Local buses for the adventurous how to actually use them without fear or folly

Grew up around the buses so the affectionate honest manual The two types the red CTB government buses cheaper slower stop everywhere and the private buses (often white and faster and the ones with the sound systems and the racing reputation) both cover the island in a dense cheap network How to use them routes and times there is no comprehensive timetable buses leave when full or on rough frequencies from the bus stand ask at the stand everyone will point you to the right bay the destination is painted on the front often in Sinhala or Tamil with English sometimes so learn to recognise your destination script or just say the place name and follow pointing fingers How you pay board and sit the conductor comes to you with a ticket machine or book tell him your destination pay the small fare in cash keep the ticket Signalling a stop ring the bell once or call out the conductor announces stops watch for your landmark and stand a moment before Useful routes for travellers the short and medium hops the train does not cover Galle to the southern beaches along the coast road Kandy to nearby sites Ella area connections airport to Negombo the buses fill the train gaps cheaply Where adventurous becomes folly the long haul intercity by ordinary bus when a train or the air conditioned express exists the ordinary bus for six hours standing is endurance not romance the late night bus on a mountain road driven hard and using a bus for a route with luggage and a tight connection where a tuktuk removes the stress The brave but smart approach short scenic hops by local bus for the experience the cheap thrill and the human contact the long hauls by train or air conditioned intercity coach hold your bag on your lap keep valuables close in the crush and surrender to the fact that the bus leaves when it leaves and overtakes how it overtakes the resignation is half the fun