PIMP My Bus Ride: Buses in Samoa are a unique experience

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Von: wom87

Samoan buses are uncomfortable, loud and do not drive on time. But that's the fun! Even if you can't go there in Samoa anywhere, take a bus somewhere.

We wanted to leave Apia and drive to the south coast. We had heard that the water was incredible and there were some great natural sights. Taxis are expensive and since we have a limited budget, the bus was the answer. We have now driven with many buses across the Pacific Islands, but it was a little different.

First of all, Samoan buses are brightly decorated in every style the driver wishes. We saw one with the topic of Bon Jovi and Guns ’n’ Roses, one with the subject of lottery and several that seem to be named after the driver of the driver. The drivers seem to make their own rules and go whenever they are ready or when the bus is full, and if they want to run off early and look rugby, they will do it.

The colorful Samoan buses

  • Alt = "Samoaian buses in Samoa">
  • Alt = "Samoaian buses in Samoa">
  • Alt = "Samoaian buses in Samoa">
  • Alt = "Samoaian buses in Samoa">
  • Alt = "Samoaian buses in Samoa">
  • Alt = "Samoaian buses in Samoa">
  • Alt = "Samoaian buses in Samoa">
  • Alt = "Samoaian buses in Samoa">
  • Alt = "Samoaian buses in Samoa">
  • Alt = "Samoaian buses in Samoa">
  • Alt = "Samoaian buses in Samoa">
  • Alt = "Samoaian buses in Samoa">

When we in our entrances, we found the driver sleeping.

"Sorry, does the bus go to Vaiula Beach?" asked Kia. No answer. She typed on his shoulder and he moved quite grumpy when Kia asked again. He nodded, still significantly irritated. "And when does it start?" A rather reasonable question of how we found.

"10.30", he growled. It was just away 10.

at 11, after he felt like sitting in our humids, he finally left the engine on and slowly pulled the vehicle into the next parking bay, then put the engine off again and waited. A local got out and instead rose to another bus. After a few more minutes, the driver switched on the engine again, drove onto the main street this time, circle the roundabout before returning to the same bay in the bus station. Kia and I only looked at each other.

around 11.15 a.m. we finally left the bus station and drove 10 minutes later at the first petrol station, where the driver and almost all passengers get off to buy snacks for the upcoming journey. After everyone got on again, we drove and drove to the next petrol station, where the driver's friend exit and filled a canister with petrol. We watched worried when he stowed it under the bus where the luggage should go!

Finally we left Apia. The driver switched on the radio and found his favorite broadcaster, who seemed to have specialized in a kind of hybrid euro-techno-reggae. He had assembled his own amplifier and speaker on the front, which made it impossible to have a conversation. There is also a rather strange hierarchy in Samoan buses, where foreigners and older people sit in front so that they can "enjoy" the full volume of the driver's favorite sounds.

In 2009, the Samoan government changed the law of driving on the right to the left side of the street. It does not seem to have been completely taken on board. Our bus was a right -hand vehicle, but the driver sometimes only drove in the middle of the street. Fortunately for us there is not much traffic outside of Apia, so there were not too many moments when you could see your own death.

The car ride itself should only take about an hour, but we were almost three on the bus. Our budget stipulates that we have to take more Samoan buses while we are here. I just hope that our next driver prefers to listen to something easy instead!

Mission statement: Atlas & Boots 
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