https://hitchwiki.org/en/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=Toortoth&feedformat=atomHitchwiki - User contributions [en]2024-03-28T22:03:10ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.32.3https://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=License_plates&diff=57660License plates2011-11-29T10:34:06Z<p>Toortoth: </p>
<hr />
<div>While [[hitchhiking]] you can get a lot of information from the '''number plates''' of cars. On many cars you can find stickers or even parts of number plate that point out to the garage (and town) where the car is bought. If you're looking for long hitches, this could come in handy as it gives you important information of the hometown of the driver.<br />
<br />
The lists of number plates are from german Wikipedia, just because there is mostly more information (like maps) than in the english version.<br />
<br />
<br />
=== [[France]] ===<br />
French number plates end with the number of the ''département'' the car is registered in. For example, [[Paris]]ian cars end with the number 75, 78, 91,92,93,94,95. See [[wikipedia:List of arrondissements of France|List of arrondissements of France]] and <br />
[[wikipedia:French vehicle registration plates|French vehicle registration plates]] at Wikipedia. New number plates are to appear in the nearest future and those will not carry any information about the region, unless the owner decided to put a department reference on it. The current plates already in use will still remain for a while.<br />
<br />
=== [[Germany]] ===<br />
<br />
Number plates in Germany look like this: '''B - AA 1234 '''. Here the first letter (often two, sometimes three) can tell you from which municipality/city a car is coming from. For example '''B''' means [[Berlin]], '''OS''' means [[Osnabrück|Osnabrueck]] etc. Even a lot of drivers know the number plate letters, so hitchhiking with a sign saying '''OS''', '''WB''' ([[Wittenberg]]) or something else will be widely understood if you're near that city. Don't try to use a letter from a city in in the north of Germany, of course.<br />
<br />
<br />
: On [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_der_Kfz-Kennzeichen_in_Deutschland Wikipedia] you can find a list with all German number plates.<br />
<br />
=== [[Russia]] ===<br />
<br />
On russian number plates there is always a number over the russian flag on the right side of the number plate. This indicates where the car is from. For example 72 stands for Tyumen.<br />
<br />
On [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kfz-Kennzeichen_%28Russland%29#Liste_der_Kfz-Kennzeichen_Russlands] you can find a list of all russian number plates.<br />
<br />
<br />
=== [[Austria]] ===<br />
<br />
Same as Germany. On [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/Bezirke_%C3%96sterreich_Kennzeichen_nach_Bundesl%C3%A4ndern.jpg] you can find a list of austrian number plates.<br />
<br />
<br />
=== [[Switzerland]] ===<br />
<br />
List here: [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autokennzeichen_%28Schweiz%29#Seit_1933]<br />
<br />
=== [[Poland]] ===<br />
<br />
Polish number plates start with 3 Letters. The first one tells you the region, the second and third one specify the region.<br />
<br />
List: [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kfz-Kennzeichen_%28Polen%29#Geografische_Verteilung_der_Kennzeichenk.C3.BCrzel] (the list on the right should be enough)<br />
<br />
=== [[Romania]] ===<br />
<br />
First two letters indicates the origin of a car.<br />
<br />
List: [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8d/Romanian_license_plate_codes.png]<br />
<br />
=== [[Ukraine]] ===<br />
<br />
List:[http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kfz-Kennzeichen_%28Ukraine%29#Aktuelle_Regionalkennzeichen]<br />
<br />
=== [[Serbia]] ===<br />
<br />
List: [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kfz-Kennzeichen_%28Serbien%29#Zulassungsbezirke]<br />
<br />
=== [[Bulgaria]] ===<br />
<br />
List: [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kfz-Kennzeichen_%28Bulgarien%29#K.C3.BCrzel_der_Bezirke]<br />
<br />
=== [[Italy]] ===<br />
<br />
On the right side on the bottom is a number. The number tells where the car is from.<br />
<br />
List: [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kfz-Kennzeichen_%28Italien%29]<br />
<br />
=== [[Czech Republic]] ===<br />
<br />
List: [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kfz-Kennzeichen_%28Tschechien%29]<br />
<br />
=== [[Croatia]] ===<br />
<br />
List: [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kfz-Kennzeichen_%28Kroatien%29#Zulassungsbezirke]<br />
<br />
=== [[Malaysia]] ===<br />
<br />
List on wikipedia: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_registration_plates_of_Malaysia]<br />
<br />
List on hitchwiki: [[Malaysia]]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Bavaria|Bavaria]]<br />
[[Category:Practical info]]<br />
<br />
[[de:Kraftfahrzeugkennzeichen]]</div>Toortothhttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Malaysia&diff=57659Malaysia2011-11-29T10:33:03Z<p>Toortoth: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{infobox Country<br />
|country = of Malaysia<br />
|language = Malay<br />
|capital = [[Kuala Lumpur]]<br />
|pop = 28,310,000<br />
|currency = Ringgit / RM (MYR)<br />
|hitch = <rating country='my' /><br />
}}<br />
'''Malaysia''' is a country in South Eastern [[Asia]]. It has borders with [[Thailand]] to the north, [[Singapore]] to the south, and [[Indonesia]] to the west and south. Its Capital city is [[Kuala Lumpur]]. The country is separated in two parts : the Malay Peninsula, and the north of Borneo Island.<br />
Currency is the Malay Ringgit : 1 RM = 0,23€ = US$1,36 (october 2011)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Malaysia''' is nice for hitching. There is a ''real'' expressway running on the north-south axis from the [[Thailand|Thai border]], via [[Kuala Lumpur]], towards [[Singapore]]. Stay on the gas stations with the nice food stalls. It is pretty easy to get a ride there, and in rural areas it's even easier. On the onramps of the highway after the toll booth you can usually hitchhike as well, and it's possible to regularly stop multiple cars at once. The only problem being that the drivers are often heading lots of different directions than indicated on your sign.<br />
<br />
Drivers usually speak English and stop easily. Cars are modern and fast. Local roads seem generally to be in a good condition, and are fast and enjoyable to hitch. <br />
<br />
== Gas stations ==<br />
You can usually find tasty cheap meals for about 2 or 3 euro, and thus don't need to carry a lot of food, if any at all. Cold showers, a real treat in the hot climate, are often available free of charge.<br />
<br />
== Number Plates ==<br />
It can come handy to know where the car goes before asking, at a petrol station for exemple. Malaysian [[license plates]] are generally black with white letters and Numbers. The pattern is XXX-9999 or XXX-999. The first letter indicates which state the car comes from:<br />
* A = [[Perak]] (Capital: [[Ipoh]])<br />
* P = [[Pinang]] ([[Georgetown]])<br />
* W = [[Kuala Lumpur]]<br />
* B = [[Selangor]]<br />
* J = [[Johor]] ([[Johor Bahru]])<br />
* M = [[Malacca]]<br />
* N = [[Negeri Sembilan]]<br />
* R = [[Perlis]]<br />
* K = [[Kedah]]<br />
* D = [[Kelantan]] ([[Kota Bahru]])<br />
* T = [[Terengganu]]<br />
* C = [[Pahang]]<br />
* KV = [[Langkawi]] (an island in the north-west)<br />
* Q = [[Sarawak]]<br />
* S = [[Sabah]]. Those states are in eastern Malaysia. If you see a plate with S as a first letter in Peninsular (West) Malaysia, chances are the car is from [[Singapore]]<br />
* L = [[Labuan]]<br />
* H = Local Taxi<br />
<br />
A list can be found on wikipedia : [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_registration_plates_of_Malaysia]<br />
<br />
== Border Crossings ==<br />
<br />
=== with [[Thailand]] ===<br />
At the ''Bukit Ayer Hitam'' border with Thailand User [[User:Halt, Stop! Reudnitz kommt.|Craig]] wasn't allowed to ask motorists in the car immigration area for a lift. Go to the rest area and ask there!<br />
<br />
=== with [[Brunei]] (East Malaysia or Borneo) ===<br />
Malaysians are paranoid about immigrations issues, so if you go from Eastern Malaysia to [[Brunei]] you get your passport stamped like crazy. <br />
<br />
=== with [[Indonesia]] ===<br />
There is a ferry from [[Melaka]] to [[Dumai]], [[Indonesia]] (20USD) and police will give you real trouble if you try to leave by a cargo boat (if you can even enter the port. If you make it please inform us here.)<br />
In [[Georgetown]] there's a small marina with private yachts. But it's easier to get a free ride with a boat in [[Langkawi]]. Most of the boats go to Indonesia.<br />
<br />
=== with [[Singapore]] ===<br />
There are two border crossings to [[Singapore]], from the Malaysian city of [[Johor Bahru]]. One is Woodlands checkpoint to the north of Singapore, and the other is Tual checkpoint to the west. See [[Singapore]] for further informations.<br />
<br />
== Languages ==<br />
The official language of Malaysia is Malay. It is quite easy to learn the basics as it is a very easy language.<br />
The country has a fairly amount of "native" Chineses and Indians who speak Mandarin or Hokkien for the former, and Tamil for the latter. But usually everybody knows Malay language (known as Bahasa Melayu).<br />
As for english, it is spoken in every level, from zero to fluent, but generally you won't find trouble to communicate at least for the basics.<br />
<br />
Some useful sentences :<br />
<br />
*Hello = Selamat Pagi(am)/Petang(pm) OR Hi<br />
*Good bye = Selamat Jalan OR Bye<br />
*Where are you going? = Mana anda pergi?<br />
*I am going to (City) = Saya pergi (City)<br />
*I don't have money = Saya tidak wang<br />
*Can you help me? = Anda boleh tolong saya?<br />
*Please = Tolong<br />
*Thank you = Terimah Kasih<br />
*My name is [[User:toortoth|Tourto]] = Nama Saya Turto<br />
*Have you eaten already? = Sudah Makan?<br />
*Yes/No = Ya/Tidak but Yes/No works too<br />
*I don't understand = Tidak faham<br />
*I don't know = Tidak tau<br />
*Do you speak english? = Cakap bahasa Englis?<br />
*I know a bit of Malay = Saya tau sikit bahasa malayu<br />
*Saya = I/me/mine ; Anda = You/yours<br />
*Hitchhiking = Tumpang (meaning exactly "have a lift" as Hitchhiking is not known in Malaysia)<br />
<br />
'''Bahasa''' means '''languages''', hence '''Bahasa Malayu''' = '''Malay Language''', or '''Bahasa Englis''' = '''English Language'''.<br />
'''Tidak''' is the negation. It is also shortened to '''Tak''' very often.<br />
<br />
* '''G''' is always pronounced as in '''goat''' and never as '''germany'''<br />
* '''ng''' is pronounced as the Spanish '''ñ'''<br />
* '''k''' at the end of a word is replaced by a throat sound, marking the stop.<br />
* '''c''' is always pronouced as the English '''ch'''<br />
* '''j''' is always pronounced as the English '''j''' (like in '''journey''')<br />
* The rest is more or less as the Spanish prononciation.<br />
<br />
If you want to know more and actually learn Malay, this online free set of lessons is particularly good : [[http://malay.pgoh13.com |Free online Malay lessons]]<br />
<br />
== Main Cities ==<br />
* [[Kuala Lumpur]]<br />
* [[Georgetown]] (Penang)<br />
* [[Melaka]]<br />
* [[Johor Bahru]]<br />
* [[Ipoh]]<br />
* [[Kota Kinabalu]]<br />
<br />
== Malaysian States and Territories ==<br />
Malaysia is divided into 13 States (11 in Peninsular Malaysia and 2 in Malaysian Borneo) and 3 Federal territories.<br />
=== Peninsular Malaysia ===<br />
* [[Kuala Lumpur|Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur]]<br />
* [[Labuan|Federal Territory of Labuan]]<br />
* [[Putrajaya|Federal Territory of Putrajaya]]<br />
* [[Johor]]<br />
* [[Kedah]]<br />
* [[Kelantan]]<br />
* [[Malacca]]<br />
* [[Negeri Sembilan]]<br />
* [[Pahang]]<br />
* [[Perak]]<br />
* [[Perlis]]<br />
* [[Penang]]<br />
* [[Selangor]]<br />
* [[Terengganu]]<br />
=== Malaysian Borneo ===<br />
* [[Sabah]]<br />
* [[Sarawak]]<br />
<br />
== Experiences ==<br />
* User [[User:Halt, Stop! Reudnitz kommt.|Craig]] hitched along the '''Silk Road from Istanbul to Malaysia''' and wrote about his experiences here: [http://thumbingasia.blogspot.com/ Thumbing Asia From West to East] Don't hitch-hike at night! You'd need the luck to get dropped at well lit places. Otherwise people won't stop! Beside that, Malaysia is really comfortable to hitch-hike. I topped 120 km/h average hitching speed!<br />
<br />
{{states malaysia}}<br />
<br />
{{IsIn|South-Eastern Asia}}<br />
<br />
[[trash:Country]]<br />
[[wikipedia:Country]]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Malaysia]]<br />
[[Category:Asia]]<br />
<br />
[[es:Malasia]]<br />
[[fr:Malaisie]]</div>Toortothhttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Malaysia&diff=57658Malaysia2011-11-29T10:28:50Z<p>Toortoth: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{infobox Country<br />
|country = of Malaysia<br />
|language = Malay<br />
|capital = [[Kuala Lumpur]]<br />
|pop = 28,310,000<br />
|currency = Ringgit / RM (MYR)<br />
|hitch = <rating country='my' /><br />
}}<br />
'''Malaysia''' is a country in South Eastern [[Asia]]. It has borders with [[Thailand]] to the north, [[Singapore]] to the south, and [[Indonesia]] to the west and south. Its Capital city is [[Kuala Lumpur]]. The country is separated in two parts : the Malay Peninsula, and the north of Borneo Island.<br />
Currency is the Malay Ringgit : 1 RM = 0,23€ = US$1,36 (october 2011)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Malaysia''' is nice for hitching. There is a ''real'' expressway running on the north-south axis from the [[Thailand|Thai border]], via [[Kuala Lumpur]], towards [[Singapore]]. Stay on the gas stations with the nice food stalls. It is pretty easy to get a ride there, and in rural areas it's even easier. On the onramps of the highway after the toll booth you can usually hitchhike as well, and it's possible to regularly stop multiple cars at once. The only problem being that the drivers are often heading lots of different directions than indicated on your sign.<br />
<br />
Drivers usually speak English and stop easily. Cars are modern and fast. Local roads seem generally to be in a good condition, and are fast and enjoyable to hitch. <br />
<br />
== Gas stations ==<br />
You can usually find tasty cheap meals for about 2 or 3 euro, and thus don't need to carry a lot of food, if any at all. Cold showers, a real treat in the hot climate, are often available free of charge.<br />
<br />
== Number Plates ==<br />
It can come handy to know where the car goes before asking, at a petrol station for exemple. Malaysian [[license plates]] are generally black with white letters and Numbers. The pattern is XXX-9999 or XXX-999. The first letter indicates which state the car comes from:<br />
* A = [[Perak]] (Capital: [[Ipoh]])<br />
* P = [[Pinang]] ([[Georgetown]])<br />
* W = [[Kuala Lumpur]]<br />
* B = [[Selangor]]<br />
* J = [[Johor]] ([[Johor Bahru]])<br />
* M = [[Malacca]]<br />
* N = [[Negeri Sembilan]]<br />
* R = [[Perlis]]<br />
* K = [[Kedah]]<br />
* D = [[Kelantan]] ([[Kota Bahru]])<br />
* T = [[Terengganu]]<br />
* C = [[Pahang]]<br />
* KV = [[Langkawi]] (an island in the north-west)<br />
* Q = [[Sarawak]]<br />
* S = [[Sabah]]. Those states are in eastern Malaysia. If you see a plate with S as a first letter in Peninsular (West) Malaysia, chances are the car is from [[Singapore]]<br />
* L = [[Labuan]]<br />
* H = Local Taxi<br />
<br />
A list can be found on wikipedia : [[wikipedia:Vehicle registration plates of Malaysia]]<br />
<br />
== Border Crossings ==<br />
<br />
=== with [[Thailand]] ===<br />
At the ''Bukit Ayer Hitam'' border with Thailand User [[User:Halt, Stop! Reudnitz kommt.|Craig]] wasn't allowed to ask motorists in the car immigration area for a lift. Go to the rest area and ask there!<br />
<br />
=== with [[Brunei]] (East Malaysia or Borneo) ===<br />
Malaysians are paranoid about immigrations issues, so if you go from Eastern Malaysia to [[Brunei]] you get your passport stamped like crazy. <br />
<br />
=== with [[Indonesia]] ===<br />
There is a ferry from [[Melaka]] to [[Dumai]], [[Indonesia]] (20USD) and police will give you real trouble if you try to leave by a cargo boat (if you can even enter the port. If you make it please inform us here.)<br />
In [[Georgetown]] there's a small marina with private yachts. But it's easier to get a free ride with a boat in [[Langkawi]]. Most of the boats go to Indonesia.<br />
<br />
=== with [[Singapore]] ===<br />
There are two border crossings to [[Singapore]], from the Malaysian city of [[Johor Bahru]]. One is Woodlands checkpoint to the north of Singapore, and the other is Tual checkpoint to the west. See [[Singapore]] for further informations.<br />
<br />
== Languages ==<br />
