Backpacking Hitchhickers
Backpacking Hitchhickers
There's been a spate of 'alternative' backpackers around recently hitchhiking around Cambodia.
This morning I saw 2 young white girls heading out onto N5 with a cutesty sign reading PURSAT. It's not a lack of money, they were out drinking last night, but (from what I see) a sense of adventure/irony.
Anyone else see this as naive and more than a little dangerous? Or am I just turning into boring old man?
They sounded Dutch too. I hope they don't get robbed/raped/murdered, it just seems a very silly (and tight arsed) thing to do.
This morning I saw 2 young white girls heading out onto N5 with a cutesty sign reading PURSAT. It's not a lack of money, they were out drinking last night, but (from what I see) a sense of adventure/irony.
Anyone else see this as naive and more than a little dangerous? Or am I just turning into boring old man?
They sounded Dutch too. I hope they don't get robbed/raped/murdered, it just seems a very silly (and tight arsed) thing to do.
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- pascalfortier
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I like going in Minibus (Minivan) or toyota camrys because its quick cheap and funny. But after my motorcycle crash in thailand, big bus is my way now and girlfriend she's blocked from taking anything else than a big bus.
Yes, 2 weeks ago a young backpacker couple were looking at a map and asking motodops which road led out of PP to Kratie. I stepped in and asked why, and they said they wanted to hitch-hike for the excitement. I asked them for their mothers phone number and they wanted to know why, so I told them, someone will have to tell them where to locate your bodies. I then pointed them in the direction of the bus stop.
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I am just a nobody
But one day I will be a somebody really important
And you all will be wanting to shake my hand
and say
Hey you, you are my friend.
But one day I will be a somebody really important
And you all will be wanting to shake my hand
and say
Hey you, you are my friend.
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Simpsons
Lisa: But mom, I read that sport-utility vehicles are more likely to be in fatal accidents.
Bart: Fatal to the people in the other car. Let's roll
Lisa: But mom, I read that sport-utility vehicles are more likely to be in fatal accidents.
Bart: Fatal to the people in the other car. Let's roll
- Aleks
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pedros wrote:There's been a spate of 'alternative' backpackers around recently hitchhiking around Cambodia.
This morning I saw 2 young white girls heading out onto N5 with a cutesty sign reading PURSAT. It's not a lack of money, they were out drinking last night, but (from what I see) a sense of adventure/irony.
Anyone else see this as naive and more than a little dangerous? Or am I just turning into boring old man?
They sounded Dutch too. I hope they don't get robbed/raped/murdered, it just seems a very silly (and tight arsed) thing to do.
There are several schools/societies of the so-called 'free travellers', who are basically taught how to trot the globe with minimum or even no money. Some adhere to the concept that "there is always food and a place to sleep to be found." They travel purely by hitchhiking. Even in countries like Afghanistan.
I hope I don't lose my sense of adventure when I'm old.
I see nothing wrong with it, except the fact that they probably THINK it's safe.
I see nothing wrong with it, except the fact that they probably THINK it's safe.
- nightmare.believer
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How far is it from Phnom Penh to Pursat? I'm trying to calculate how many blow jobs they'd be giving me along the way.
- Aleks
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nightmare.believer wrote:How far is it from Phnom Penh to Pursat? I'm trying to calculate how many blow jobs they'd be giving me along the way.
I hope u don't mean the truck drivers (I assume you're willing to hitchhike).
They'll most likely be fine, but ultimately not worth the risk. I thought the whole point of hitch hiking was when you didn't have enough money to travel on your own. Bus tix are $3 or 4, no reason not to take one.
But, it's easy to see why people would think it's totally safe. When I first moved here I used to walk home alone late at night. Now that I've had my bag (attempted) snatched a million times I would never do that.
Similarly I used to go for runs alone on the back roads in Kampot, leaving from Les Mang / Villa Vedici, basically exactly where that French tourist was raped and killed. So I will no longer be doing that, even though I've never had a problem and would probably be fine if I did it again tomorrow. But ultimately not worth the risk.
But, it's easy to see why people would think it's totally safe. When I first moved here I used to walk home alone late at night. Now that I've had my bag (attempted) snatched a million times I would never do that.
