hitchhiking
By doggydimon
@doggydimon (1369)
Philippines
7 responses
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
14 Oct 11
These days hitch hiking could prove dangerous. When I was in Australia at 20 to 21 years old there was a backpack murderer and it put me totally off hitch hiking. In Samoa I was offered a lift and I said no thanks. Little did I know it was the village chief.
I have hitch hiked twice on my travels because it has been necessary. In French Polynesia I missed the bus at the port. With two guys I hitch hiked to the backpacker hostel campsite. We rode in the back of a pick up truck. The other time I got a lift in a car back from a national park otherwise it was a 15km walk. The Hungarian people were so kind to me taking me back in their car.
1 person likes this
@doggydimon (1369)
• Philippines
14 Oct 11
I forgot to share this. I tried it once before but not with a car or truck or motor but with a small fishing boat. When I was exploring Marinduque, one of the bigger islands here in the Philippines, I happened to go see the white sand beaches of Maniwaya Island. I just went there to take a look at the island since it is small and go back to the main island of Marinduque. So I went there riding a medium sized boat carrying 30 people. When I reached the island, I was so excited to explore it that I jumped out of the boat quickly and walked around the shore. After 30 minutes of walking that I came to realize that I have to secure a way back to the main island. And to my surprise when I reached the pier, I asked the group of fishermen there when will the last boat to the main island be leaving. All of them pointed to the boat that just left and said that was the last boat living there... You should see my face when they pointed at the boat. hahaha... So when I have nothing to do I just spoke with those fishermen at the pier and have some chit chat and at the same time try to find out from there if there is anyway for me to return to the main island. They said they don't know of any but instead they pointed me to some locals that offers accommodations in the island. When I went to see the first 2, I was declined because back then they were afraid of SARS and I might be a carrier... hahaha... When I reached the 3rd one, they agreed to let me stay but I still insisted if they know some way to return back to the main island. And luckily, the fisherman who owns the house offered me a ride since he will be getting some supplies from the main island. I was overjoyed. hahaha... He even gave me time to have a dip and walk around the island before we went back...
1 person likes this
@tessa9 (1085)
• Philippines
15 Oct 11
I have not yet tried hitch hiking. I guess I am too scared to do it. I have watched a lot of news and crime dramas to be terrified about it lol. I will probably do it if I have someone with me. I will never do it alone. But at this moment, I prefer to walk than to go with some stranger.
@scififan43 (2434)
• United States
8 Nov 11
I never pick up hichhikers. I have never hichhiked either. I was told that it was dangarous and never to get involed. the possibliitys were you could get rob and your car stolen. My dad had told me the in his day that was a common way to get around, but when hichhikers started to commit crimes is when it all stoped.
@marguicha (223010)
• Chile
15 Oct 11
I think that a long time ago it was a lot safer for young people to hitchhike. No violence is part of our daily lives and you are nor safe with people you don´t know. Anything (or nothing) can happen to you. But it is better not to try it.
1 person likes this
@mivvvy (174)
• Netherlands
14 Oct 11
I hitch hiked all around the British Isles, England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the republic of Ireland. This was 47 years ago (how time flies!). I would say hitch hiking was less dangerous in those days, but not 100% safe. I did not go on my own, but together with a friend.
My parents were not very pleased and I had to promise them to let them know regularly where I we were. This meant that we had to find a public phone that actually worked, put in money and ask the operator for an international call. It happend very often that we could not insert the money because the money container had not been emptied.
We took it in turns to sit next to the driver. This meant lots of conversation. One of the aims of doing this trip was improving our English.
I learnt the meaning of the word 'triplets'. Our driver was a vet and was on his way to a farm. he asked us if we wanted to see the triplet. We said yes, because we had no idea what that meant. He showed us three baby pigs.
We stayed in Youth Hostel. In those days you weren't allowed to arrive by car. So we always had to tell a lie by what means of transport we had arrived.
The year after we went on another hitch hiking trip , again in Britain. After that we had more money and stopped hitch hiking.
I am glad I went on these trips, because they were educational and great fun. I also went to many cities, villages and towns, saw different countryside and got a good idea what life in Britain was like.
1 person likes this
@gloryacam (5540)
• Philippines
18 Oct 11
I'm a very paranoid person. 
I'd never dare hitchhike, especially alone. Maybe I would if I am with somebody, but, I would still be scared. I love traveling on a budget, but, surely I would save up for emergency cash so I won't need to get to that extent of hitchhiking. Similarly, I won't pick up hitchhikers if I'm driving. (I've watched too many investigative movies and tv shows to do this).
I'd never dare hitchhike, especially alone. Maybe I would if I am with somebody, but, I would still be scared. I love traveling on a budget, but, surely I would save up for emergency cash so I won't need to get to that extent of hitchhiking. Similarly, I won't pick up hitchhikers if I'm driving. (I've watched too many investigative movies and tv shows to do this). 