The official language of Malaysia is Malay. It is quite easy to learn the basics as it is a very easy language.<br />
The country has a fairly amount of "native" Chineses and Indians who speak Mandarin or Hokkien for the former, and Tamil for the latter. But usually everybody knows Malay language (known as Bahasa Melayu).<br />
As for english, it is spoken in every level, from zero to fluent, but generally you won't find trouble to communicate at least for the basics.<br />
<br />
Some useful sentences :<br />
<br />
*Hello = Selamat Pagi(am)/Petang(pm) OR Hi<br />
*Good bye = Selamat Jalan OR Bye<br />
*Where are you going? = Mana anda pergi?<br />
*I am going to (City) = Saya pergi (City)<br />
*I don't have money = Saya tidak wang<br />
*Can you help me? = Anda boleh tolong saya?<br />
*Please = Tolong<br />
*Thank you = Terimah Kasih<br />
*My name is [[User:toortoth|Tourto]] = Nama Saya Turto<br />
*Have you eaten already? = Sudah Makan?<br />
*Yes/No = Ya/Tidak but Yes/No works too<br />
*I don't understand = Tidak faham<br />
*I don't know = Tidak tau<br />
*Do you speak english? = Cakap bahasa Englis?<br />
*I know a bit of Malay = Saya tau sikit bahasa malayu<br />
*Saya = I/me/mine ; Anda = You/yours<br />
*Hitchhiking = Tumpang (meaning exactly "have a lift" as Hitchhiking is not known in Malaysia)<br />
<br />
'''Bahasa''' means '''languages''', hence '''Bahasa Malayu''' = '''Malay Language''', or '''Bahasa Englis''' = '''English Language'''.<br />
'''Tidak''' is the negation. It is also shortened to '''Tak''' very often.<br />
<br />
* '''G''' is always pronounced as in '''goat''' and never as '''germany'''<br />
* '''ng''' is pronounced as the Spanish '''ñ'''<br />
* '''k''' at the end of a word is replaced by a throat sound, marking the stop.<br />
* '''c''' is always pronouced as the English '''ch'''<br />
* '''j''' is always pronounced as the English '''j''' (like in '''journey''')<br />
* The rest is more or less as the Spanish prononciation.<br />
<br />
If you want to know more and actually learn Malay, this online free set of lessons is particularly good : [[http://malay.pgoh13.com |Free online Malay lessons]]<br />
<br />
== Main Cities ==<br />
* [[Kuala Lumpur]]<br />
* [[Georgetown]] (Penang)<br />
* [[Melaka]]<br />
* [[Johor Bahru]]<br />
* [[Ipoh]]<br />
* [[Kota Kinabalu]]<br />
<br />
== Malaysian States and Territories ==<br />
Malaysia is divided into 13 States (11 in Peninsular Malaysia and 2 in Malaysian Borneo) and 3 Federal territories.<br />
=== Peninsular Malaysia ===<br />
* [[Kuala Lumpur|Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur]]<br />
* [[Labuan|Federal Territory of Labuan]]<br />
* [[Putrajaya|Federal Territory of Putrajaya]]<br />
* [[Johor]]<br />
* [[Kedah]]<br />
* [[Kelantan]]<br />
* [[Malacca]]<br />
* [[Negeri Sembilan]]<br />
* [[Pahang]]<br />
* [[Perak]]<br />
* [[Perlis]]<br />
* [[Penang]]<br />
* [[Selangor]]<br />
* [[Terengganu]]<br />
=== Malaysian Borneo ===<br />
* [[Sabah]]<br />
* [[Sarawak]]<br />
<br />
== Experiences ==<br />
* User [[User:Halt, Stop! Reudnitz kommt.|Craig]] hitched along the '''Silk Road from Istanbul to Malaysia''' and wrote about his experiences here: [http://thumbingasia.blogspot.com/ Thumbing Asia From West to East] Don't hitch-hike at night! You'd need the luck to get dropped at well lit places. Otherwise people won't stop! Beside that, Malaysia is really comfortable to hitch-hike. I topped 120 km/h average hitching speed!<br />
<br />
{{states malaysia}}<br />
<br />
{{IsIn|South-Eastern Asia}}<br />
<br />
[[trash:Country]]<br />
[[wikipedia:Country]]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Malaysia]]<br />
[[Category:Asia]]<br />
<br />
[[es:Malasia]]<br />
[[fr:Malaisie]]</div>Toortothhttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Malaysia&diff=57657Malaysia2011-11-29T10:27:30Z<p>Toortoth: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{infobox Country<br />
|country = of Malaysia<br />
|language = Malay<br />
|capital = [[Kuala Lumpur]]<br />
|pop = 28,310,000<br />
|currency = Ringgit / RM (MYR)<br />
|hitch = <rating country='my' /><br />
}}<br />
'''Malaysia''' is a country in South Eastern [[Asia]]. It has borders with [[Thailand]] to the north, [[Singapore]] to the south, and [[Indonesia]] to the west and south. Its Capital city is [[Kuala Lumpur]]. The country is separated in two parts : the Malay Peninsula, and the north of Borneo Island.<br />
Currency is the Malay Ringgit : 1 RM = 0,23€ = US$1,36 (october 2011)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Malaysia''' is nice for hitching. There is a ''real'' expressway running on the north-south axis from the [[Thailand|Thai border]], via [[Kuala Lumpur]], towards [[Singapore]]. Stay on the gas stations with the nice food stalls. It is pretty easy to get a ride there, and in rural areas it's even easier. On the onramps of the highway after the toll booth you can usually hitchhike as well, and it's possible to regularly stop multiple cars at once. The only problem being that the drivers are often heading lots of different directions than indicated on your sign.<br />
<br />
Drivers usually speak English and stop easily. Cars are modern and fast. Local roads seem generally to be in a good condition, and are fast and enjoyable to hitch. <br />
<br />
== Gas stations ==<br />
You can usually find tasty cheap meals for about 2 or 3 euro, and thus don't need to carry a lot of food, if any at all. Cold showers, a real treat in the hot climate, are often available free of charge.<br />
<br />
== Number Plates ==<br />
It can come handy to know where the car goes before asking, at a petrol station for exemple. Malaysian [[license plates]] are generally black with white letters and Numbers. The pattern is XXX-9999 or XXX-999. The first letter indicates which state the car comes from:<br />
* A = [[Perak]] (Capital: [[Ipoh]])<br />
* P = [[Pinang]] ([[Georgetown]])<br />
* W = [[Kuala Lumpur]]<br />
* B = [[Selangor]]<br />
* J = [[Johor]] ([[Johor Bahru]])<br />
* M = [[Malacca]]<br />
* N = [[Negeri Sembilan]]<br />
* R = [[Perlis]]<br />
* K = [[Kedah]]<br />
* D = [[Kelantan]] ([[Kota Bahru]])<br />
* T = [[Terengganu]]<br />
* C = [[Pahang]]<br />
* KV = [[Langkawi]] (an island in the north-west)<br />
* Q = [[Sarawak]]<br />
* S = [[Sabah]]. Those states are in eastern Malaysia. If you see a plate with S as a first letter in Peninsular (West) Malaysia, chances are the car is from [[Singapore]]<br />
* L = [[Labuan]]<br />
* H = Local Taxi<br />
<br />
A list can be found on wikipedia : [[wikipedia:Vehicle registration plates of Malaysia]]<br />
<br />
== Border Crossings ==<br />
<br />
=== with [[Thailand]] ===<br />
At the ''Bukit Ayer Hitam'' border with Thailand User [[User:Halt, Stop! Reudnitz kommt.|Craig]] wasn't allowed to ask motorists in the car immigration area for a lift. Go to the rest area and ask there!<br />
<br />
=== with [[Brunei]] (East Malaysia or Borneo) ===<br />
Malaysians are paranoid about immigrations issues, so if you go from Eastern Malaysia to [[Brunei]] you get your passport stamped like crazy. <br />
<br />
=== with [[Indonesia]] ===<br />
There is a ferry from [[Melaka]] to [[Dumai]], [[Indonesia]] (20USD) and police will give you real trouble if you try to leave by a cargo boat (if you can even enter the port. If you make it please inform us here.)<br />
In [[Georgetown]] there's a small marina with private yachts. But it's easier to get a free ride with a boat in [[Langkawi]]. Most of the boats go to Indonesia.<br />
<br />
=== with [[Singapore]] ===<br />
There are two border crossings to [[Singapore]], from the Malaysian city of [[Johor Bahru]]. One is Woodlands checkpoint to the north of Singapore, and the other is Tual checkpoint to the west. See [[Singapore]] for further informations.<br />
<br />
== Languages ==<br />
The official language of Malaysia is Malay. It is quite easy to learn the basics as it is a very easy language.<br />
The country has a fairly amount of "native" Chineses and Indians who speak Mandarin or Hokkien for the former, and Tamil for the latter. But usually everybody knows Malay language (known as Bahasa Melayu).<br />
As for english, it is spoken in every level, from zero to fluent, but generally you won't find trouble to communicate at least for the basics.<br />
<br />
Some useful sentences :<br />
<br />
*Hello = Selamat Pagi(am)/Petang(pm) OR Hi<br />
*Good bye = Selamat Jalan OR Bye<br />
*Where are you going? = Mana anda pergi?<br />
*I am going to (City) = Saya pergi (City)<br />
*I don't have money = Saya tidak wang<br />
*Can you help me? = Anda boleh tolong saya?<br />
*Please = Tolong<br />
*Thank you = Terimah Kasih<br />
*My name is [[User:tourto|Tourto]] = Nama Saya Turto<br />
*Have you eaten already? = Sudah Makan?<br />
*Yes/No = Ya/Tidak but Yes/No works too<br />
*I don't understand = Tidak faham<br />
*I don't know = Tidak tau<br />
*Do you speak english? = Cakap bahasa Englis?<br />
*I know a bit of Malay = Saya tau sikit bahasa malayu<br />
*Saya = I/me/mine ; Anda = You/yours<br />
*Hitchhiking = Tumpang (meaning exactly "have a lift" as Hitchhiking is not known in Malaysia)<br />
<br />
'''Bahasa''' means '''languages''', hence '''Bahasa Malayu''' = '''Malay Language''', or '''Bahasa Englis''' = '''English Language'''.<br />
'''Tidak''' is the negation. It is also shortened to '''Tak''' very often.<br />
<br />
* '''G''' is always pronounced as in '''goat''' and never as '''germany'''<br />
* '''ng''' is pronounced as the Spanish '''ñ'''<br />
* '''k''' at the end of a word is replaced by a throat sound, marking the stop.<br />
* '''c''' is always pronouced as the English '''ch'''<br />
* '''j''' is always pronounced as the English '''j''' (like in '''journey''')<br />
* The rest is more or less as the Spanish prononciation.<br />
<br />
If you want to know more and actually learn Malay, this online free set of lessons is particularly good : [[http://malay.pgoh13.com |Free online Malay lessons]]<br />
<br />
== Main Cities ==<br />
* [[Kuala Lumpur]]<br />
* [[Georgetown]] (Penang)<br />
* [[Melaka]]<br />
* [[Johor Bahru]]<br />
* [[Ipoh]]<br />
* [[Kota Kinabalu]]<br />
<br />
== Malaysian States and Territories ==<br />
Malaysia is divided into 13 States (11 in Peninsular Malaysia and 2 in Malaysian Borneo) and 3 Federal territories.<br />
=== Peninsular Malaysia ===<br />
* [[Kuala Lumpur|Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur]]<br />
* [[Labuan|Federal Territory of Labuan]]<br />
* [[Putrajaya|Federal Territory of Putrajaya]]<br />
* [[Johor]]<br />
* [[Kedah]]<br />
* [[Kelantan]]<br />
* [[Malacca]]<br />
* [[Negeri Sembilan]]<br />
* [[Pahang]]<br />
* [[Perak]]<br />
* [[Perlis]]<br />
* [[Penang]]<br />
* [[Selangor]]<br />
* [[Terengganu]]<br />
=== Malaysian Borneo ===<br />
* [[Sabah]]<br />
* [[Sarawak]]<br />
<br />
== Experiences ==<br />
* User [[User:Halt, Stop! Reudnitz kommt.|Craig]] hitched along the '''Silk Road from Istanbul to Malaysia''' and wrote about his experiences here: [http://thumbingasia.blogspot.com/ Thumbing Asia From West to East] Don't hitch-hike at night! You'd need the luck to get dropped at well lit places. Otherwise people won't stop! Beside that, Malaysia is really comfortable to hitch-hike. I topped 120 km/h average hitching speed!<br />
<br />
{{states malaysia}}<br />
<br />
{{IsIn|South-Eastern Asia}}<br />
<br />
[[trash:Country]]<br />
[[wikipedia:Country]]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Malaysia]]<br />
[[Category:Asia]]<br />
<br />
[[es:Malasia]]<br />
[[fr:Malaisie]]</div>Toortothhttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Malaysia&diff=57653Malaysia2011-11-29T10:16:38Z<p>Toortoth: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{infobox Country<br />
|country = of Malaysia<br />
|language = Malay<br />
|capital = [[Kuala Lumpur]]<br />
|pop = 28,310,000<br />
|currency = Ringgit / RM (MYR)<br />
|hitch = <rating country='my' /><br />
}}<br />
'''Malaysia''' is a country in South Eastern [[Asia]]. It has borders with [[Thailand]] to the north, [[Singapore]] to the south, and [[Indonesia]] to the west and south. Its Capital city is [[Kuala Lumpur]]. The country is separated in two parts : the Malay Peninsula, and the north of Borneo Island.<br />
Currency is the Malay Ringgit : 1 RM = 0,23€ = US$1,36 (october 2011)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Malaysia''' is nice for hitching. There is a ''real'' expressway running on the north-south axis from the [[Thailand|Thai border]], via [[Kuala Lumpur]], towards [[Singapore]]. Stay on the gas stations with the nice food stalls. It is pretty easy to get a ride there, and in rural areas it's even easier. On the onramps of the highway after the toll booth you can usually hitchhike as well, and it's possible to regularly stop multiple cars at once. The only problem being that the drivers are often heading lots of different directions than indicated on your sign.<br />
<br />
Drivers usually speak English and stop easily. Cars are modern and fast. Local roads seem generally to be in a good condition, and are fast and enjoyable to hitch. <br />
<br />
== Gas stations ==<br />
You can usually find tasty cheap meals for about 2 or 3 euro, and thus don't need to carry a lot of food, if any at all. Cold showers, a real treat in the hot climate, are often available free of charge.<br />
<br />
== Number Plates ==<br />
It can come handy to know where the car goes before asking, at a petrol station for exemple. Malaysian [[licence plates]] are generally black with white letters and Numbers. The pattern is XXX-9999 or XXX-999. The first letter indicates which state the car comes from:<br />
* A = [[Perak]] (Capital: [[Ipoh]])<br />
* P = [[Pinang]] ([[Georgetown]])<br />
* W = [[Kuala Lumpur]]<br />
* B = [[Selangor]]<br />
* J = [[Johor]] ([[Johor Bahru]])<br />
* M = [[Malacca]]<br />
* N = [[Negeri Sembilan]]<br />
* R = [[Perlis]]<br />
* K = [[Kedah]]<br />
* D = [[Kelantan]] ([[Kota Bahru]])<br />
* T = [[Terengganu]]<br />
* C = [[Pahang]]<br />
* KV = [[Langkawi]] (an island in the north-west)<br />
* Q = [[Sarawak]]<br />
* S = [[Sabah]]. Those states are in eastern Malaysia. If you see a plate with S as a first letter in Peninsular (West) Malaysia, chances are the car is from [[Singapore]]<br />
* L = [[Labuan]]<br />
* H = Local Taxi<br />
<br />
A list can be found on wikipedia : [[wikipedia:Vehicle registration plates of Malaysia]]<br />
<br />
== Border Crossings ==<br />
<br />
=== with [[Thailand]] ===<br />
At the ''Bukit Ayer Hitam'' border with Thailand User [[User:Halt, Stop! Reudnitz kommt.|Craig]] wasn't allowed to ask motorists in the car immigration area for a lift. Go to the rest area and ask there!<br />
<br />
=== with [[Brunei]] (East Malaysia or Borneo) ===<br />
Malaysians are paranoid about immigrations issues, so if you go from Eastern Malaysia to [[Brunei]] you get your passport stamped like crazy. <br />
<br />
=== with [[Indonesia]] ===<br />
There is a ferry from [[Melaka]] to [[Dumai]], [[Indonesia]] (20USD) and police will give you real trouble if you try to leave by a cargo boat (if you can even enter the port. If you make it please inform us here.)<br />
In [[Georgetown]] there's a small marina with private yachts. But it's easier to get a free ride with a boat in [[Langkawi]]. Most of the boats go to Indonesia.<br />
<br />
=== with [[Singapore]] ===<br />
There are two border crossings to [[Singapore]], from the Malaysian city of [[Johor Bahru]]. One is Woodlands checkpoint to the north of Singapore, and the other is Tual checkpoint to the west. See [[Singapore]] for further informations.<br />
<br />
== Languages ==<br />
The official language of Malaysia is Malay. It is quite easy to learn the basics as it is a very easy language.<br />
The country has a fairly amount of "native" Chineses and Indians who speak Mandarin or Hokkien for the former, and Tamil for the latter. But usually everybody knows Malay language (known as Bahasa Melayu).<br />
As for english, it is spoken in every level, from zero to fluent, but generally you won't find trouble to communicate at least for the basics.<br />
<br />
Some useful sentences :<br />
<br />
*Hello = Selamat Pagi(am)/Petang(pm) OR Hi<br />
*Good bye = Selamat Jalan OR Bye<br />
*Where are you going? = Mana anda pergi?<br />
*I am going to (City) = Saya pergi (City)<br />
*I don't have money = Saya tidak wang<br />
*Can you help me? = Anda boleh tolong saya?<br />
*Please = Tolong<br />
*Thank you = Terimah Kasih<br />
*My name is [[User:tourto|Tourto]] = Nama Saya Turto<br />
*Have you eaten already? = Sudah Makan?<br />
*Yes/No = Ya/Tidak but Yes/No works too<br />
*I don't understand = Tidak faham<br />
*I don't know = Tidak tau<br />
*Do you speak english? = Cakap bahasa Englis?<br />
*I know a bit of Malay = Saya tau sikit bahasa malayu<br />
*Saya = I/me/mine ; Anda = You/yours<br />
*Hitchhiking = Tumpang (meaning exactly "have a lift" as Hitchhiking is not known in Malaysia)<br />
