Driver Pang was incredibly kind and considerate, caring for passengers, distributing trash bags, and keeping motion sickness medication and other essential supplies on board in case of need. He also drove very steadily on night roads.
Today was one of the worst trips of my life. We were supposed to leave Chengdu at 7:30 am, a normal four-to-five-hour drive to Siguniang Mountain around noon, and then take the 4:30 pm bus back. However, we encountered an epic, massive traffic jam. As someone from the plains, I'd never been to a mountainous area before, and I never imagined it could be this bad. Not only did we miss the 3 pm entrance to the park, but we also missed the 4:30 pm return bus. When we were only three kilometers from the attraction, but the map showed it would take over an hour, I was utterly desperate. The return driver refused to take us along the way, saying he was leaving on time and we had to rebook a later bus. We're flying out tomorrow, and with the road conditions like this, I didn't dare stay another night and miss our flight. We ended up buying tickets on the platform for the last bus at 5:30 PM. When we were still stuck in traffic a few hundred meters from the scenic area, we got off and walked to the final stop, then took a return bus directly from the entrance.
We called the driver several times before finally finding him. Although he was in a hurry, he answered each time and gave us directions. We learned that he had also been stuck in traffic since 8:30 AM, which was truly admirable.
Before departure, the driver checked with each passenger. Since it was the last bus of the day from Shuanggou Bridge, even those who boarded the wrong bus were helped to buy tickets and get on. Knowing it's not easy for us working people to find time for a long trip, the driver tried his best to ensure everyone could return safely. At a rest stop, a young man helped a group of young people whose car had broken down. He was a very kind and humorous man, further solidifying my image of the fun and warmth of Sichuan people.
Although this trip wasn't perfect, it became a special memory. From 7 am to past 11 pm, I've been on the bus all day, just traveling back and forth, haha! The scenery in Sichuan is beautiful; the scenery along the way to Siguniang Mountain was stunning. It's a pity we didn't get to visit the scenic area. I hope the high-speed rail will be completed soon so I can take the high-speed rail next time. The people of Sichuan are also very kind. I hope drivers like Mr. Pang will be praised more often! Worthy of emulation!