The chicken bus

Hi guys

I was travelling to the Isla De Ometepe which is a huge lake in Nicaragua... and I was on a chicken bus.... and thought I would share my experience with you all.
Now for those who have travelled central america ... you will know that I mean....
and for those who havnt experienced a chicken bus... then something to look forward to for the bucket list.... to try at least once in your life.....

Take one USA defective unroadworthy yellow school bus...(the ones they have in the Simpsons) and sell it to a third world country like Nicaragua or Guatemala.. where lives arent worth as much in the western country....Paint it with bright colours so its no too obvious.....

Dont clean it for at least a year..... let alone service it for more....and pack it full of hot sweaty central americans.....on a humid day.....

If the passenger limit is 50.... then at least double it....with locals coming home from the markets with fruit and veges, tourists with backpacks and even cannisters of gasoline (but no chickens).

Now only 2 per seat is out the window...try 3 or four and some of them are actually leaning out the window because they cant fit in the cabin....
Closing the doors is not an option ... because at least 5 people are on the stairs half out the door... and hanging on for life....

Turn the temperature up to at least 35 degrees and make sure that no one has put on underarm deroderant that morning.... for women... it is required that you dont shave underarms (they will be inspected)...

With a dog fight to find the next available seat... yes I am finally seated....carefully watching that my back pack doesnt get stolen....
My seat is so low that my nose happens to be at crutch level of all the people standing........I am not even going there..... you dont want to know what happens if someone passes gas.....

Now the driver has just graduated from Kamikaze school of rollercoasters.....because you better hang on or you will be thrown off your seat.....
Next comes the conductor who has managed to crowd surf his way to collect the bus fare which is $1.

A mother gets on with a baby... she cant find a seat... so she passes her baby to a stranger....so babysitters are pleantyful here....

Your stop is coming up... so you manage to wade your way through the buses mosh pit to your back pack and alight.....you just want to pray and kiss the ground because the bus didnt roll off the cliff on the way to your destination... but cant because its it pouring rain.......you just found out that you are now backpacking in rainy season.

So next time you are pissed off with the transport system in your country... think of me...

kat
the ultimate journey