<br />
'''Bahasa''' means '''languages''', hence '''Bahasa Malayu''' = '''Malay Language''', or '''Bahasa Englis''' = '''English Language'''.<br />
'''Tidak''' is the negation. It is also shortened to '''Tak''' very often.<br />
<br />
* '''G''' is always pronounced as in '''goat''' and never as '''germany'''<br />
* '''ng''' is pronounced as the Spanish '''ñ'''<br />
* '''k''' at the end of a word is replaced by a throat sound, marking the stop.<br />
* '''c''' is always pronouced as the English '''ch'''<br />
* '''j''' is always pronounced as the English '''j''' (like in '''journey''')<br />
* The rest is more or less as the Spanish prononciation.<br />
<br />
If you want to know more and actually learn Malay, this online free set of lessons is particularly good : [[http://malay.pgoh13.com |Free online Malay lessons]]<br />
<br />
== Main Cities ==<br />
* [[Kuala Lumpur]]<br />
* [[Georgetown]] (Penang)<br />
* [[Melaka]]<br />
* [[Johor Bahru]]<br />
* [[Ipoh]]<br />
* [[Kota Kinabalu]]<br />
<br />
== Malaysian States and Territories ==<br />
Malaysia is divided into 13 States (11 in Peninsular Malaysia and 2 in Malaysian Borneo) and 3 Federal territories.<br />
=== Peninsular Malaysia ===<br />
* [[Kuala Lumpur|Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur]]<br />
* [[Labuan|Federal Territory of Labuan]]<br />
* [[Putrajaya|Federal Territory of Putrajaya]]<br />
* [[Johor]]<br />
* [[Kedah]]<br />
* [[Kelantan]]<br />
* [[Malacca]]<br />
* [[Negeri Sembilan]]<br />
* [[Pahang]]<br />
* [[Perak]]<br />
* [[Perlis]]<br />
* [[Penang]]<br />
* [[Selangor]]<br />
* [[Terengganu]]<br />
=== Malaysian Borneo ===<br />
* [[Sabah]]<br />
* [[Sarawak]]<br />
<br />
== Experiences ==<br />
* User [[User:Halt, Stop! Reudnitz kommt.|Craig]] hitched along the '''Silk Road from Istanbul to Malaysia''' and wrote about his experiences here: [http://thumbingasia.blogspot.com/ Thumbing Asia From West to East] Don't hitch-hike at night! You'd need the luck to get dropped at well lit places. Otherwise people won't stop! Beside that, Malaysia is really comfortable to hitch-hike. I topped 120 km/h average hitching speed!<br />
<br />
{{states malaysia}}<br />
<br />
{{IsIn|South-Eastern Asia}}<br />
<br />
[[trash:Country]]<br />
[[wikipedia:Country]]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Malaysia]]<br />
[[Category:Asia]]<br />
<br />
[[es:Malasia]]<br />
[[fr:Malaisie]]</div>Toortothhttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Malaysia&diff=57652Malaysia2011-11-29T10:14:06Z<p>Toortoth: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{infobox Country<br />
|country = of Malaysia<br />
|language = Malay<br />
|capital = [[Kuala Lumpur]]<br />
|pop = 28,310,000<br />
|currency = Ringgit / RM (MYR)<br />
|hitch = <rating country='my' /><br />
}}<br />
'''Malaysia''' is a country in South Eastern [[Asia]]. It has borders with [[Thailand]] to the north, [[Singapore]] to the south, and [[Indonesia]] to the west and south. Its Capital city is [[Kuala Lumpur]]. The country is separated in two parts : the Malay Peninsula, and the north of Borneo Island.<br />
Currency is the Malay Ringgit : 1 RM = 0,23€ = US$1,36 (october 2011)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Malaysia''' is nice for hitching. There is a ''real'' expressway running on the north-south axis from the [[Thailand|Thai border]], via [[Kuala Lumpur]], towards [[Singapore]]. Stay on the gas stations with the nice food stalls. It is pretty easy to get a ride there, and in rural areas it's even easier. On the onramps of the highway after the toll booth you can usually hitchhike as well, and it's possible to regularly stop multiple cars at once. The only problem being that the drivers are often heading lots of different directions than indicated on your sign.<br />
<br />
Drivers usually speak English and stop easily. Cars are modern and fast. Local roads seem generally to be in a good condition, and are fast and enjoyable to hitch. <br />
<br />
== Gas stations ==<br />
You can usually find tasty cheap meals for about 2 or 3 euro, and thus don't need to carry a lot of food, if any at all. Cold showers, a real treat in the hot climate, are often available free of charge.<br />
<br />
== Number Plates ==<br />
It can come handy to know where the car goes before asking, at a petrol station for exemple. Malaysian [[licence plates]] are generally black with white letters and Numbers. The pattern is XXX-9999 or XXX-999. The first letter indicates which state the car comes from:<br />
* A = [[Perak]] (Capital:[[Ipoh]])<br />
* P = [[Pinang]] ([[Georgetown]])<br />
* W = [[Kuala Lumpur]]<br />
* B = [[Selangor]]<br />
* J = [[Johor]] ([[Johor Bahru]])<br />
* M = [[Malacca]]<br />
* N = [[Negeri Sembilan]]<br />
* R = [[Perlis]]<br />
* K = [[Kedah]]<br />
* D = [[Kelantan]] ([[Kota Bahru]])<br />
* T = [[Terengganu]]<br />
* C = [[Pahang]]<br />
* KV = [[Langkawi]] (an island in the north-west)<br />
* Q = [[Sarawak]]<br />
* S = [[Sabah]]. Those states are in eastern Malaysia. If you see a plate with S as a first letter in Peninsular (West) Malaysia, chances are the car is from [[Singapore]]<br />
* L = [[Labuan]]<br />
* H = Local Taxi<br />
<br />
A list can be found on wikipedia : [[wikipedia:Vehicle registration plates of Malaysia]]<br />
<br />
== Border Crossings ==<br />
<br />
=== with [[Thailand]] ===<br />
At the ''Bukit Ayer Hitam'' border with Thailand User [[User:Halt, Stop! Reudnitz kommt.|Craig]] wasn't allowed to ask motorists in the car immigration area for a lift. Go to the rest area and ask there!<br />
<br />
=== with [[Brunei]] (East Malaysia or Borneo) ===<br />
Malaysians are paranoid about immigrations issues, so if you go from Eastern Malaysia to [[Brunei]] you get your passport stamped like crazy. <br />
<br />
=== with [[Indonesia]] ===<br />
There is a ferry from [[Melaka]] to [[Dumai]], [[Indonesia]] (20USD) and police will give you real trouble if you try to leave by a cargo boat (if you can even enter the port. If you make it please inform us here.)<br />
In [[Georgetown]] there's a small marina with private yachts. But it's easier to get a free ride with a boat in [[Langkawi]]. Most of the boats go to Indonesia.<br />
<br />
=== with [[Singapore]] ===<br />
There are two border crossings to [[Singapore]], from the Malaysian city of [[Johor Bahru]]. One is Woodlands checkpoint to the north of Singapore, and the other is Tual checkpoint to the west. See [[Singapore]] for further informations.<br />
<br />
== Languages ==<br />
The official language of Malaysia is Malay. It is quite easy to learn the basics as it is a very easy language.<br />
The country has a fairly amount of "native" Chineses and Indians who speak Mandarin or Hokkien for the former, and Tamil for the latter. But usually everybody knows Malay language (known as Bahasa Melayu).<br />
As for english, it is spoken in every level, from zero to fluent, but generally you won't find trouble to communicate at least for the basics.<br />
<br />
Some useful sentences :<br />
<br />
*Hello = Selamat Pagi(am)/Petang(pm) OR Hi<br />
*Good bye = Selamat Jalan OR Bye<br />
*Where are you going? = Mana anda pergi?<br />
*I am going to (City) = Saya pergi (City)<br />
*I don't have money = Saya tidak wang<br />
*Can you help me? = Anda boleh tolong saya?<br />
*Please = Tolong<br />
*Thank you = Terimah Kasih<br />
*My name is [[User:tourto|Tourto]] = Nama Saya Turto<br />
*Have you eaten already? = Sudah Makan?<br />
*Yes/No = Ya/Tidak but Yes/No works too<br />
*I don't understand = Tidak faham<br />
*I don't know = Tidak tau<br />
*Do you speak english? = Cakap bahasa Englis?<br />
*I know a bit of Malay = Saya tau sikit bahasa malayu<br />
*Saya = I/me/mine ; Anda = You/yours<br />
*Hitchhiking = Tumpang (meaning exactly "have a lift" as Hitchhiking is not known in Malaysia)<br />
<br />
'''Bahasa''' means '''languages''', hence '''Bahasa Malayu''' = '''Malay Language''', or '''Bahasa Englis''' = '''English Language'''.<br />
'''Tidak''' is the negation. It is also shortened to '''Tak''' very often.<br />
<br />
* '''G''' is always pronounced as in '''goat''' and never as '''germany'''<br />
* '''ng''' is pronounced as the Spanish '''ñ'''<br />
* '''k''' at the end of a word is replaced by a throat sound, marking the stop.<br />
* '''c''' is always pronouced as the English '''ch'''<br />
* '''j''' is always pronounced as the English '''j''' (like in '''journey''')<br />
* The rest is more or less as the Spanish prononciation.<br />
<br />
If you want to know more and actually learn Malay, this online free set of lessons is particularly good : [[http://malay.pgoh13.com |Free online Malay lessons]]<br />
<br />
== Main Cities ==<br />
* [[Kuala Lumpur]]<br />
* [[Georgetown]] (Penang)<br />
* [[Melaka]]<br />
* [[Johor Bahru]]<br />
* [[Ipoh]]<br />
* [[Kota Kinabalu]]<br />
<br />
== Malaysian States and Territories ==<br />
Malaysia is divided into 13 States (11 in Peninsular Malaysia and 2 in Malaysian Borneo) and 3 Federal territories.<br />
=== Peninsular Malaysia ===<br />
* [[Kuala Lumpur|Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur]]<br />
* [[Labuan|Federal Territory of Labuan]]<br />
* [[Putrajaya|Federal Territory of Putrajaya]]<br />
* [[Johor]]<br />
* [[Kedah]]<br />
* [[Kelantan]]<br />
* [[Malacca]]<br />
* [[Negeri Sembilan]]<br />
* [[Pahang]]<br />
* [[Perak]]<br />
* [[Perlis]]<br />
* [[Penang]]<br />
* [[Selangor]]<br />
* [[Terengganu]]<br />
=== Malaysian Borneo ===<br />
* [[Sabah]]<br />
* [[Sarawak]]<br />
<br />
== Experiences ==<br />
* User [[User:Halt, Stop! Reudnitz kommt.|Craig]] hitched along the '''Silk Road from Istanbul to Malaysia''' and wrote about his experiences here: [http://thumbingasia.blogspot.com/ Thumbing Asia From West to East] Don't hitch-hike at night! You'd need the luck to get dropped at well lit places. Otherwise people won't stop! Beside that, Malaysia is really comfortable to hitch-hike. I topped 120 km/h average hitching speed!<br />
<br />
{{states malaysia}}<br />
<br />
{{IsIn|South-Eastern Asia}}<br />
<br />
[[trash:Country]]<br />
[[wikipedia:Country]]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Malaysia]]<br />
[[Category:Asia]]<br />
<br />
[[es:Malasia]]<br />
[[fr:Malaisie]]</div>Toortothhttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Malaysia&diff=57117Malaysia2011-10-31T07:58:23Z<p>Toortoth: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{infobox Country<br />
|country = of Malaysia<br />
|language = Malay<br />
|capital = [[Kuala Lumpur]]<br />
|pop = 28,310,000<br />
|currency = Ringgit / RM (MYR)<br />
|hitch = <rating country='my' /><br />
}}<br />
'''Malaysia''' is a country in South Eastern [[Asia]]. It has borders with [[Thailand]] to the north, [[Singapore]] to the south, and [[Indonesia]] to the west and south. Its Capital city is [[Kuala Lumpur]]. The country is separated in two parts : the Malay Peninsula, and the north of Borneo Island.<br />
Currency is the Malay Ringgit : 1 RM = 0,23€ = US$1,36 (october 2011)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Malaysia''' is nice for hitching. There is a ''real'' expressway running on the north-south axis from the [[Thailand|Thai border]], via [[Kuala Lumpur]], towards [[Singapore]]. Stay on the gas stations with the nice food stalls. It is pretty easy to get a ride there, and in rural areas it's even easier. On the onramps of the highway after the toll booth you can usually hitchhike as well, and it's possible to regularly stop multiple cars at once. The only problem being that the drivers are often heading lots of different directions than indicated on your sign.<br />
<br />
Drivers usually speak English and stop easily. Cars are modern and fast. Local roads seem generally to be in a good condition, and are fast and enjoyable to hitch. <br />
<br />
== Gas stations ==<br />
You can usually find tasty cheap meals for about 2 or 3 euro, and thus don't need to carry a lot of food, if any at all. Cold showers, a real treat in the hot climate, are often available free of charge.<br />
<br />
== Border Crossings ==<br />
<br />
=== with [[Thailand]] ===<br />
At the ''Bukit Ayer Hitam'' border with Thailand User [[User:Halt, Stop! Reudnitz kommt.|Craig]] wasn't allowed to ask motorists in the car immigration area for a lift. Go to the rest area and ask there!<br />
<br />
=== with [[Brunei]] (East Malaysia or Borneo) ===<br />
Malaysians are paranoid about immigrations issues, so if you go from Eastern Malaysia to [[Brunei]] you get your passport stamped like crazy. <br />
<br />
=== with [[Indonesia]] ===<br />
There is a ferry from [[Melaka]] to [[Dumai]], [[Indonesia]] (20USD) and police will give you real trouble if you try to leave by a cargo boat (if you can even enter the port. If you make it please inform us here.)<br />
In [[Georgetown]] there's a small marina with private yachts. But it's easier to get a free ride with a boat in [[Langkawi]]. Most of the boats go to Indonesia.<br />
<br />
=== with [[Singapore]] ===<br />
There are two border crossings to [[Singapore]], from the Malaysian city of [[Johor Bahru]]. One is Woodlands checkpoint to the north of Singapore, and the other is Tual checkpoint to the west. See [[Singapore]] for further informations.<br />
<br />
== Languages ==<br />
The official language of Malaysia is Malay. It is quite easy to learn the basics as it is a very easy language.<br />
The country has a fairly amount of "native" Chineses and Indians who speak Mandarin or Hokkien for the former, and Tamil for the latter. But usually everybody knows Malay language (known as Bahasa Melayu).<br />
As for english, it is spoken in every level, from zero to fluent, but generally you won't find trouble to communicate at least for the basics.<br />
<br />
Some useful sentences :<br />
<br />
*Hello = Selamat Pagi(am)/Petang(pm) OR Hi<br />
*Good bye = Selamat Jalan OR Bye<br />
*Where are you going? = Mana anda pergi?<br />
*I am going to (City) = Saya pergi (City)<br />
*I don't have money = Saya tidak wang<br />
*Can you help me? = Anda boleh tolong saya?<br />
*Please = Tolong<br />
*Thank you = Terimah Kasih<br />
*My name is [[User:tourto|Tourto]] = Nama Saya Turto<br />
*Have you eaten already? = Sudah Makan?<br />
*Yes/No = Ya/Tidak but Yes/No works too<br />
*I don't understand = Tidak faham<br />
*I don't know = Tidak tau<br />
*Do you speak english? = Cakap bahasa Englis?<br />
*I know a bit of Malay = Saya tau sikit bahasa malayu<br />
*Saya = I/me/mine ; Anda = You/yours<br />
*Hitchhiking = Tumpang (meaning exactly "have a lift" as Hitchhiking is not known in Malaysia)<br />
<br />
'''Bahasa''' means '''languages''', hence '''Bahasa Malayu''' = '''Malay Language''', or '''Bahasa Englis''' = '''English Language'''.<br />
'''Tidak''' is the negation. It is also shortened to '''Tak''' very often.<br />
<br />
* '''G''' is always pronounced as in '''goat''' and never as '''germany'''<br />
* '''ng''' is pronounced as the Spanish '''ñ'''<br />
* '''k''' at the end of a word is replaced by a throat sound, marking the stop.<br />
* '''c''' is always pronouced as the English '''ch'''<br />
* '''j''' is always pronounced as the English '''j''' (like in '''journey''')<br />
* The rest is more or less as the Spanish prononciation.<br />
<br />
If you want to know more and actually learn Malay, this online free set of lessons is particularly good : [[http://malay.pgoh13.com |Free online Malay lessons]]<br />
<br />
== Main Cities ==<br />
* [[Kuala Lumpur]]<br />
* [[Georgetown]] (Penang)<br />
* [[Melaka]]<br />
* [[Johor Bahru]]<br />
* [[Ipoh]]<br />
* [[Kota Kinabalu]]<br />
<br />
== Malaysian States and Territories ==<br />
Malaysia is divided into 13 States (11 in Peninsular Malaysia and 2 in Malaysian Borneo) and 3 Federal territories.<br />
=== Peninsular Malaysia ===<br />
* [[Kuala Lumpur|Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur]]<br />
* [[Labuan|Federal Territory of Labuan]]<br />
* [[Putrajaya|Federal Territory of Putrajaya]]<br />
* [[Johor]]<br />
* [[Kedah]]<br />
* [[Kelantan]]<br />
* [[Malacca]]<br />
* [[Negeri Sembilan]]<br />
* [[Pahang]]<br />
* [[Perak]]<br />
* [[Perlis]]<br />
* [[Penang]]<br />
* [[Selangor]]<br />
* [[Terengganu]]<br />
=== Malaysian Borneo ===<br />
* [[Sabah]]<br />
* [[Sarawak]]<br />
<br />
== Experiences ==<br />
* User [[User:Halt, Stop! Reudnitz kommt.|Craig]] hitched along the '''Silk Road from Istanbul to Malaysia''' and wrote about his experiences here: [http://thumbingasia.blogspot.com/ Thumbing Asia From West to East] Don't hitch-hike at night! You'd need the luck to get dropped at well lit places. Otherwise people won't stop! Beside that, Malaysia is really comfortable to hitch-hike. I topped 120 km/h average hitching speed!<br />
<br />
{{states malaysia}}<br />
<br />
{{IsIn|South-Eastern Asia}}<br />
<br />
[[trash:Country]]<br />
[[wikipedia:Country]]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Malaysia]]<br />
