What to do on long bus rides

by Michael Tieso on September 4, 2009

The brutal budget long bus rides are one of the many things we learn to just deal with. It may be a dodgy 30 hour bus ride with no AC in the middle of summer with a driver whom is picking up every possible local from the side of the road for some extra cash. If you’re lucky enough it’ll be a sleeper bus, that way you can attempt to sleep although the roads (If there are any) will send you flying off the bed. As a backpacker, you learn to adapt to your surroundings and make the best out of the journey.

Train whistle blowin'

What I wish most of my rides looked like

Here are some things you can do to help ease the pain of the ride:

  • Read a book! As long as you don’t get car sick and it’s not too bumpy.
  • Cancel out all the noise and listen to music.
  • Watch a movie on your iPod.
  • If you are with some friends, you can play a game to pass time just as quickly.
  • Play any card game or even invent one.
  • Talking with a local can be fun and you’ll learn a lot about their culture. You can attempt to talk. You’ll be amazed what you can do with hand signals.
  • And of course, sleep!
  • Then there’s the ever so popular backpacker Valium.

What are some of your favorite things to do on long bus rides to pass time?

Related posts:

  1. How to survive the worlds most dangerous road
  2. 5 Tips on How to Avoid Unexpected Spending On the Road
  3. Language Barriers: What Did You Say?
  4. 5 Things I miss back home while traveling
  5. Why you should stay fit before your backpacking trip

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Author: Michael Tieso

Michael Tieso started Art Of Backpacking with a vision of sharing cultural knowledge. As a backpacker, he is always on the move. He’s music obsession started at 11 years old and continues as a DJ.

See all posts by Michael Tieso (72 articles)

  • Luke
    I would have to recommend against the Valium, even if it is cheap and easily obtained in some countries. Heard too many stories of stuff going missing from bags/pockets/beds due to the owner being in a drug-induced deep sleep.
  • This is true. I have met people that this happened to.
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