Transit stop

Trip Start Apr 09, 2008

115

Trip End Apr 19, 2009

Loading Map

Map your own trip!

Flag of Vietnam Da Nang, Vietnam
Sunday, October 12, 2008

The bus dropped me off outside a tourist office in the pouring rain, I asked the office about getting to Kon Tum and they were not much help at all. They said I should go to the bus station and that they could help me there. But with out a time of departure I didnt want to be stuck at the bus station for hours. I wondered around until I found a hotel, normally they are able to book buses and any thing else you need. It would be more expensive but so much more convenient. The hotel arranged the bus ticket and a moto taxi to the bus station. I am sure I payed more than double the going rate.

I had a couple of hours before I needed to leave for the bus so I went to the museum of Cham architecture, having just come from My Son it was quite interesting but not extremely so. The pouring rain had wet me right through my coat and my shoes had decided to try out being puddles. This detracted from my enjoyment. The museum contained many statues and pieces of carved stone work. After the museum I walked back towards town stopping only for a great value noodle soup and plate of rice. It was delicious, possibly the best noodle soup I have had yet. (If you are ever in the neihbourhood it is on Tran Phu half way between Quoc Toan and Nguyen Thai Hoc) I got back to the hotel just in time to see my bag being strapped to the back of a bike. I payed more than the moto guy asked for and sat by the bus, under cover for the 30 minutes until it left.

The journey is worth a mention, quite long, about 6 hours, and there were 5 people sitting in each of the 4 seat isles. There was a metal seat fitting sticking in my back and everyone was very cramped but being larger than every other person on the bus meant that I at least had my head clear. Unfortunately the old couple on my left seemed to think they had some right to have a seat each and the lady stuck her elbow in my side for half the jouney before I gave her a subtle shove and she stopped. We arrived in Kon Tum at 8 that evening.