[[Category:Asia]]<br />
<br />
[[es:Malasia]]<br />
[[fr:Malaisie]]</div>Toortothhttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=User_talk:Toortoth&diff=56915User talk:Toortoth2011-10-23T04:23:01Z<p>Toortoth: </p>
<hr />
<div>Salut! Thanks for adding stuff to [[Singapore]] and [[Malaysia]]! Note, if you start a line with whitespace things might not turn out as expected, I fixed that in the [http://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Template%3AStates_malaysia&action=historysubmit&diff=56560&oldid=56551 template for Malaysia you made] :) [[User:Guaka|guaka]] 11:31, 12 October 2011 (CEST)<br />
<br />
OK, thanks, that's first time I ever make something on a wiki. I thought it was time I contribute a bit :) When I'll settle a bit more, I may add a bunch of things! Patience though [[User:toortoth]]</div>Toortothhttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=User:Toortoth&diff=56562User:Toortoth2011-10-12T09:29:11Z<p>Toortoth: </p>
<hr />
<div>Tourto is my nickname. Xavier my real name.<br />
I was born in [[Biscarrosse|Biscarrosse-Plage]], a town on the Atlantic coast in [[Aquitaine]] Region, [[France]].<br />
I speak fluently French, Spanish, English, and basics of German and Malay.<br />
I lived and worked bits in [[France]], [[Mexico]], [[Spain]], [[Switzerland]], [[Australia]] and [[Malaysia]].<br />
I hitchhiked in [[France]], [[Belgium]], [[Germany]], [[Poland]], [[Italy]], [[Slovenia]], [[Croatia]], [[Serbia]], [[Greece]], [[Turkey]], [[Iran]], [[Switzerland]], [[Netherlands]], [[Czech Republic]], [[Australia]], [[Singapore]] and [[Malaysia]].<br />
I travelled in the countries listed above plus [[Mexico]], [[Spain]], [[Portugal]], [[Scotland]], [[Andorra]], [[Austria]], [[Liechtenstein]], [[Slovakia]], [[Hungaria]], [[Bulgaria]] and [[India]].<br />
<br />
Feel free to ask me any questions.<br />
<br />
My plans of travels :<br />
October to December 2011 : Malaysia<br />
December 2011 to March 2012 : India<br />
March 2012 to June 2012 : Iran<br />
<br />
== Hitchhiking Experience ==<br />
* Hitchhiked from [[France]] to [[Iran]] in 2009, through [[Belgium]], [[Germany]], [[Poland]], back to [[France]], then [[Italy]], Balkans, [[Greece]], [[Turkey]].<br />
* Hitchhiked in [[Australia]] in 2011 mostly around [[Western Australia]] and [[Northern Territory]] for several months. I've hitchhiked the [[Gibb River Road]], an outback road running 800km from [[Broome]] to [[Kununarra]].<br />
* Other bits in [[Europe]] and South-East [[Asia]].<br />
<br />
== Stats ==<br />
* I Started hitchhiking in may 2009 aged 27, so far more than 30,000 km<br />
* Longest rides : <br />
- 1,377 km from [[Derby]]'s turn-off on the [[Great Northern Highway]], [[Australia]] to [[Katherine]], [[Australia]] in july 2011 (all the way with the same truck driver, but we stopped in a bush camp to rest overnight)<br />
- 1,000 km from [[Dijon]], [[France]] to [[Prague]], [[Czech Republic]] in september 2010, even making some tourism with my drivers in [[Aldace]]<br />
- 670 km from [[Berlin]], [[Germany]] to [[Karlsruhe]], [[Germany]] in July 2009<br />
* Longuest distance in one day :<br />
- 1,500 km from [[Wroclaw]], [[Poland]] to [[Macon]], [[France]] with a detour by [[Berlin]], [[Germany]] in around 30 hours (I didn't sleep at all) in july 2009<br />
- 1,300 km from [[Broome]], [[Australia]] to somewhere between [[Kununarra]] and [[Katherine]], [[Australia]] in around 15 hours, in july 2011<br />
- 1,000 km from [[Dijon]], [[France]] to [[Prague]], [[Czech Republic]] in september 2010 (with only a 5 km ride plus a 995 km ride!)<br />
* Fastest trips :<br />
- 3 hours and 15 minutes to go 670 km from [[Berlin]], [[Germany]] to [[Karlsruhe]], [[Germany]] in July 2009 (average 205 km/h!!)<br />
- 3 hours to go 460 km (average 150 km/h) from [[Lyon]], [[France]] to [[Paris]], [[France]] with 3 Romanians who were listening to 120dB techno music, smoking as crazy, windows shut and overheating the car... Happy it was fast!<br />
* Worst waiting time :<br />
- 2 days waiting for a ride in [[Gascoyne Junction]], [[Australia]], trying to go to Mount Augustus, 300 km of dirt road further. I eventually gave up after no car had passed and figured out I wouldn't have enough food to make the return trip (no shops in Gascoyne Junction)!<br />
<br />
== Contact ==<br />
* my travel blog : [http://www.tourto.fr www.tourto.fr]<br />
* facebook : [http://www.facebook.com/tourto Tourto]<br />
* Couchsurfing : [http://www.couchsurfing.org/toortoth Toortoth]<br />
* GlobalFreeLoaders : [http://www.globalfreeloaders.com/tourto tourto]</div>Toortothhttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=User:Toortoth&diff=56559User:Toortoth2011-10-12T09:21:13Z<p>Toortoth: </p>
<hr />
<div>Tourto is my nickname. Xavier my real name.<br />
I was born in [[Biscarrosse|Biscarrosse-Plage]], a town on the Atlantic coast in [[Aquitaine]] Region, [[France]].<br />
I speak fluently French, Spanish, English, and basics of German and Malay.<br />
I lived and worked bits in [[France]], [[Mexico]], [[Spain]], [[Switzerland]], [[Australia]] and [[Malaysia]].<br />
I hitchhiked in [[France]], [[Belgium]], [[Germany]], [[Poland]], [[Italy]], [[Slovenia]], [[Croatia]], [[Serbia]], [[Greece]], [[Turkey]], [[Iran]], [[Switzerland]], [[Netherlands]], [[Czech Republic]], [[Australia]], [[Singapore]] and [[Malaysia]].<br />
I travelled in the countries listed above plus [[Mexico]], [[Spain]], [[Portugal]], [[Scotland]], [[Andorra]], [[Austria]], [[Liechtenstein]], [[Slovakia]], [[Hungaria]], [[Bulgaria]] and [[India]].<br />
<br />
Feel free to ask me any questions.<br />
<br />
My plans of travels :<br />
October to December 2011 : Malaysia<br />
December 2011 to March 2012 : India<br />
March 2012 to June 2012 : Iran<br />
<br />
== Hitchhiking Experience ==<br />
* Hitchhiked from [[France]] to [[Iran]] in 2009, through [[Belgium]], [[Germany]], [[Poland]], back to [[France]], then [[Italy]], Balkans, [[Greece]], [[Turkey]].<br />
* Hitchhiked in [[Australia]] in 2011 mostly around [[Western Australia]] and [[Northern Territory]] for several months. I've hitchhiked the [[Gibb River Road]], an outback road running 800km from [[Broome]] to [[Kununarra]].<br />
* Other bits in [[Europe]] and South-East [[Asia]].<br />
<br />
== Stats ==<br />
* I Started hitchhiking in may 2009 aged 27, so far more than 30,000 km<br />
* Longest rides : <br />
- 1,700 km from [[Derby]]'s turn-off on the [[Great Northern Highway]], [[Australia]] to [[Katherine]], [[Australia]] in july 2011 (all the way with the same truck driver, but we stopped in a bush camp to rest overnight)<br />
- ??km from [[Dijon]], [[France]] to [[Prague]], [[Czech Republic]] in september 2010<br />
- ??km from [[Berlin]], [[Germany]] to [[Karlsruhe]], [[Germany]] in July 2009<br />
* Longuest distance in one day :<br />
- 1,500 km from [[Wroclaw]], [[Poland]] to [[Macon]], [[France]] with a detour by [[Berlin]], [[Germany]] in around 30 hours (I didn't sleep at all) in july 2009<br />
- 1,200 km from [[Broome]], [[Australia]] to somewhere between [[Kununarra]] and [[Katherine]], [[Australia]] in around 15 hours, in july 2011<br />
- ??km from [[Dijon]], [[France]] to [[Prague]], [[Czech Republic]] in september 2010 (with only a 5 km ride plus a 1,000km ride!)<br />
* Fastest trips :<br />
- 4 hours to go ??km from [[Berlin]], [[Germany]] to [[Karlsruhe]], [[Germany]] in July 2009<br />
- 3 hours to go 500 km from [[Lyon]], [[France]] to [[Paris]], [[France]] with 3 Romanians who were listening to 120dB techno music, smoking as crazy, windows shut and overheating the car... Happy it was fast!<br />
* Worst waiting time :<br />
- 2 days waiting for a ride in [[Gascoyne Junction]], [[Australia]], trying to go to Mount Augustus, 300 km of dirt road further. I eventually gave up after no car had passed and figured out I wouldn't have enough food to make the return trip (no shops in Gascoyne Junction)!<br />
- <br />
<br />
== Contact ==<br />
* my travel blog : [www.tourto.fr www.tourto.fr]<br />
* facebook : [www.facebook.com/tourto Tourto]<br />
* Couchsurfing : [www.couchsurfing.org/toortoth Toortoth]<br />
* GlobalFreeLoaders : [www.globalfreeloaders.com/tourto tourto]</div>Toortothhttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=User:Toortoth&diff=56558User:Toortoth2011-10-12T09:17:04Z<p>Toortoth: </p>
<hr />
<div>Tourto is my nickname. Xavier my real name.<br />
I was born in [[Biscarrosse|Biscarrosse-Plage]], a town on the Atlantic coast in [[Aquitaine]] Region, [[France]].<br />
I speak fluently French, Spanish, English, and basics of German and Malay.<br />
I lived and worked bits in [[France]], [[Mexico]], [[Spain]], [[Switzerland]], [[Australia]] and [[Malaysia]].<br />
I hitchhiked in [[France]], [[Belgium]], [[Germany]], [[Poland]], [[Italy]], [[Slovenia]], [[Croatia]], [[Serbia]], [[Greece]], [[Turkey]], [[Iran]], [[Switzerland]], [[Netherlands]], [[Czech Republic]], [[Australia]], [[Singapore]] and [[Malaysia]].<br />
I travelled in the countries listed above plus [[Mexico]], [[Spain]], [[Portugal]], [[Scotland]], [[Andorra]], [[Austria]], [[Liechtenstein]], [[Slovakia]], [[Hungaria]], [[Bulgaria]] and [[India]].<br />
<br />
Feel free to ask me any questions.<br />
<br />
My plans of travels :<br />
October to December 2011 : Malaysia<br />
December 2011 to March 2012 : India<br />
March 2012 to June 2012 : Iran<br />
<br />
== Hitchhiking Experience ==<br />
* Hitchhiked from [[France]] to [[Iran]] in 2009, through [[Belgium]], [[Germany]], [[Poland]], back to [[France]], then [[Italy]], Balkans, [[Greece]], [[Turkey]].<br />
* Hitchhiked in [[Australia]] in 2011 mostly around [[Western Australia]] and [[Northern Territory]] for several months. I've hitchhiked the [[Gibb River Road]], an outback road running 800km from [[Broome]] to [[Kununarra]].<br />
* Other bits in [[Europe]] and South-East [[Asia]].<br />
<br />
== Stats ==<br />
* I Started hitchhiking in may 2009 aged 27, so far more than 30,000 km<br />
* Longest rides : <br />
- 1,700 km from [[Derby]]'s turn-off on the [[Great Northern Highway]], [[Australia]] to [[Katherine]], [[Australia]] in july 2011 (all the way with the same truck driver, but we stopped in a bush camp to rest overnight)<br />
- ??km from [[Dijon]], [[France]] to [[Prague]], [[Czech Republic]] in september 2010<br />
- ??km from [[Berlin]], [[Germany]] to [[Karlsruhe]], [[Germany]] in July 2009<br />
* Longuest distance in one day :<br />
- 1,500 km from [[Wroclaw]], [[Poland]] to [[Macon]], [[France]] with a detour by [[Berlin]], [[Germany]] in around 30 hours (I didn't sleep at all) in july 2009<br />
- 1,200 km from [[Broome]], [[Australia]] to somewhere between [[Kununarra]] and [[Katherine]], [[Australia]] in around 15 hours, in july 2011<br />
- ??km from [[Dijon]], [[France]] to [[Prague]], [[Czech Republic]] in september 2010 (with only a 5 km ride plus a 1,000km ride!)<br />
* Fastest trips :<br />
- 4 hours to go ??km from [[Berlin]], [[Germany]] to [[Karlsruhe]], [[Germany]] in July 2009<br />
- 3 hours to go 500 km from [[Lyon]], [[France]] to [[Paris]], [[France]] with 3 Romanians who were listening to 120dB techno music, smoking as crazy, windows shut and overheating the car... Happy it was fast!<br />
* Worst waiting time :<br />
- 2 days waiting for a ride in [[Gascoyne Junction]], [[Australia]], trying to go to Mount Augustus, 300 km of dirt road further. I eventually gave up after no car had passed and figured out I wouldn't have enough food to make the return trip (no shops in Gascoyne Junction)!<br />
- <br />
<br />
== Contact ==<br />
* my travel blog : [[www.tourto.fr|www.tourto.fr]]<br />
* facebook : [[www.facebook.com/tourto|Tourto]]<br />
* Couchsurfing : [[www.couchsurfing.org/toortoth|Toortoth]]<br />
* GlobalFreeLoaders :</div>Toortothhttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Malaysia&diff=56557Malaysia2011-10-12T09:14:02Z<p>Toortoth: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{infobox Country<br />
|country = of Malaysia<br />
|language = Malay<br />
|capital = [[Kuala Lumpur]]<br />
|pop = 28,310,000<br />
|currency = Ringgit / RM (MYR)<br />
|hitch = <rating country='my' /><br />
}}<br />
'''Malaysia''' is a country in South Eastern [[Asia]]. It has borders with [[Thailand]] to the north, [[Singapore]] to the south, and [[Indonesia]] to the west and south. Its Capital city is [[Kuala Lumpur]]. The country is separated in two parts : the Malay Peninsula, and the north of Borneo Island.<br />
Currency is the Malay Ringgit : 1 RM = 0,23€ = US$1,36 (october 2011)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Malaysia''' is nice for hitching. There is a ''real'' expressway running on the north-south axis from the [[Thailand|Thai border]], via [[Kuala Lumpur]], towards [[Singapore]]. Stay on the gas stations with the nice food stalls. It is pretty easy to get a ride there, and in rural areas it's even easier. On the onramps of the highway after the toll booth you can usually hitchhike as well, and it's possible to regularly stop multiple cars at once. The only problem being that the drivers are often heading lots of different directions than indicated on your sign.<br />
<br />
Drivers usually speak English and stop easily. Cars are modern and fast. Local roads seem generally to be in a good condition, and are fast and enjoyable to hitch. <br />
<br />
== Gas stations ==<br />
You can usually find tasty cheap meals for about 2 or 3 euro, and thus don't need to carry a lot of food, if any at all. Cold showers, a real treat in the hot climate, are often available free of charge.<br />
<br />
== Border Crossings ==<br />
<br />
=== with [[Thailand]] ===<br />
At the ''Bukit Ayer Hitam'' border with Thailand User [[User:Halt, Stop! Reudnitz kommt.|Craig]] wasn't allowed to ask motorists in the car immigration area for a lift. Go to the rest area and ask there!<br />
<br />
=== with [[Brunei]] (East Malaysia or Borneo) ===<br />
Malaysians are paranoid about immigrations issues, so if you go from Eastern Malaysia to [[Brunei]] you get your passport stamped like crazy. <br />
<br />
=== with [[Indonesia]] ===<br />
There is a ferry from [[Melaka]] to [[Dumai]], [[Indonesia]] (20USD) and police will give you real trouble if you try to leave by a cargo boat (if you can even enter the port. If you make it please inform us here.)<br />
In [[Georgetown]] there's a small marina with private yachts. But it's easier to get a free ride with a boat in [[Langkawi]]. Most of the boats go to Indonesia.<br />
<br />
=== with [[Singapore]] ===<br />
There are two border crossings to [[Singapore]], from the Malaysian city of [[Johor Bahru]]. One is Woodlands checkpoint to the north of Singapore, and the other is Tual checkpoint to the west. See [[Singapore]] for further informations.<br />
<br />
== Languages ==<br />
The official language of Malaysia is Malay. It is quite easy to learn the basics as it is a very easy language.<br />
The country has a fairly amount of "native" Chineses and Indians who speak Mandarin or Hokkien for the former, and Tamil for the latter. But usually everybody knows Malay language (known as Bahasa Melayu).<br />
As for english, it is spoken in every level, from zero to fluent, but generally you won't find trouble to communicate at least for the basics.<br />
<br />
Some useful sentences :<br />
<br />
Hello = Selamat Pagi(am)/Petang(pm) OR Hi<br />
Good bye = Selamat Jalan OR Bye<br />
Where are you going? = Mana anda pergi?<br />
I am going to (City) = Saya pergi (City)<br />
I don't have money = Saya tidak wang<br />
Can you help me? = Anda boleh tolong saya?<br />
Please = Tolong<br />
Thank you = Terimah Kasih<br />
My name is [[User:tourto|Tourto]] = Nama Saya Turto<br />
Have you eaten already? = Sudah Makan?<br />
Yes/No = Ya/Tidak but Yes/No works too<br />
I don't understand = Tidak faham<br />
I don't know = Tidak tau<br />
Do you speak english? = Cakap bahasa Englis?<br />
I know a bit of Malay = Saya tau sikit bahasa malayu<br />
Saya = I/me/mine ; Anda = You/yours<br />
Hitchhiking = Tumpang (meaning exactly "have a lift" as Hitchhiking is not known in Malaysia)<br />
<br />
'''Bahasa''' means '''languages''', hence '''Bahasa Malayu''' = '''Malay Language''', or '''Bahasa Englis''' = '''English Language'''.<br />
'''Tidak''' is the negation. It is also shortened to '''Tak''' very often.<br />
<br />
* '''G''' is always pronounced as in '''goat''' and never as '''germany'''<br />
* '''ng''' is pronounced as the Spanish '''ñ'''<br />
* '''k''' at the end of a word is replaced by a throat sound, marking the stop.<br />
* '''c''' is always pronouced as the English '''ch'''<br />
* '''j''' is always pronounced as the English '''j''' (like in '''journey''')<br />
* The rest is more or less as the Spanish prononciation.<br />
<br />
If you want to know more and actually learn Malay, this online free set of lessons is particularly good : [[http://malay.pgoh13.com |Free online Malay lessons]]<br />
<br />
== Main Cities ==<br />
* [[Kuala Lumpur]]<br />
