Going On The Go..... In Laos

When you’re traveling on the local buses of S.E. Asia your never really sure when you’ll get a chance to use the toilet. The only buses that have toilets are limited special VIP buses which are generally intended to serve tourists and only run on certain routes. Deb doesn’t consider herself a VIP and is uncomfortable with the title. I quite fancy the local bus because it makes me feel like I’m really traveling and it's always more interesting.

Everyone is generally on the driver’s mystery program when it comes to toilet stops but if someone really has to go the driver will usually pull over without a problem. However, people can be a bit shy about asking for a special stop along a roadside that may or may not provide ample privacy in the view of a bus load of people.

I’m not sure why, but Deb likes to drink two cups of coffee and a liter and a half of water just before boarding a bus. When we left out of Vientiane at 7am on Wednesday Deb was fully hydrated.

The bus was packed with locals and once again we were the only westerners. The hot humid weather of two days prior was long gone and replaced by cool dry air which was making the ride very comfortable. Laos & Thai pop music videos entertained us with a small top mounted TV screen holding everyone’s attention as we rolled along into the rising sun. That’s when Deb told me she really had to go. A half hour later she said she REALLY had to go!

“Do you have the book?” Deb frantically fumbled through the pages trying to figure out how to ask the bus driver to stop. She really had to go. She said something to the conductor but got a confused look. We later figured out that her mispronunciation was something about a garden. At this point Deb was really hurting. Her face took on an expression of desperation. Finally, a really nice older gentleman, who knew some English, figured out what Deb needed and asked the driver to stop. He must have said it was urgent because the driver pulled over immediately.

I was laughing as Deb ran out of the bus and flew over a fence into a bunch of bushes. Everyone had been curiously observing Deb and had closely watched her when she ran off. They instantly knew what was going on. All of a sudden the placid group of fellow passengers rose from a silenced slumber as the entire bus rapidly exited. People ran off everywhere. From my perspective it was quite hilarious and I joined the crowd. Deb was not the only one who really had to go.

People ran across the road into trees and bushes while the less bashful didn’t go very far. Women helped their small children while others lit up cigarettes. Everyone took advantage of the stop and no one seemed to think it was anything too out of the ordinary. It was awhile before Deb reappeared with an aura of relief…. She really did have to go!