Travel Tip #5: What is a chicken bus? When to take one?
A Chicken bus is an old American school bus now being used for public transportation in countries like Guatemala and Nicaragua. They are called a Chicken Bus, because it's not uncommon to find locals transporting a live chicken while riding the bus.
In Nicaragua taking the Chicken Bus is the best way to get from city to city. It's super cheap and during the day it's always safe. Generally the same can be said about Guatemala as well. However in Guatemala City there's a lot of gang activity and it's not a city to mess around in especially once the sun goes down. I recommend taking the tourist van from the Airport to Antigua or where-ever your destination is. That is what most people do.
I would avoid traveling after dark in a Chicken Bus unless you're comfortable with your situation. Avoid the chicken bus when it's a 20 minute three dollar cab ride vs an hour bus ride hitting stop after stop.
Overall get on the Chicken Bus. It's a great experience and you might even feel like you're eight years old again on your way to school!
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Thank you,
I would LOVE to take a chicken bus hihihi! You gotta get us a photo of some chicken passengers one day :) Pleeeeeeeease?? :)
Haha. I'd love to get a photo of some chicken passengers. I'm thinking it may be difficult from Thailand and SE Asia. I'll get you photo of whatever the equivalent is in Laos! I'm sure in that country chicken doubles as a form of currency! Good to hear from you! -Dan
HAHAHAA well, I Love chickens, and always love to see photos of the little guys :) :) I'll be on the lookout for yours!
Hey, man. Another great article. DId you leave the US yet? I bought a ticket to Bangkok. I leave Sept 19. ...I gave you a shout out in my latest post.
Sound advice! I found these a great way to get around in Guatemala, though some locals cautioned us that drunk driving is also an issue.
Good point. Care free and drunk doesn't help matters at all.
I haven't decided where to go from Bangkok. Was actually going to ask your advice. I'm not sure how much I'll like each area, is it possible to get cheap flights to nearby places a few days ahead of time so I can decide while I'm there, or should I just buy island hopping and nearby country flights way in advance?
Don't rule out the overnight trains with bunk beds which double as a nights stay in a hotel and transportation. Don't rule out long bus rides and land transfers either. The less you spend, the more you save, longer you can travel, the more you can see, the happier you will be! hey that rhymed! lol
Ugggg I just started writing you an in depth novel of a response. From the onward ticket issue, to where I'm going in Thailand and why, to where you may want to go and how people travel for different reasons and try get different things from their experiences.....To the Islands, to my ticket I just bought from Bangkok to Vientien Laos for 54 dollars, and why that led me to changing up my itinerary, siting things you should keep in mind for your own situation.....I can go on and on and on.
You have so many options. But yes you can buy a ticket more or less last minute. You do risk a higher price or it even being sold out, but 5 days in advance non-weekend, non-holiday, you should be fine. You've got visa issues possibly depending on length of stay and country. Onward ticket issues.......All travel problems have easy and often cheap solutions. You just have to know what to do.
Anyway, I'm done writing on steemit for the most part. I'm switching over into video blog. Where I'll sit for 5 minutes every morning and just talk into the camera, cover topics like travel questions, tips, up-dates.
I just can't be writing travel reports for 20 cents an hour. Editing then reediting my writings, dealing with photo sizes and html pull right and pull left, font this and heading that, then rewording my shit until I'm all stressed out. I have about 10 posts and reports in standby ready to go up but after I'm thinking no more.
So I was going to do that today and upload to youtube and steemit. But it will have to wait until I get to Thailand as my Dad's internet is so bad I can barely even get this message out to you. Already did a video on what's in my bag "What I travel with". I'll do a video giving you a detailed answer to your seemingly simple question. But my hands have been tied for 5 weeks with shitty internet here in the USA. go figure! lol
I'm out Sunday night. Arrive in Bangkok Tuesday Morning. So if I can find time to learn how to upload videos in Bangkok, I'd call it a success. Otherwise it will have to wait another week until I'm settled in Koh Phenagn. I changed up my itinerary just this week, and decided on the island just north of Ko Samui, Koh Phenangng or however it's spelled. That's a whole other story in itself.
I can answer your question much better on where to go in all of South East Asia if you give me a little insight into what you are looking to get out of your travels, how much time you have, and what your budget is.
I've got so much friggen info in my head it's almost ridiculous. So thank you for giving me an outlet and letting me share and help someone!