* [[Georgetown]] (Penang)<br />
* [[Melaka]]<br />
* [[Johor Bahru]]<br />
* [[Ipoh]]<br />
* [[Kota Kinabalu]]<br />
<br />
== Malaysian States and Territories ==<br />
Malaysia is divided into 13 States (11 in Peninsular Malaysia and 2 in Malaysian Borneo) and 3 Federal territories.<br />
=== Peninsular Malaysia ===<br />
* [[Kuala Lumpur|Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur]]<br />
* [[Labuan|Federal Territory of Labuan]]<br />
* [[Putrajaya|Federal Territory of Putrajaya]]<br />
* [[Johor]]<br />
* [[Kedah]]<br />
* [[Kelantan]]<br />
* [[Malacca]]<br />
* [[Negeri Sembilan]]<br />
* [[Pahang]]<br />
* [[Perak]]<br />
* [[Perlis]]<br />
* [[Penang]]<br />
* [[Selangor]]<br />
* [[Terengganu]]<br />
=== Malaysian Borneo ===<br />
* [[Sabah]]<br />
* [[Sarawak]]<br />
<br />
== Experiences ==<br />
* User [[User:Halt, Stop! Reudnitz kommt.|Craig]] hitched along the '''Silk Road from Istanbul to Malaysia''' and wrote about his experiences here: [http://thumbingasia.blogspot.com/ Thumbing Asia From West to East] Don't hitch-hike at night! You'd need the luck to get dropped at well lit places. Otherwise people won't stop! Beside that, Malaysia is really comfortable to hitch-hike. I topped 120 km/h average hitching speed!<br />
<br />
{{states malaysia}}<br />
<br />
{{IsIn|South-Eastern Asia}}<br />
<br />
[[trash:Country]]<br />
[[wikipedia:Country]]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Malaysia]]<br />
[[Category:Asia]]<br />
<br />
[[es:Malasia]]<br />
[[fr:Malaisie]]</div>Toortothhttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Malaysia&diff=56556Malaysia2011-10-12T09:13:09Z<p>Toortoth: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{infobox Country<br />
|country = of Malaysia<br />
|language = Malay<br />
|capital = [[Kuala Lumpur]]<br />
|pop = 28,310,000<br />
|currency = Ringgit / RM (MYR)<br />
|hitch = <rating country='my' /><br />
}}<br />
'''Malaysia''' is a country in South Eastern [[Asia]]. It has borders with [[Thailand]] to the north, [[Singapore]] to the south, and [[Indonesia]] to the west and south. Its Capital city is [[Kuala Lumpur]]. The country is separated in two parts : the Malay Peninsula, and the north of Borneo Island.<br />
Currency is the Malay Ringgit : 1 RM = 0,23€ = US$1,36 (october 2011)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Malaysia''' is nice for hitching. There is a ''real'' expressway running on the north-south axis from the [[Thailand|Thai border]], via [[Kuala Lumpur]], towards [[Singapore]]. Stay on the gas stations with the nice food stalls. It is pretty easy to get a ride there, and in rural areas it's even easier. On the onramps of the highway after the toll booth you can usually hitchhike as well, and it's possible to regularly stop multiple cars at once. The only problem being that the drivers are often heading lots of different directions than indicated on your sign.<br />
<br />
Drivers usually speak English and stop easily. Cars are modern and fast. Local roads seem generally to be in a good condition, and are fast and enjoyable to hitch. <br />
<br />
== Gas stations ==<br />
You can usually find tasty cheap meals for about 2 or 3 euro, and thus don't need to carry a lot of food, if any at all. Cold showers, a real treat in the hot climate, are often available free of charge.<br />
<br />
== Border Crossings ==<br />
<br />
=== with [[Thailand]] ===<br />
At the ''Bukit Ayer Hitam'' border with Thailand User [[User:Halt, Stop! Reudnitz kommt.|Craig]] wasn't allowed to ask motorists in the car immigration area for a lift. Go to the rest area and ask there!<br />
<br />
=== with [[Brunei]] (East Malaysia or Borneo) ===<br />
Malaysians are paranoid about immigrations issues, so if you go from Eastern Malaysia to [[Brunei]] you get your passport stamped like crazy. <br />
<br />
=== with [[Indonesia]] ===<br />
There is a ferry from [[Melaka]] to [[Dumai]], [[Indonesia]] (20USD) and police will give you real trouble if you try to leave by a cargo boat (if you can even enter the port. If you make it please inform us here.)<br />
In [[Georgetown]] there's a small marina with private yachts. But it's easier to get a free ride with a boat in [[Langkawi]]. Most of the boats go to Indonesia.<br />
<br />
=== with [[Singapore]] ===<br />
There are two border crossings to [[Singapore]], from the Malaysian city of [[Johor Bahru]]. One is Woodlands checkpoint to the north of Singapore, and the other is Tual checkpoint to the west. See [[Singapore]] for further informations.<br />
<br />
== Languages ==<br />
The official language of Malaysia is Malay. It is quite easy to learn the basics as it is a very easy language.<br />
The country has a fairly amount of "native" Chineses and Indians who speak Mandarin or Hokkien for the former, and Tamil for the latter. But usually everybody knows Malay language (known as Bahasa Melayu).<br />
As for english, it is spoken in every level, from zero to fluent, but generally you won't find trouble to communicate at least for the basics.<br />
<br />
Some useful sentences :<br />
<br />
Hello = Selamat Pagi(am)/Petang(pm) OR Hi<br />
Good bye = Selamat Jalan OR Bye<br />
Where are you going? = Mana anda pergi?<br />
I am going to (City) = Saya pergi (City)<br />
I don't have money = Saya tidak wang<br />
Can you help me? = Anda boleh tolong saya?<br />
Please = Tolong<br />
Thank you = Terimah Kasih<br />
My name is [[User:tourto|Tourto]] = Nama Saya Turto<br />
Have you eaten already? = Sudah Makan?<br />
Yes/No = Ya/Tidak but Yes/No works too<br />
I don't understand = Tidak faham<br />
I don't know = Tidak tau<br />
Do you speak english? = Cakap bahasa Englis?<br />
I know a bit of Malay = Saya tau sikit bahasa malayu<br />
Saya = I/me/mine ; Anda = You/yours<br />
Hitchhiking = Tumpang (meaning exactly "have a lift" as Hitchhiking is not known in Malaysia)<br />
<br />
'''Bahasa''' means '''languages''', hence '''Bahasa Malayu''' = '''Malay Language''', or '''Bahasa Englis''' = '''English Language'''.<br />
'''Tidak''' is the negation. It is also shortened to '''Tak''' very often.<br />
<br />
* '''G''' is always pronounced as in '''goat''' and never as '''germany'''<br />
* '''ng''' is pronounced as the Spanish '''ñ'''<br />
* '''k''' at the end of a word is replaced by a throat sound, marking the stop.<br />
* '''c''' is always pronouced as the English '''ch'''<br />
* '''j''' is always pronounced as the English '''j''' (like in '''journey''')<br />
* The rest is more or less as the Spanish prononciation.<br />
<br />
If you want to know more and actually learn Malay, this online free set of lessons is particularly good : [[http://malay.pgoh13.com|Free online Malay lessons]]<br />
<br />
== Main Cities ==<br />
* [[Kuala Lumpur]]<br />
* [[Georgetown]] (Penang)<br />
* [[Melaka]]<br />
* [[Johor Bahru]]<br />
* [[Ipoh]]<br />
* [[Kota Kinabalu]]<br />
<br />
== Malaysian States and Territories ==<br />
Malaysia is divided into 13 States (11 in Peninsular Malaysia and 2 in Malaysian Borneo) and 3 Federal territories.<br />
=== Peninsular Malaysia ===<br />
* [[Kuala Lumpur|Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur]]<br />
* [[Labuan|Federal Territory of Labuan]]<br />
* [[Putrajaya|Federal Territory of Putrajaya]]<br />
* [[Johor]]<br />
* [[Kedah]]<br />
* [[Kelantan]]<br />
* [[Malacca]]<br />
* [[Negeri Sembilan]]<br />
* [[Pahang]]<br />
* [[Perak]]<br />
* [[Perlis]]<br />
* [[Penang]]<br />
* [[Selangor]]<br />
* [[Terengganu]]<br />
=== Malaysian Borneo ===<br />
* [[Sabah]]<br />
* [[Sarawak]]<br />
<br />
== Experiences ==<br />
* User [[User:Halt, Stop! Reudnitz kommt.|Craig]] hitched along the '''Silk Road from Istanbul to Malaysia''' and wrote about his experiences here: [http://thumbingasia.blogspot.com/ Thumbing Asia From West to East] Don't hitch-hike at night! You'd need the luck to get dropped at well lit places. Otherwise people won't stop! Beside that, Malaysia is really comfortable to hitch-hike. I topped 120 km/h average hitching speed!<br />
<br />
{{states malaysia}}<br />
<br />
{{IsIn|South-Eastern Asia}}<br />
<br />
[[trash:Country]]<br />
[[wikipedia:Country]]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Malaysia]]<br />
[[Category:Asia]]<br />
<br />
[[es:Malasia]]<br />
[[fr:Malaisie]]</div>Toortothhttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Singapore&diff=56555Singapore2011-10-12T09:11:41Z<p>Toortoth: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{infobox Country<br />
|country = of Singapore<br />
|language = English, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil<br />
|capital = [[Singapore]]<br />
|pop = 5,000,000<br />
|currency = Singapore dollar (SGD)<br />
|hitch = <rating country='sg' /><br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Singapore''' is a country and city in South-Eastern [[Asia]]. It has a road border with [[Malaysia]] to the north and a sea border [[Indonesia]] to the south and west. Currency is the Singapore Dollar : 1 SGD = 0,57€ = US$ 0,78 (october 2011)<br />
Singaporean all speak an almost perfect English, and most of them prefer to use it rather than their cultural one (either Malay, Mandarin, Tamil<br />
Hitchhiking is very rare within Singapore, mainly because it is a city and public transport is very common.<br />
<br />
For those who are crossing borders to [[Malaysia]], there is a checkpoint in the North called "Woodlands checkpoint" and another checkpoint in the West called "Tuas checkpoint".<br />
<br />
If you arrive by flight to SIN, and plan to cross the border overland, check the "Airport" section! <br />
<br />
== Hitchhiking out ==<br />
You can either take public transportation to Malaysia, hitch from the border or hitch a boat to leave the city / country.<br />
<br />
=== Bus or Metro ===<br />
<br />
From the Airport, take the "JB Shuttle Bus" who takes you to JB = [[Johor Bahru]] in Malaysia, just after the border. Cost : 7$ SGD (sept 2011)<br />
<br />
Or take the MRT (Mass Rapid Transport = Metro) : Red Line to "Marsiling station" (Attention : if the border checkpoint is called Woodlands, don't get out in Woodlands station but in Marsiling which is closer).<br />
From there take the bus 909 that takes you towards JB. Then you can hitch out of customs, just walk up on the road. It is definitely illegal, but it is rare to be harrassed by police for standing directly on the freeway in Malaysia.<br />
<br />
=== Hitchhiking from Singapore ===<br />
<br />
From any point in the city, take the MRT (Mass Rapid Transport = Metro) :<br />
Red Line to "Marsiling station" (Attention : if the border checkpoint is called Woodlands, don't get out in Woodlands station but in Marsiling which is closer). Cost : around 3$ SGD, don't forget to take the 1$ refund when getting out of the station.<br />
<br />
You can try to hitch from the station on the road towards north (direction Johor / checkpoint), with a sign it would help.<br />
<br />
Or you can walk to the customs, around 15 minutes, head towards the "checkpoint". Once passed the customs and your passport stamped, you get out in a bus station, you will need a ticket to get on one of them, but you can also follow the "walking man" sign. It leads towards the bridge that makes the border. You will be stopped by several police officers stating that you can't walk to Malaysia. To all of them say that you know what you do, that someone will pick you up there. Don't mention you are hitchhiking, they will retain you longer stating it's forbidden, and there's nowhere to pull over. Just stick to the pick-up story. Walk along the narrow side of the road, 1 minute, to the center of the bridge where there's will be a largely enough space for cars to stop. Hitch from there. There's a lot of traffic and you won't wait much.<br />
<br />
=== By boat ===<br />
There is one ferry to an [[Indonesia]]n island.<br />
Forget about entering the Singaporean port, I think the only way are the marinas. Get a yacht. There is one marina that lets you also enter without being member right next to Tuas checkpoint.<br />
<br />
== Public Transport ==<br />
Singapore has a very good public transport system, with a metro (MRT) doing the very long distances as well as many buses. Prices are usually increasing according to the distance for the buses, but the MRT seem to be around 3$ even for very long distances.<br />
I would not try to jump the gates of the MRT as there are cameras EVERYWHERE in Singapore. I don't know what can be the fine, but considering that you can be in prison for 7 years if you steal an apple in a shop or sentenced to death if you smoke a joint, I would not try... ([[User:toortoth|toortoth]])<br />
<br />
== Airport ==<br />
If you arrive by flight to SIN, and plan to cross the border overland, make sure you made a fake return e-ticket from SIN (to anywhere). There is a high chance that they ask you for your return itinerary at the check-in counter of the departure airport. It's a new regulation in Singapore Customs. While in some cases if you explain you go overland they may let you in, they also can be annoying. While leaving CDG to SIN with Singapore Airlines they accepted my explainations, but when I left MEL to SIN with Jetstar they just didn't accept any explanation and I had to buy a ticket I would never use departing from SIN, at last minute leaving me no choice ([[User:toortoth|toortoth]]). So make a fake, with a frame from another airline (in case they want to check in their own system, but they never do, it would be too long to check itineraries from all passengers, especially calling other companies).<br />
<br />
<br />
{|style="margin: 0 auto;"<br />
|<map lat='1.3599556' lng='103.8558333' zoom='11' view='0' width='800' height='350'/><br />
|}<br />
[[trash:Singapore]]<br />
{{IsIn|South-Eastern Asia}}<br />
__NOTOC__<br />
<br />
[[Category:Asia]]<br />
[[Category:Singapore]]<br />
[[wikipedia:Singapore]]<br />
<br />
[[es:Singapur]]<br />
[[fr:Singapour]]</div>Toortothhttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Singapore&diff=56554Singapore2011-10-12T09:10:32Z<p>Toortoth: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{infobox Country<br />
|country = of Singapore<br />
|language = English, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil<br />
|capital = [[Singapore]]<br />
|pop = 5,000,000<br />
|currency = Singapore dollar (SGD)<br />
|hitch = <rating country='sg' /><br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Singapore''' is a country and city in South-Eastern [[Asia]]. It has a road border with [[Malaysia]] to the north and a sea border [[Indonesia]] to the south and west. Currency is the Singapore Dollar : 1 SGD = 0,57€ = US$ 0,78 (october 2011)<br />
Singaporean all speak an almost perfect English, and most of them prefer to use it rather than their cultural one (either Malay, Mandarin, Tamil<br />
Hitchhiking is very rare within Singapore, mainly because it is a city and public transport is very common.<br />
<br />
For those who are crossing borders to [[Malaysia]], there is a checkpoint in the North called "Woodlands checkpoint" and another checkpoint in the West called "Tuas checkpoint".<br />
<br />
If you arrive by flight to SIN, and plan to cross the border overland, check the "Airport" section! <br />
<br />
== Hitchhiking out ==<br />
You can either take public transportation to Malaysia, hitch from the border or hitch a boat to leave the city / country.<br />
<br />
=== Bus or Metro ===<br />
<br />
From the Airport, take the "JB Shuttle Bus" who takes you to JB = [[Johor Bahru]] in Malaysia, just after the border. Cost : 7$ SGD (sept 2011)<br />
<br />
Or take the MRT (Mass Rapid Transport = Metro) : Red Line to "Marsiling station" (Attention : if the border checkpoint is called Woodlands, don't get out in Woodlands station but in Marsiling which is closer).<br />
From there take the bus 909 that takes you towards JB. Then you can hitch out of customs, just walk up on the road. It is definitely illegal, but it is rare to be harrassed by police for standing directly on the freeway in Malaysia.<br />
<br />
=== Hitchhiking from Singapore ===<br />
<br />
From any point in the city, take the MRT (Mass Rapid Transport = Metro) :<br />
Red Line to "Marsiling station" (Attention : if the border checkpoint is called Woodlands, don't get out in Woodlands station but in Marsiling which is closer). Cost : around 3$ SGD, don't forget to take the 1$ refund when getting out of the station.<br />
<br />
You can try to hitch from the station on the road towards north (direction Johor / checkpoint), with a sign it would help.<br />
<br />
