You can see why some cultures cut off peoples hands. It is an effective way to prevent re-offending.
The first time they catch you they cut off your left hand. The second time they cut off the right hand. If you re-offend they cut off both your hands.

"The first time they catch you they cut off your left hand. The second time they cut off the right hand. If you re-offend they cut off both your hands."

... Wait a second... that's a lot of hands...

@Geezer, it is not normal at all to be talked to at random by Chinese people (except at English corners, where it is expected and perfectly acceptable). Chinese people are very shy and even in a group they will only say hello AFTER you have walked past them, not while you are right in front of them. I doubt anyone could say you're rude for not talking to them, UNLESS they were asking for directions, in which case I might agree with them.

Case in point, a Lao looking man along with about 3-4 others got out of a Saiyabuli, Laos registered Toyota Fortuner just under the big bridge in Jinghong, along the Mekong River where all the bars are located (this was last Saturday evening). A Thai friend of mine simply wanted to ask for directions and started by asking the man if he was Lao, so they could continue in the same language (although I probably would have said "Sabaidee" first to start the conversation) and then that man promptly ran away from him!! Now that's rude (and odd!) coz we simply wanted to ask for directions. Fortunately, Chinese people don't do that, and incidentally, that has never happened to me personally, but yeah, it was odd.

Sorry that happened... but using the bus is an invitation for all sorts of negative experiences...

Some simple advice... don't take the bus anywhere!

If you value your time, your belongings and your health it's not worth it. Get a bike or dian dong che or take a taxi. I stopped getting gan mao when I stopped sharing the bus with 100 sick people. I was never robbed again after I stopped using the bus... I actually could arrive on time when I rode my bike or took a taxi.

Why subject yourself to the bus?

Why take the bus? Cost and safety. Just be careful and don't expect too much..