I've annoyed my folks quite a bit since I've been back because I start every other sentence with "when I was in such and such a country...blah blah blah" lol. The last couple weeks I've made a point to talk about the NY Yankees, and the latest pop culture BS and I seem to fit right in fine. lol!
Another long response! lol
Dan
Hope you made it to Bangkok okay and you're glad to be traveling again. I want to travel cheap, so I can splurge now and then. I'm fine with sleeping on couches and bunks in Hostels. I want to meet other travelers. I'm hoping to see the sites in cities and off the beaten path type things....
I've seen people talking on here about how you can record a video log and there's a program that transcribes it for you. I agree, the writing takes time for a few cents. I figure it's worth it for me to stay on here because, if nothing else, it will be my travel journal for myself, family, and friends. Also, I think we are here on the ground floor of something that's going to take off. I was also thinking I'd be posting vlogs once I'm on the road, for the sake of time, and (so my parents can see me). Hopefully we'll talk again soon.
(Btw, your posts are very good and you have a lot of value to offer. I've seen travel blog classes on other world traveler website-they guide you through everything you need to know to make money on your own website. I haven't looked into it much, but I might.) -Chris
How long are you looking to stay? What type of things do you like to do? I'm in Bangkok now and I've lived in the country near Udon Thani. It's all good here - you just need to find your spot.
Wow, did I just write all that to you....sorry, hope it's not boring. Man, you really get me going. Will be great to answer your questions in video.
I would definitely take it in the daytime. So, here's a playlist of my neighborhood. But we can find this in a few locations. It's just easier if I know the food. Maybe about 4 pm and then we can collect food and find a place to eat. There's a park here sort of lol. I'm so happy to be back in Bangkok for the food alone. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUv-15vAs5D-lSf9BVujKiiu5d-hll2Tk
Absolutely perfect. I just watched your latest video of you showing the weekend market outside of your place. Just awesome! That's what I'm all about. I'd love to see how you live. To learn that you get sushi from a mom and pop vendor for cheap and it lasts sometimes until Tuesday is fascinating and friggen awesome! I'd love to learn all about that stuff.
It's just fantastic knowing how good your life is in Bangkok and for how much it cost you. I just love it! To me it's nothing new, but after 5 weeks in the US I almost forgot how good we have it. My 190 dollar apartment in Ecuador with organic natural food at literally 1/10 the price of the US was normal for a long time for me.
Saying this from inside the US. It seems almost unreal, but that's because I'm re-adapted to US living in a quick 5 weeks. Can't wait to get back to a better reality, where food is real and affordable!
Can you believe organic red peppers today at the supermarket, 5 dollars a pound! I would get them for 50 cents a pound just a few month's ago. I literally can't afford to eat healthy at the moment, and that's normal.......for now.
Anyway, I'm thinking I'll just meet you near a subway exit or landmark at 4 pm Thursday. You can give me a tour, I'll treat you to a few meat sticks or whatever you want, we'll hang out, I'll give you a hug and we can both go home and "steemit"!
it won't be the only time I'll be passing through Bankgok so hopefully we'll have a round 2 shortly down the road. Absolutely loved your video. You and I are totally like minded in so many ways. Looking forward to meeting you in person.
I probably won't be on here much for a while. Tomorrow is my dad's B-day. Then I'm traveling for a day and half. So I'll contact you on here when I'm settled in Bangkok and confirm our plans. Just in case, my email is [email protected]. See you Thailand!
-Dan
Ok - try not to starve to death before we meet! I know how hard it is. I'm glad those days are in my rear view mirror now.
I can meet you at Exit 3 MRT Sutthisan. I'll be the one and only old white lady in the top courtyard area. I stand out!
That will be perfect and I can show you around. There's a park nearby so maybe we can eat there or just go to one of the coffee shops after you see the place. Hopefully no rain.
I'm really looking forward to it. See you then :)
Great I'll be there 4 pm Thursday. Once I get there we can both stand out together! lol When I get settled in Bangkok I'll drop you a note confirming all is good! Looking forward to meeting you in person!
Yes we will be easy to locate :) Good thing I have my 5 Thai words to help us get along, and I can grunt in Thai!
Very nice!
I'm currently in Guatemala and have yet to ride one. It was in my original plan but with me speaking very little Spanish (learning), I've become apprehensive. I still have two weeks so we'll see how it goes lol