Or you can walk to the customs, around 15 minutes, head towards the "checkpoint". Once passed the customs and your passport stamped, you get out in a bus station, you will need a ticket to get on one of them, but you can also follow the "walking man" sign. It leads towards the bridge that makes the border. You will be stopped by several police officers stating that you can't walk to Malaysia. To all of them say that you know what you do, that someone will pick you up there. Don't mention you are hitchhiking, they will retain you longer stating it's forbidden, and there's nowhere to pull over. Just stick to the pick-up story. Walk along the narrow side of the road, 1 minute, to the center of the bridge where there's will be a largely enough space for cars to stop. Hitch from there. There's a lot of traffic and you won't wait much.<br />
<br />
=== By boat ===<br />
There is one ferry to an [[Indonesia]]n island.<br />
Forget about entering the Singaporean port, I think the only way are the marinas. Get a yacht. There is one marina that lets you also enter without being member right next to Tuas checkpoint.<br />
<br />
== Public Transport ==<br />
Singapore has a very good public transport system, with a metro (MRT) doing the very long distances as well as many buses. Prices are usually increasing according to the distance for the buses, but the MRT seem to be around 3$ even for very long distances.<br />
I would not try to jump the gates of the MRT as there are cameras EVERYWHERE in Singapore. I don't know what can be the fine, but considering that you can be in prison for 7 years if you steal an apple in a shop or sentenced to death if you smoke a joint, I would not try... ([[User:toortoth|toortoth]])<br />
<br />
== Airport ==<br />
If you arrive by flight to SIN, and plan to cross the border overland, make sure you made a fake return e-ticket from SIN (to anywhere). There is a high chance that they ask you for your return itinerary at the check-in counter of the departure airport. It's a new regulation in Singapore Customs. While in some cases if you explain you go overland they may let you in, they also can be annoying. While leaving CDG to SIN with Singapore Airlines they accepted my explainations, but when I left MEL to SIN with Jetstar they just didn't accept any explanation and I had to buy a ticket I would never use departing from SIN, at last minute leaving me no choice ([[User:tourto]]). So make a fake, with a frame from another airline (in case they want to check in their own system, but they never do, it would be too long to check itineraries from all passengers, especially calling other companies).<br />
<br />
<br />
{|style="margin: 0 auto;"<br />
|<map lat='1.3599556' lng='103.8558333' zoom='11' view='0' width='800' height='350'/><br />
|}<br />
[[trash:Singapore]]<br />
{{IsIn|South-Eastern Asia}}<br />
__NOTOC__<br />
<br />
[[Category:Asia]]<br />
[[Category:Singapore]]<br />
[[wikipedia:Singapore]]<br />
<br />
[[es:Singapur]]<br />
[[fr:Singapour]]</div>Toortothhttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Singapore&diff=56553Singapore2011-10-12T09:09:33Z<p>Toortoth: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{infobox Country<br />
|country = of Singapore<br />
|language = English, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil<br />
|capital = [[Singapore]]<br />
|pop = 5,000,000<br />
|currency = Singapore dollar (SGD)<br />
|hitch = <rating country='sg' /><br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Singapore''' is a country and city in South-Eastern [[Asia]]. It has a road border with [[Malaysia]] to the north and a sea border [[Indonesia]] to the south and west. Currency is the Singapore Dollar : 1 SGD = 0,57€ = US$ 0,78 (october 2011)<br />
Singaporean all speak an almost perfect English, and most of them prefer to use it rather than their cultural one (either Malay, Mandarin, Tamil<br />
Hitchhiking is very rare within Singapore, mainly because it is a city and public transport is very common.<br />
<br />
For those who are crossing borders to [[Malaysia]], there is a checkpoint in the North called "Woodlands checkpoint" and another checkpoint in the West called "Tuas checkpoint".<br />
<br />
If you arrive by flight to SIN, and plan to cross the border overland, check the "Airport" section! <br />
<br />
== Hitchhiking out ==<br />
You can either take public transportation to Malaysia, hitch from the border or hitch a boat to leave the city / country.<br />
<br />
=== Bus or Metro ===<br />
<br />
From the Airport, take the "JB Shuttle Bus" who takes you to JB = [[Johor Bahru]] in Malaysia, just after the border. Cost : 7$ SGD (sept 2011)<br />
<br />
Or take the MRT (Mass Rapid Transport = Metro) : Red Line to "Marsiling station" (Attention : if the border checkpoint is called Woodlands, don't get out in Woodlands station but in Marsiling which is closer).<br />
From there take the bus 909 that takes you towards JB. Then you can hitch out of customs, just walk up on the road. It is definitely illegal, but it is rare to be harrassed by police for standing directly on the freeway in Malaysia.<br />
<br />
=== Hitchhiking from Singapore ===<br />
<br />
From any point in the city, take the MRT (Mass Rapid Transport = Metro) :<br />
Red Line to "Marsiling station" (Attention : if the border checkpoint is called Woodlands, don't get out in Woodlands station but in Marsiling which is closer). Cost : around 3$ SGD, don't forget to take the 1$ refund when getting out of the station.<br />
<br />
You can try to hitch from the station on the road towards north (direction Johor / checkpoint), with a sign it would help.<br />
<br />
Or you can walk to the customs, around 15 minutes, head towards the "checkpoint". Once passed the customs and your passport stamped, you get out in a bus station, you will need a ticket to get on one of them, but you can also follow the "walking man" sign. It leads towards the bridge that makes the border. You will be stopped by several police officers stating that you can't walk to Malaysia. To all of them say that you know what you do, that someone will pick you up there. Don't mention you are hitchhiking, they will retain you longer stating it's forbidden, and there's nowhere to pull over. Just stick to the pick-up story. Walk along the narrow side of the road, 1 minute, to the center of the bridge where there's will be a largely enough space for cars to stop. Hitch from there. There's a lot of traffic and you won't wait much.<br />
<br />
=== By boat ===<br />
There is one ferry to an [[Indonesia]]n island.<br />
Forget about entering the Singaporean port, I think the only way are the marinas. Get a yacht. There is one marina that lets you also enter without being member right next to Tuas checkpoint.<br />
<br />
== Public Transport ==<br />
Singapore has a very good public transport system, with a metro (MRT) doing the very long distances as well as many buses. Prices are usually increasing according to the distance for the buses, but the MRT seem to be around 3$ even for very long distances.<br />
I would not try to jump the gates of the MRT as there are cameras EVERYWHERE in Singapore. I don't know what can be the fine, but considering that you can be in prison for 7 years if you steal an apple in a shop or sentenced to death if you smoke a joint, I would not try... ([[User:tourto]])<br />
<br />
== Airport ==<br />
If you arrive by flight to SIN, and plan to cross the border overland, make sure you made a fake return e-ticket from SIN (to anywhere). There is a high chance that they ask you for your return itinerary at the check-in counter of the departure airport. It's a new regulation in Singapore Customs. While in some cases if you explain you go overland they may let you in, they also can be annoying. While leaving CDG to SIN with Singapore Airlines they accepted my explainations, but when I left MEL to SIN with Jetstar they just didn't accept any explanation and I had to buy a ticket I would never use departing from SIN, at last minute leaving me no choice ([[User:tourto]]). So make a fake, with a frame from another airline (in case they want to check in their own system, but they never do, it would be too long to check itineraries from all passengers, especially calling other companies).<br />
<br />
<br />
{|style="margin: 0 auto;"<br />
|<map lat='1.3599556' lng='103.8558333' zoom='11' view='0' width='800' height='350'/><br />
|}<br />
[[trash:Singapore]]<br />
{{IsIn|South-Eastern Asia}}<br />
__NOTOC__<br />
<br />
[[Category:Asia]]<br />
[[Category:Singapore]]<br />
[[wikipedia:Singapore]]<br />
<br />
[[es:Singapur]]<br />
[[fr:Singapour]]</div>Toortothhttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Malaysia&diff=56552Malaysia2011-10-12T09:01:57Z<p>Toortoth: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{infobox Country<br />
|country = of Malaysia<br />
|language = Malay<br />
|capital = [[Kuala Lumpur]]<br />
|pop = 28,310,000<br />
|currency = Ringgit / RM (MYR)<br />
|hitch = <rating country='my' /><br />
}}<br />
'''Malaysia''' is a country in South Eastern [[Asia]]. It has borders with [[Thailand]] to the north, [[Singapore]] to the south, and [[Indonesia]] to the west and south. Its Capital city is [[Kuala Lumpur]]. The country is separated in two parts : the Malay Peninsula, and the north of Borneo Island.<br />
Currency is the Malay Ringgit : 1 RM = 0,23€ = US$1,36 (october 2011)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Malaysia''' is nice for hitching. There is a ''real'' expressway running on the north-south axis from the [[Thailand|Thai border]], via [[Kuala Lumpur]], towards [[Singapore]]. Stay on the gas stations with the nice food stalls. It is pretty easy to get a ride there, and in rural areas it's even easier. On the onramps of the highway after the toll booth you can usually hitchhike as well, and it's possible to regularly stop multiple cars at once. The only problem being that the drivers are often heading lots of different directions than indicated on your sign.<br />
<br />
Drivers usually speak English and stop easily. Cars are modern and fast. Local roads seem generally to be in a good condition, and are fast and enjoyable to hitch. <br />
<br />
== Gas stations ==<br />
You can usually find tasty cheap meals for about 2 or 3 euro, and thus don't need to carry a lot of food, if any at all. Cold showers, a real treat in the hot climate, are often available free of charge.<br />
<br />
== Border Crossings ==<br />
<br />
=== with [[Thailand]] ===<br />
At the ''Bukit Ayer Hitam'' border with Thailand User [[User:Halt, Stop! Reudnitz kommt.|Craig]] wasn't allowed to ask motorists in the car immigration area for a lift. Go to the rest area and ask there!<br />
<br />
=== with [[Brunei]] (East Malaysia or Borneo) ===<br />
Malaysians are paranoid about immigrations issues, so if you go from Eastern Malaysia to [[Brunei]] you get your passport stamped like crazy. <br />
<br />
=== with [[Indonesia]] ===<br />
There is a ferry from [[Melaka]] to [[Dumai]], [[Indonesia]] (20USD) and police will give you real trouble if you try to leave by a cargo boat (if you can even enter the port. If you make it please inform us here.)<br />
In [[Georgetown]] there's a small marina with private yachts. But it's easier to get a free ride with a boat in [[Langkawi]]. Most of the boats go to Indonesia.<br />
<br />
=== with Singapore ===<br />
There are two border crossings to [[Singapore]], from the Malaysian city of [[Johor Bahru]]. One is Woodlands checkpoint to the north of Singapore, and the other is Tual checkpoint to the west. See [[Singapore]] for further informations.<br />
<br />
== Languages ==<br />
The official language of Malaysia is Malay. It is quite easy to learn the basics as it is a very easy language.<br />
The country has a fairly amount of "native" Chineses and Indians who speak Mandarin or Hokkien for the former, and Tamil for the latter. But usually everybody knows Malay language (known as Bahasa Melayu).<br />
As for english, it is spoken in every level, from zero to fluent, but generally you won't find trouble to communicate at least for the basics.<br />
<br />
Some useful sentences :<br />
<br />
Hello = Selamat Pagi(am)/Petang(pm) OR Hi<br />
Good bye = Selamat Jalan OR Bye<br />
Where are you going? = Mana anda pergi?<br />
I am going to (City) = Saya pergi (City)<br />
I don't have money = Saya tidak wang<br />
Can you help me? = Anda boleh tolong saya?<br />
Please = Tolong<br />
Thank you = Terimah Kasih<br />
My name is [[User:tourto|Tourto]] = Nama Saya Turto<br />
Have you eaten already? = Sudah Makan?<br />
Yes/No = Ya/Tidak but Yes/No works too<br />
I don't understand = Tidak faham<br />
I don't know = Tidak tau<br />
Do you speak english? = Cakap bahasa Englis?<br />
I know a bit of Malay = Saya tau sikit bahasa malayu<br />
Saya = I/me/mine ; Anda = You/yours<br />
Hitchhiking = Tumpang (meaning exactly "have a lift" as Hitchhiking is not known in Malaysia)<br />
<br />
'''Bahasa''' means '''languages''', hence '''Bahasa Malayu''' = '''Malay Language''', or '''Bahasa Englis''' = '''English Language'''.<br />
'''Tidak''' is the negation. It is also shortened to '''Tak''' very often.<br />
<br />
* '''G''' is always pronounced as in '''goat''' and never as '''germany'''<br />
* '''ng''' is pronounced as the Spanish '''ñ'''<br />
* '''k''' at the end of a word is replaced by a throat sound, marking the stop.<br />
* '''c''' is always pronouced as the English '''ch'''<br />
* '''j''' is always pronounced as the English '''j''' (like in '''journey''')<br />
* The rest is more or less as the Spanish prononciation.<br />
<br />
If you want to know more and actually learn Malay, this online free set of lessons is particularly good : [[http://malay.pgoh13.com|Free online Malay lessons]]<br />
<br />
== Main Cities ==<br />
* [[Kuala Lumpur]]<br />
* [[Georgetown]] (Penang)<br />
* [[Melaka]]<br />
* [[Johor Bahru]]<br />
* [[Ipoh]]<br />
* [[Kota Kinabalu]]<br />
<br />
== Malaysian States and Territories ==<br />
Malaysia is divided into 13 States (11 in Peninsular Malaysia and 2 in Malaysian Borneo) and 3 Federal territories.<br />
=== Peninsular Malaysia ===<br />
* [[Kuala Lumpur|Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur]]<br />
* [[Labuan|Federal Territory of Labuan]]<br />
* [[Putrajaya|Federal Territory of Putrajaya]]<br />
* [[Johor]]<br />
* [[Kedah]]<br />
* [[Kelantan]]<br />
* [[Malacca]]<br />
* [[Negeri Sembilan]]<br />
* [[Pahang]]<br />
* [[Perak]]<br />
* [[Perlis]]<br />
* [[Penang]]<br />
* [[Selangor]]<br />
* [[Terengganu]]<br />
=== Malaysian Borneo ===<br />
* [[Sabah]]<br />
* [[Sarawak]]<br />
<br />
== Experiences ==<br />
* User [[User:Halt, Stop! Reudnitz kommt.|Craig]] hitched along the '''Silk Road from Istanbul to Malaysia''' and wrote about his experiences here: [http://thumbingasia.blogspot.com/ Thumbing Asia From West to East] Don't hitch-hike at night! You'd need the luck to get dropped at well lit places. Otherwise people won't stop! Beside that, Malaysia is really comfortable to hitch-hike. I topped 120 km/h average hitching speed!<br />
<br />
{{states malaysia}}<br />
<br />
{{IsIn|South-Eastern Asia}}<br />
<br />
[[trash:Country]]<br />
[[wikipedia:Country]]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Malaysia]]<br />
[[Category:Asia]]<br />
<br />
[[es:Malasia]]<br />
[[fr:Malaisie]]</div>Toortothhttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Template:States_malaysia&diff=56551Template:States malaysia2011-10-12T08:58:12Z<p>Toortoth: </p>
<hr />
<div>{| class="toccolours" align="center" style="margin: 0 2em; clear: both;"<br />
!style="background:#ccccff" width="94%"| States and Territories of [[Malaysia]]<br />
|-<br />
|align="center" style="font-size: 90%;" colspan="2"|<br />
'''Peninsular Malaysia states:''' [[Kuala Lumpur|Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur]] | [[Labuan|Federal Territory of Labuan]] | [[Putrajaya|Federal Territory of Putrajaya]] | [[Johor]] | [[Kedah]] | [[Kelantan]] | [[Malacca]] | [[Negeri Sembilan]] | [[Pahang]] | [[Perak]] | [[Perlis]] | [[Penang]] | [[Selangor]] | [[Terengganu]]<br />
<br />
'''East Malaysia (Borneo) states:''' [[Sabah]] | [[Sarawak]]<br />
<br />
'''Main cities of Malaysia:''' [[Kuala Lumpur]] | [[Johor Bahru]] | [[Georgetown]] (Penang) | [[Melaka]] | [[Ipoh]] | [[Kota Kinabalu]]<br />
|-<br />
|}</div>Toortothhttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=User:Toortoth&diff=53131User:Toortoth2011-07-05T02:58:19Z<p>Toortoth: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{infobox Country<br />
|country = China<br />
|language = Chinese<br />
|capital = [[Beijing]]<br />
|pop = a lot!<br />
|currency = Yen, I guess <br />
|hitch = {{good}} (''good'')<br />
}}<br />
==heading==<br />
blabla<br />
===heading 2===<br />
====heading 3====<br />
[[User:Maplefanta]]<br />
[[Guaka]]<br />
[User:MrTweek]<br />
Essai de texte blabla<br />
trucmuche.<br />
<br />
a la ligne</div>Toortothhttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=User:Toortoth&diff=53130User:Toortoth2011-07-05T02:56:15Z<p>Toortoth: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{infobox Country<br />
|country = China<br />
|language = Chinese<br />
|capital = [[Beijing]]<br />
|pop = a lot!<br />
|currency = Yen, I guess <br />
|hitch = {{good}} (''good'')<br />
}}<br />
==heading==<br />
