We used the Thai government bus service today for the first time. The first bus would take an hour and a half, then transfer to another bus for one hour arriving in Ayutthaya around 4pm.

The first bus went without a hitch, if a little slow the ride was comfortable and easy. Unfortunately the second was a different story. It started by the forceful female conductor who insisted we'd board her bus without heading to the toilet first (we didn't mind catching the next bus). Not having any of it we boarded and were told where to place our bags. It seems the wife (conductor), husband (driver) and young child of about 2 were living at the front of the bus where we had to sit in order to watch the bags.

The couple commenced to bicker for the next hour, while the child who hadn't been been washed for days climbed all over us and the chairs surrounding, we were not impressed.

It then got worse when their friend boarded the bus for what we could only guess was a driving lesson! The bus loaded with twenty people now watched the "learner" driver in disbelief as he continuously crunched the gears and didn't go over 30 mph, amazing. We have a video we'll upload when possible. It was so dangerous, even the Thais got uncomfortable!

Found a room which was basically a tent with a mattress, our standards are getting lower and lower.........