sakonnakhon.  I tell her I’ll arrive around 7:00 am.  We go back and forth a few times on am and pm.  She tells me the bus leaves Korat at 12:20 PM...I'm like well hell I got no place to sleep tonight. So with google translate I ask a man will a bus to Korat come soon? He makes some noises that I assume are a yes. Finally a bus shows up and he gestures for me to follow him. I’m struggling with my large, heavy suitcase, purse and 2 backpacks. Another guy stops and comes back to help me.  I seriously just threw my purse at him.  Here stranger take my purse.  I trust you’re getting on the same bus as me and I’ll get it back.

I get on the bus and there are no seats. I stink. I know I do. I have to stand in close proximity to these unfortunate souls that were lucky enough to have seats for about an hour. The lady comes to get money. I swear she says 60 baht. I hand her 40 and am getting the other 20 out and she says no this enough. I think she just took pity on the stinky farang. Roads in Thailand are very similar to roads in Missouri – awful!  Not only were my feet starting to hurt, but I was getting slightly motion sick. Finally the man in the seat that I've been holding on to for dear life gets up and gets off the bus. I jump into his seat. Then I realize I really have no idea where I am going. So I get out Google translate again and ask the lady in the seat next to me if this bus goes to Korat mall because I've heard people talk about the bus to Korat mall. She speaks some English and says yes mall, I show you. I almost hug her. Then she gets off at the next stop, which is not a mall...but does tell the lady that took my money I need off at the mall. I get to the mall and just sit down on a bench for about 20 mins.

I find a decent priced hotel room online, book it and get a tuk tuk to it. I’m sure the people at the front desk were a little leery to let me actually check in.  I was a hot mess!!  After I got checked in I headed to my safe place aka 7/11 and bought myself two ham and cheese toasties.  After the day I’d had I deserved two, damn it!  I showered and slept in the plush bed, ready for a calm day on the bus to Sakonnakhon.