blabla<br />
===heading 2===<br />
====heading 3====<br />
[[User:Maplefanta]]<br />
[[Guaka]]<br />
[User:MrTweek]<br />
Essai de texte blabla<br />
trucmuche.<br />
a la ligne</div>Toortothhttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=User:Toortoth&diff=53129User:Toortoth2011-07-05T02:52:44Z<p>Toortoth: </p>
<hr />
<div>==heading==<br />
blabla<br />
===heading 2===<br />
====heading 3====<br />
[[User:Maplefanta]]<br />
[[Guaka]]<br />
[User:MrTweek]<br />
Essai de texte blabla<br />
trucmuche.<br />
a la ligne</div>Toortothhttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=User:Toortoth&diff=53128User:Toortoth2011-07-05T02:48:36Z<p>Toortoth: </p>
<hr />
<div>==heading==<br />
blabla<br />
===heading 2===<br />
====heading 3====<br />
[[User:Maplefanta]]<br />
[[Guaka]]<br />
[User:MrTweek]</div>Toortothhttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=User:Toortoth&diff=53127User:Toortoth2011-07-05T02:48:13Z<p>Toortoth: </p>
<hr />
<div>==heading==<br />
blabla<br />
===heading 2===<br />
====heading 3====<br />
[[User:Maplefanta]]<br />
[User:Guaka]<br />
[User:MrTweek]</div>Toortothhttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=User:Toortoth&diff=53126User:Toortoth2011-07-05T02:47:34Z<p>Toortoth: </p>
<hr />
<div>==heading==<br />
blabla<br />
===heading 2===<br />
====heading 3====<br />
[User:Maplefanta]<br />
[User:Guaka]<br />
[User:MrTweek]</div>Toortothhttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=User:Toortoth&diff=53125User:Toortoth2011-07-05T02:44:05Z<p>Toortoth: </p>
<hr />
<div>[User:Maplefanta]<br />
[User:Guaka]<br />
[User:MrTweek]</div>Toortothhttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Australia&diff=53124Australia2011-07-05T02:35:22Z<p>Toortoth: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{infobox Country<br />
|country = of Australia<br />
|map= <map lat='-27' lng='133' zoom='4' view='0' float='right' height='400' width='450' country='Australia'/><br />
|language = English (de facto)<br />
|capital = [[Canberra]]<br />
|pop = 21,468,700<br />
|currency = Australian dollar (AUD)<br />
|hitch = from {{average}} to {{good}}<br />
}}<br />
In '''Australia''', hitching is much the same as anywhere else in Western culture if you´re between [[Adelaide]] and [[Brisbane]]. In the outback, though, you may get more empty beer cans thrown on you than rides; some hitchhikers, however, wouldn't agree with that, stating that even hitchhiking through the desert can be pretty good, especially with the many trucks and 'road trains' that are usually going long distances.<br />
<br />
== The Outback ==<br />
I don't know about others, but hitchhiking throughout the outback was easy. The people were friendly, especially the aboriginal folks who would have six people already jammed in a little car and still squeeze you in. I managed from [[Broome]] through to Kununurra, Katherine up to [[Darwin]] and down to Alice. The only time I had to wait more than a half-hour was when I was dropped off on the turn off to Batchelor, which while on the main highway, is a real bad spot with nothing and no one for a long ways. Anyway, give it a go. If you're in the tropics, be careful where you swim (crocodiles) but don't worry too much about the other wildlife. Generally speaking, if you leave it alone, it will leave you alone. Definitely make sure to carry enough water AT ALL TIMES (3 litres per person/per day would be a minimum). It is very easy to get dehydrated. If you can get decent water, all the better, but don't bank on it. Most bores are quite brackish tasting and roadhouse taps are heavily chlorinated -- here's to a good litre of fresh rainwater on a sunny 45 degree day! (Amory Tarr)<br />
<br />
When going to the outback go to truck stops and talk to the truckies there (make sure the town you're going to HAS a truck stop, or you may be in trouble: see Kununurra on the map!), a lot of truck companies don't allow anyone but the drivers in their trucks but if you talk to the truckies at stops they are much more likely to ignore that rule. The only time truckies truly cannot give you a lift is when they are operating under a dangerous goods license and then, by law they are not allowed to have another passenger in the vehicle. For example petrol tankers, transporting more than one trailer of gas, etc. Not all companies have rules against taking passengers. Truckies will often take you long distances, for example [[Adelaide]] or [[Perth]] to [[Darwin]], [[Port Augusta]] to [[Perth]] or [[Darwin]] to Townsville, but if you want to get off the main road, then be prepared to wait awhile.<br />
<br />
In the eastern states (QLD, NSW, VIC, SA) more than the west (WA & NT), recent changes to [[insurance]] costs throughout the western world, have meant that trucks face stricter and stricter insurance limitations, one of which is that they are commonly not allowed to have any unlisted passengers in their vehicles. These rules are normally enforced by larger companies, where all riders sign in at the depot prior to the trucks departure. If you personally know a driver it is often possible for them to sign you in and take you along to help keep them awake. These rules don't really apply to owner/operators, unless on long term contract to a particular company. Unfortunately it's hard for you to know which trucks it will or wont apply to, though you can be confident that the big name trucks like Australia Post, Woolworths etc this is absolutely the case. All of this does not mean you can't get a ride in a truck. What it does mean is that our global fear of strangers has gone up here as much as elsewhere, and the amount of trucks picking up 'strangers' is greatly diminished. I have had some great lifts with road trains, Australia Post trucks etc etc, though they seem less and less common. In fact my first go at driving a road train was on a hitch across the Nullabor Desert, a truly mad but memorable experience of driving 50tonnes of rolling monster across the midnight plains (Dave Hodgkin)<br />
<br />
== Police ==<br />
Laws regarding hitchhiking come under State not Federal jurisdiction, I have been arrested and charged with hitchhiking in Queensland, though chargers were later dropped (long story). Throughout Australia, it is however illegal to incite a vehicle to stop in a non stopping zone. Such zones include bridges (and 30 odd meters either side, road edges with an unbroken white or yellow line, spots within 30 meters of an intersection, etc. Compared to some countries, Australian Police are fairly relaxed, more so in the country than the city, but they will get toey if they believe your actions are placing yourself or others in danger. Choose your hitching site carefully, as always look for somewhere well lit, with plenty of room to for approaching vehicles to see you well in advance and room for them to pull on to the shoulder with out blocking traffic.<br />
<br />
Most police officers won't harass you, but some cops might tell you that it's illegal to hitchhike in Australia. Don't show your thumb when you see a cop car, and if they stop, just tell them that you're waiting for a ride share that should have showed up a lot earlier.<br />
<br />
:''It is illegal but I've had police stop twice, once to tell me go back to town and catch a bus (but left me alone besides telling to do that) and the second time the cop gave me a lift about 40 or 50km to the border of Victoria/South Australia.''<br />
<br />
:''It's illegal to hitch in no-pedestrian zones like freeways but other places it seems to vary state to state. I don't think it's against the law at all in most places and I've never had any troubles anywhere in the eastern states.''<br />
<br />
:''Wait on gas stations or truck stops for a ride. This way you won't get into trouble with the police, can ask people for a lift and you're close to water, food and a toilet. Some service stations don't like hitchhikers hanging around, though so be careful they don't call the police on you.''<br />
<br />
Exact legislation can be found at Austlii;<br />
[http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/sinodisp/au/legis/wa/consol_reg/rtc2000113/s259.html?query=hitch%20hike WA]<br />
[http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/disp.pl/au/legis/nsw/consol_reg/rr2008104/s236.html?query=Road%20Rules%202008%20REG%20236 NSW]<br />
<br />
== Australia Particular Advice ==<br />
Australia poses some interesting and unique challenges for hitchhikers, distances between populated areas can be vast, by far the majority of Australians live next to the sea, with the majority of those living in the state capital cities. Temperatures in inland Australia can exceed 45 degrees Celsius in summer and go well below freezing in winter. In many ways Australia is an extreme environment, with some pretty extreme pests, people and weather, when it rains it pours, when it blows up a gale, it howls. But in saying this when Australia or Australians smile on you, the heavens open up from above and you can find yourself, taken in, taken home and for all practical purposes adopted for life.<br />
<br />
I have been stuck for up to 3 days in a number of places in Australia, (notably Coober Pedy and Ningin) whilst on the other hand I've been given the keys to the family holiday home and told to make myself at home when I get there (In Manjimup on the way from Perth to Albany), or taken home for a week, nurtured and spoiled rotten. Whatever the circumstance you find yourself in, more than in other countries be prepared.<br />
-Let someone know where you are heading and how long till they should next expect to hear from you<br />
-Carry more water than you think you need<br />
-Walking out of town, to look like your motivated, may leave you somewhere very isolated<br />
-Be very careful about not annoying your host, I've been thrown out of a truck by an irate driver, off his head on NoDoz, for some quite harmless comment, 200k from the nearest town...<br />
<br />
== When you're really stuck for a place to stay... ==<br />
You know you're off the tourist track when you get to a town without a backpackers. Most small towns have a town pub that offers pretty cheap accommodation and many have a free campground on the edge of town or a picnic spot beside a river<br />
* Schoolyards, normally there is somewhere discrete under cover, in most small towns there is green grass, and even toilets and drinking water, just set your alarm early and get out before 7:30ish when cleaning staff etc may start to arrive. (The primary school on thee edge of My Isa has rescued me on more than one occasion.<br />
* Non Returned soldiers areas at Cemeteries, clearly not for the superstitious, but these sites, tend to have nice soft green grass, and often have free public toilets and fresh drinking water. The cemetery at the end of thee railway line in Hexam on your way north out of Sydney is a classic, if headed north through from Canberra or Melbourne, you can jump the train in Campbelltown or Paramatta, ride it through to Central, change to the Newcastle line, then switch to the Hexam line, and get off at the unnamed station for free, right next to the best cemetery I have ever slept in, right next to the princess highway.<br />
* Many remote areas have shade structures as bus shelters, these can provide quite a comfortable nights sleep, as can late night train stations (spent my time on the floor of the girls toilet at Ningin railway station) Church Foyers (3 nights in the foyer of the underground church in Coober Pedy).<br />
* Showgrounds on the edge of towns often have toilets water and a place undercover.<br />
<br />
== When you're really stuck for a ride ==<br />
Jumping railway cars is also still possible in Australia, (although you did not hear it from me).<br />
* The three day journey from Mt Isa to the coast on the coal trains (pick up a Beanbag, a tarp and a shade cloth from the Op-shop in town, few things beat making love on a pile of coal at 20km/h under the desert stars :)<br />
* The cargo train across the Nullarbor, a trip of a lifetime, my mate Alex did it, certainly one of those life changing adventures<br />
<br />
''However, don't be stupid and jump off when the trains are moving too quickly. I have had the terrible experience of seeing a teenager jump off a train which came from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast in Queensland and that did not end up well. That boy lost his life simply to save the cost of a short trip. What a waste.<br />
<br />
If you do jump onto rail services just make sure you use some common sense.''<br />
<br />
== When really stuck for food... ==<br />
I have been helped out when stuck in a small town, by the Country Womens Association, best scones of my life, nothing beats hunger to increase the flavour of jam and cream<br />
I've eaten my share of roadside fruits from passing orchards, and cooked my share of roadkill, the smell quickly gives away the freshness or otherwise. <br />
The best introduction you'll ever have to roadkill delights is a fresh kangaroo tail. Make sure the tale is still flexible and the smell is only of dirty fur, not the smell of old meat, Kangaroos are hit by trucks everyday in Aus, so this is not as uncommon as it sounds. Hack off the tale as close the rump as possible, do this by cutting all the way around the tail, through the fur, then levering and breaking the tail between two vertebrate, nit as hard or messy as it sounds. I recommend dragging the roo off behind some bushes before you start this process as mad hitchhikers wielding knives under the full moon, does not do much for our reputation.<br />
To cook the tail, first build a large fire over some clean ground, preferably riverside sand, though well above the water table, when the fire is at full blaze, singe all the fur off the tail, scraping it clean with the back of a knife or a sharp rock, repeat this a few times as it takes a while to sear off all the fur, being careful not to over cook or burst the skin as this is the wrapping material for cooking. Let your fire burn down till it has strong hot coals and the ground below has started to really heat up (30-40mins depending how much of a fire you made) scrap the fire off to one side and dig a whole in the sand where the fire was using a stick, bury the tail about 15-20cm below the surface (check, but this area should already be nice and hot by now)and return the fire to above. Re-stoke the fire and cook for a further 40mins till the fire dies down. letting the fire die down slowly will allow the Tail to really cook through nicely. Scrap the fire out of the way and dig up the tail. You will know when it is done, if the fat is sizzling and the skin is starting to split in places, if still not done, roll over and cook for a further 20-30mins. The amount of fat and grissle in the tail ensures that this is one of the few parts of the roo that its hard to actually over cook<br />
Snake is also a great introduction to roadkill, choose a fresh wet smelling snake, chop off the head and squashed bits, cut open along the belly and degut, sew the stomach back together with thin twigs and cook as per instructions for roo tail above. the same goes for most lizards<br />
Nothing beats the total delight of fresh billy tea boiled in a discarded coke can, fresh damper and road kill under a full moon beside the road...<br />
<br />
== When really stuck for water ==<br />
<br />
If really stuck in the middle of nowhere, and yes it does happen and has happened to me! Remember to go into casual energy conservation mode, wander down the road till you find a nice shady spot not to far from the road edge and chill out, get up when you can hear a car approaching from either direction, and stand beside the road, looking clean presentable forlorn and lost... a "help" sign helps, but many people will slow down, look very innocent, look very unarmed etc, remember the primary aim at this point is to get out of wherever you are, which direction simply does not matter, just get to the nearest town. You can live for a month without food, but you will die without water in a few days.<br />
<br />
Never ever decide to take a short-cut across a paddock or field, stick with the road. If bitten by a snake or even if you trip over and sprain and ankle in the middle of a field, there is no guarantee that you will be found by anybody before you have dried out and desiccated like a dead-dingos-donga!<br />
<br />
Yes you can drink your own piss to stay alive, no its not pleasant, no I don't recommend it. If you are stuck on one of Australia's mad dirt "highways" like the Tanami or the Gunbarrel, a solar still is your best bet. Choose a very sunny location and Dig a whole in the ground as big as you have a plastic bag or tarp or tent fly to cover it, (1mx1m up to 1.5mx1.5m, 30-50cm deep), place a container in the middle of the whole.. rides side coke can is fine, grind the top off on the road by rubbing around and around in circles, doesn't take that long when your bored. Place your piss, green branches, fresh road kill (or better just its blood) or anything wet in the whole around the can. You can include battery acid, Radiator water etc. Stretch your fly/tent/tarp/plastic over the top of the whole, sealing around the edges with sand or dirt. Place a small rock in the middle of the tarp/plastic/fly so the whole top slopes down to above the can, leave in the sun for 4-5hours. This also works for really muddy shitty water when u have no fire to cook it. <br />
