COAST BUS VS DREAM LINE

Not what it used to be…..

There was a time you’d ask, ‘What’s the best bus to use on a journey to Mombasa?’ Mostly, I’d hear ‘Coast Bus’. The bus service has been around for ages and is a trusted brand. But it no longer is what it used to be. Just this month, I made a decision never to use Coast Bus Services ever again. Why?

The bus I took was supposed to leave Nairobi at 1 O’clock. We were kept waiting until 3 O’clock with no explanation>>until a few minutes to 3 O’clock when the service (via their load-speaker) announced that the bus was on the way and had ‘only been held back by traffic’

On the road

Then 20 minutes into the journey, at Bunyala Road, Nairobi, the same bus broke-down and we had to wait  for another  one hour for a rescue bus to show-up. The bus attendant was however quick to calm us down with snacks, drinks and funny stories. Being all those hours late, the bus definitely sped-up so we’d reach the coast before midnight instead of 9 pm.

Fun Highlight                                                                                                                                  

In the same bus was popular local musician Ken Wa Maria. With all the kambas on Mombasa Road, the humble guy (who I was seeing ‘live-live’ for the first time) had plenty of fans screaming his name and jumping about to get his attention during all the stops we made.

The trip back on Dream Line

My trip back had to be in a different bus, so I asked my host to make a choice for me. It was Dream Line….and I liked it! Their waiting area, customer service and the bus itself-especially the tinted windows that kept away the very bright light. On top of that, we departed right on time (around 10 a.m).

We were also thoroughly entertained, thanks to a large screen behind the driver’s seat showing  local and international short funny video clips. XYZ Show, Bull’s Eye (NTV ), Swaleh Mdoe’s ‘Tafakari ya babu’ (Citizen TV), Kukanganyana (NTV) and those funny short clips of kids in accidents were just some of them.

BONUS: It’s always more funny when you see someone you know in such clips. Yes you>>>  Hot 96 Breakfast Show host Cindy Ogana on Kukanganyana doing those tongue-twisters.

Hearing people all giggling along at the same time was wickedest!

Go Dream Line!…..and get a few more video clips for the long hours. Ohhh! And ….Advertising/ publicity opportunity right here folks.

 

Tags: Bull’s Eye, Cindy Ogana, Citizen TV, Coast Bus, coastal Kenya, Dream Line Bus, Hot 96 Breakfast, kamba sensational singer, Ken wa Maria, Kenya, Kukanganyana, Mombasa, Nairobi, Nation TV, Swaleh Mdoe, Tafakari ya babu, tongue-twisters, Travel, XYZ Show