Similarly I used to go for runs alone on the back roads in Kampot, leaving from Les Mang / Villa Vedici, basically exactly where that French tourist was raped and killed. So I will no longer be doing that, even though I've never had a problem and would probably be fine if I did it again tomorrow. But ultimately not worth the risk.
i've seen hitchhikers too and they also told that if possible they ask villagers to stay for the night.
so they move on trucks with complete strangers and they sleep in shacks with complete strangers.
... what could ever go wrong ?
and yes, many are young girls unaware of the dangers in cambodia.
completely irresponsible !
and i dont think it's a matter of being adventurous, they're just stoners seeking thrills.
getting raped or robbed by a khmer weirdo must be the highlight of their vagabonding holidays.
so they move on trucks with complete strangers and they sleep in shacks with complete strangers.
... what could ever go wrong ?
and yes, many are young girls unaware of the dangers in cambodia.
completely irresponsible !
and i dont think it's a matter of being adventurous, they're just stoners seeking thrills.
getting raped or robbed by a khmer weirdo must be the highlight of their vagabonding holidays.
they're completely downplaying the risks.pedros wrote:
Anyone else see this as naive and more than a little dangerous? Or am I just turning into boring old man?
They sounded Dutch too. I hope they don't get robbed/raped/murdered, it just seems a very silly (and tight arsed) thing to do.
and for this i blame the travel guides, particularly Lonely Planet.
there's absolutely no warnings about car crashes, stabbings, robberies, weirdos, yaba addicts, taxi/tuktuk mafias, rapes, beatings ..
all these new tourists come here thinking the locals are good and friendly who wouldnt hurt a fly.
unfortunately these feminist travelers see traveling solo in fucked up places as a sort of "empowernment" and dont try telling them otherwise.
well, in life you reap whay you sow, some of these hobo girls are going to learn a lesson or two.
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Nothing wrong with thumbing a ride in an emergency, but I don't condone doing it out of cheapness and it could be risky after the sun sets and the drunks come out.
I hitchhiked up to Poipet back in 1999. I was reticent, but my nephew had just been in a car wreck in Thailand and I couldn't get a flight in a reasonable amount of time and I was getting heavy drama from family in the states and so off I went. I tried to get a taxi, but after being driven around town aimlessly picking up passengers and freight, I got frustrated and bailed out and started hitching. I was picked up almost immediately and driven all the way to Sisaphon. Again I tried a taxi at Sisiphon and once more, after being ferried around town aimlessly , I hopped out and thumbed it to the border in 2 more rides with no problems.
One time the Siem Reip/Poipet tourist bus broke down on the roadside. After 30 minutes it was obvious that we weren't going anywhere, so I hitched a ride and left a group of Japanese tourists gawking and snapping photos as I climbed into the back of a truck. This wasn't a passenger truck, but I gave the driver a 10 when he dropped me at the traffic circle in Poipet.
I hitch-hiked NH5 after getting stranded at night once and it was a real hassle. Police tried to take me to a hotel and a family brought me a sandwich and a soda and asked if I needed money.
Finally got a ride in a busted up truck with no windshield on the passenger side and the horn constantly blasting. I'm much too old for that silliness and am somewhat ashamed of myself now.
I hitchhiked up to Poipet back in 1999. I was reticent, but my nephew had just been in a car wreck in Thailand and I couldn't get a flight in a reasonable amount of time and I was getting heavy drama from family in the states and so off I went. I tried to get a taxi, but after being driven around town aimlessly picking up passengers and freight, I got frustrated and bailed out and started hitching. I was picked up almost immediately and driven all the way to Sisaphon. Again I tried a taxi at Sisiphon and once more, after being ferried around town aimlessly , I hopped out and thumbed it to the border in 2 more rides with no problems.
One time the Siem Reip/Poipet tourist bus broke down on the roadside. After 30 minutes it was obvious that we weren't going anywhere, so I hitched a ride and left a group of Japanese tourists gawking and snapping photos as I climbed into the back of a truck. This wasn't a passenger truck, but I gave the driver a 10 when he dropped me at the traffic circle in Poipet.
I hitch-hiked NH5 after getting stranded at night once and it was a real hassle. Police tried to take me to a hotel and a family brought me a sandwich and a soda and asked if I needed money.
That's like, your opinion, man.