<br />
Other than that, you can get away with drinking just bout any water if you can boil it for a good 10-15mins. This includes, roadside puddles, brown sludge from underground, radiator liquid. As an old blackfella friend of mine once said, when looking for water in the outback, simply head down hill and when you get to the lowest point dig a whole... this works really well if there are any large hills or rock outcrops around, but for me, is a tad harder when the whole landscape appears flat and I'm bloody thirsty.... either way my advice still stands... stick to the road, the road is your friend. its actually pretty hard to get lost in the desert or outback, you really have to try hard. a cursory glance at a map should tell you which way the nearest roads are before you head out to wherever your heading, by walking only ion the early morning or late evening, you can easily know if your walking generally east west north or south simply by the sun angle, then rest during the day and the night and head for the nearest decent road. In the heat of the day, semi burying yourself in the sand under the shade of a tree helps, but gets boring. Sorting gravel into different colored piles loses its attraction after a few days as does plying god with the ants...<br />
<br />
Australia has water legislation that makes it mandatory to share water if you have it, makes it legal for anyone to have access to any permanent river or water source<br />
<br />
All in all, you will probably never need the above tips, but if your not on the edge of your comfort zone, your not trying, and for me being stuck in the middle of nowhere and learning to chill and enjoy, is the true zen of Hitchhiking<br />
<br />
Some of my most amazing experiences have included a night wrapped in cardboard in abandoned wheat silo in the cold of winter, sharing a humpy with blackfellas in a town camp on the edge of Tennant Creek, waking up by bashing my head on the underside of a dodge van i had crawled under to avoid the rain to be offered a cuppa tea by the occupants, digging my car out of a saltlake when we took a wrong turn with two English backpackers as rain clouds loomed... This to me is the real Australia (dave hodgkin)<br />
<br />
== Personal experiences ==<br />
:''I have hitched the entire coast line of Australia, and although there are sometimes a long wait between rides, I have met some of the most generous and welcoming people, make sure you get to the edge of the towns, just where the highways start or turn from a 70 into a 100, or similar.'' (author unknown)<br />
<br />
== Cities ==<br />
* [[Adelaide]]<br />
* [[Brisbane]]<br />
* [[Canberra]] (capital)<br />
* [[Darwin]]<br />
* [[Hobart]]<br />
* [[Melbourne]]<br />
* [[Murwillumbah]]<br />
* [[Perth]]<br />
* [[Sydney]]<br />
<br />
== Highways ==<br />
* [[Bruce Highway]]<br />
* [[Hume Highway]], from Sydney to Melbourne<br />
* [[New England Highway]], from Sydney to Brisbane<br />
* [[Pacific Motorway]], from Sydney to Brisbane<br />
* [[Princes Highway]], from Sydney to Melbourne<br />
* [[Stuart Highway]], from Darwin to Adelaide<br />
<br />
== Links ==<br />
* [http://maps.google.com Google Maps] supports finding routes in Australia<br />
<br />
{{States Australia}}<br />
__NOTOC__<br />
{{IsIn|Earth}}<br />
[[trash:Australia]]<br />
[[wikipedia:Australia]]<br />
{{Excellent}}<br />
{{IsIn|Oceania}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Australia| ]]<br />
[[Category:Oceania]]<br />
<br />
[[de:Australien]]<br />
[[es:Australia]]<br />
[[fr:Australie]]</div>Toortothhttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Australia&diff=53123Australia2011-07-05T02:34:45Z<p>Toortoth: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{infobox Country<br />
|country = of Australia<br />
|map= <map lat='-27' lng='133' zoom='4' view='0' float='right' height='400' width='450' country='Australia'/><br />
|language = English (de facto)<br />
|capital = [[Canberra]]<br />
|pop = 21,468,700<br />
|currency = Australian dollar (AUD)<br />
|hitch = from {{average}} to {{good}}<br />
}}<br />
In '''Australia''', hitching is much the same as anywhere else in Western culture if you´re between [[Adelaide]] and [[Brisbane]]. In the outback, though, you may get more empty beer cans thrown on you than rides; some hitchhikers, however, wouldn't agree with that, stating that even hitchhiking through the desert can be pretty good, especially with the many trucks and 'road trains' that are usually going long distances.<br />
<br />
== The Outback ==<br />
I don't know about others, but hitchhiking throughout the outback was easy. The people were friendly, especially the aboriginal folks who would have six people already jammed in a little car and still squeeze you in. I managed from [[Broome]] through to Kununurra, Katherine up to [[Darwin]] and down to Alice. The only time I had to wait more than a half-hour was when I was dropped off on the turn off to Batchelor, which while on the main highway, is a real bad spot with nothing and no one for a long ways. Anyway, give it a go. If you're in the tropics, be careful where you swim (crocodiles) but don't worry too much about the other wildlife. Generally speaking, if you leave it alone, it will leave you alone. Definitely make sure to carry enough water AT ALL TIMES (3 litres per person/per day would be a minimum). It is very easy to get dehydrated. If you can get decent water, all the better, but don't bank on it. Most bores are quite brackish tasting and roadhouse taps are heavily chlorinated -- here's to a good litre of fresh rainwater on a sunny 45 degree day! (Amory Tarr)<br />
<br />
When going to the outback go to truck stops and talk to the truckies there (make sure the town you're going to HAS a truck stop, or you may be in trouble: see Kununurra on the map!), a lot of truck companies don't allow anyone but the drivers in their trucks but if you talk to the truckies at stops they are much more likely to ignore that rule. The only time truckies truly cannot give you a lift is when they are operating under a dangerous goods license and then, by law they are not allowed to have another passenger in the vehicle. For example petrol tankers, transporting more than one trailer of gas, etc. Not all companies have rules against taking passengers. Truckies will often take you long distances, for example [[Adelaide]] or [[Perth]] to [[Darwin]], [[Port Augusta]] to [[Perth]] or [[Darwin]] to Townsville, but if you want to get off the main road, then be prepared to wait awhile.<br />
<br />
In the eastern states (QLD, NSW, VIC, SA) more than the west (WA & NT), recent changes to [[insurance]] costs throughout the western world, have meant that trucks face stricter and stricter insurance limitations, one of which is that they are commonly not allowed to have any unlisted passengers in their vehicles. These rules are normally enforced by larger companies, where all riders sign in at the depot prior to the trucks departure. If you personally know a driver it is often possible for them to sign you in and take you along to help keep them awake. These rules don't really apply to owner/operators, unless on long term contract to a particular company. Unfortunately it's hard for you to know which trucks it will or wont apply to, though you can be confident that the big name trucks like Australia Post, Woolworths etc this is absolutely the case. All of this does not mean you can't get a ride in a truck. What it does mean is that our global fear of strangers has gone up here as much as elsewhere, and the amount of trucks picking up 'strangers' is greatly diminished. I have had some great lifts with road trains, Australia Post trucks etc etc, though they seem less and less common. In fact my first go at driving a road train was on a hitch across the Nullabor Desert, a truly mad but memorable experience of driving 50tonnes of rolling monster across the midnight plains (Dave Hodgkin)<br />
<br />
== Police ==<br />
Laws regarding hitchhiking come under State not Federal jurisdiction, I have been arrested and charged with hitchhiking in Queensland, though chargers were later dropped (long story). Throughout Australia, it is however illegal to incite a vehicle to stop in a non stopping zone. Such zones include bridges (and 30 odd meters either side, road edges with an unbroken white or yellow line, spots within 30 meters of an intersection, etc. Compared to some countries, Australian Police are fairly relaxed, more so in the country than the city, but they will get toey if they believe your actions are placing yourself or others in danger. Choose your hitching site carefully, as always look for somewhere well lit, with plenty of room to for approaching vehicles to see you well in advance and room for them to pull on to the shoulder with out blocking traffic.<br />
<br />
Most police officers won't harass you, but some cops might tell you that it's illegal to hitchhike in Australia. Don't show your thumb when you see a cop car, and if they stop, just tell them that you're waiting for a ride share that should have showed up a lot earlier.<br />
<br />
:''It is illegal but I've had police stop twice, once to tell me go back to town and catch a bus (but left me alone besides telling to do that) and the second time the cop gave me a lift about 40 or 50km to the border of Victoria/South Australia.''<br />
<br />
:''It's illegal to hitch in no-pedestrian zones like freeways but other places it seems to vary state to state. I don't think it's against the law at all in most places and I've never had any troubles anywhere in the eastern states.''<br />
<br />
:''Wait on gas stations or truck stops for a ride. This way you won't get into trouble with the police, can ask people for a lift and you're close to water, food and a toilet. Some service stations don't like hitchhikers hanging around, though so be careful they don't call the police on you.''<br />
<br />
Exact legislation can be found at Austlii;<br />
[http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/sinodisp/au/legis/wa/consol_reg/rtc2000113/s259.html?query=hitch%20hike WA]<br />
[http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/disp.pl/au/legis/nsw/consol_reg/rr2008104/s236.html?query=Road%20Rules%202008%20REG%20236 NSW]<br />
<br />
== Australia Particular Advice ==<br />
Australia poses some interesting and unique challenges for hitchhikers, distances between populated areas can be vast, by far the majority of Australians live next to the sea, with the majority of those living in the state capital cities. Temperatures in inland Australia can exceed 45 degrees Celsius in summer and go well below freezing in winter. In many ways Australia is an extreme environment, with some pretty extreme pests, people and weather, when it rains it pours, when it blows up a gale, it howls. But in saying this when Australia or Australians smile on you, the heavens open up from above and you can find yourself, taken in, taken home and for all practical purposes adopted for life.<br />
<br />
I have been stuck for up to 3 days in a number of places in Australia, (notably Coober Pedy and Ningin) whilst on the other hand I've been given the keys to the family holiday home and told to make myself at home when I get there (In Manjimup on the way from Perth to Albany), or taken home for a week, nurtured and spoiled rotten. Whatever the circumstance you find yourself in, more than in other countries be prepared.<br />
-Let someone know where you are heading and how long till they should next expect to hear from you<br />
-Carry more water than you think you need<br />
-Walking out of town, to look like your motivated, may leave you somewhere very isolated<br />
-Be very careful about not annoying your host, I've been thrown out of a truck by an irate driver, off his head on NoDoz, for some quite harmless comment, 200k from the nearest town...<br />
<br />
== When you're really stuck for a place to stay... ==<br />
You know you're off the tourist track when you get to a town without a backpackers. Most small towns have a town pub that offers pretty cheap accommodation and many have a free campground on the edge of town or a picnic spot beside a river<br />
* Schoolyards, normally there is somewhere discrete under cover, in most small towns there is green grass, and even toilets and drinking water, just set your alarm early and get out before 7:30ish when cleaning staff etc may start to arrive. (The primary school on thee edge of My Isa has rescued me on more than one occasion.<br />
* Non Returned soldiers areas at Cemeteries, clearly not for the superstitious, but these sites, tend to have nice soft green grass, and often have free public toilets and fresh drinking water. The cemetery at the end of thee railway line in Hexam on your way north out of Sydney is a classic, if headed north through from Canberra or Melbourne, you can jump the train in Campbelltown or Paramatta, ride it through to Central, change to the Newcastle line, then switch to the Hexam line, and get off at the unnamed station for free, right next to the best cemetery I have ever slept in, right next to the princess highway.<br />
* Many remote areas have shade structures as bus shelters, these can provide quite a comfortable nights sleep, as can late night train stations (spent my time on the floor of the girls toilet at Ningin railway station) Church Foyers (3 nights in the foyer of the underground church in Coober Pedy).<br />
* Showgrounds on the edge of towns often have toilets water and a place undercover.<br />
<br />
== When you're really stuck for a ride ==<br />
Jumping railway cars is also still possible in Australia, (although you did not hear it from me).<br />
* The three day journey from Mt Isa to the coast on the coal trains (pick up a Beanbag, a tarp and a shade cloth from the Op-shop in town, few things beat making love on a pile of coal at 20km/h under the desert stars :)<br />
* The cargo train across the Nullarbor, a trip of a lifetime, my mate Alex did it, certainly one of those life changing adventures<br />
<br />
''However, don't be stupid and jump off when the trains are moving too quickly. I have had the terrible experience of seeing a teenager jump off a train which came from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast in Queensland and that did not end up well. That boy lost his life simply to save the cost of a short trip. What a waste.<br />
<br />
If you do jump onto rail services just make sure you use some common sense.''<br />
<br />
== When really stuck for food... ==<br />
I have been helped out when stuck in a small town, by the Country Womens Association, best scones of my life, nothing beats hunger to increase the flavour of jam and cream<br />
I've eaten my share of roadside fruits from passing orchards, and cooked my share of roadkill, the smell quickly gives away the freshness or otherwise. <br />
The best introduction you'll ever have to roadkill delights is a fresh kangaroo tail. Make sure the tale is still flexible and the smell is only of dirty fur, not the smell of old meat, Kangaroos are hit by trucks everyday in Aus, so this is not as uncommon as it sounds. Hack off the tale as close the rump as possible, do this by cutting all the way around the tail, through the fur, then levering and breaking the tail between two vertebrate, nit as hard or messy as it sounds. I recommend dragging the roo off behind some bushes before you start this process as mad hitchhikers wielding knives under the full moon, does not do much for our reputation.<br />
To cook the tail, first build a large fire over some clean ground, preferably riverside sand, though well above the water table, when the fire is at full blaze, singe all the fur off the tail, scraping it clean with the back of a knife or a sharp rock, repeat this a few times as it takes a while to sear off all the fur, being careful not to over cook or burst the skin as this is the wrapping material for cooking. Let your fire burn down till it has strong hot coals and the ground below has started to really heat up (30-40mins depending how much of a fire you made) scrap the fire off to one side and dig a whole in the sand where the fire was using a stick, bury the tail about 15-20cm below the surface (check, but this area should already be nice and hot by now)and return the fire to above. Re-stoke the fire and cook for a further 40mins till the fire dies down. letting the fire die down slowly will allow the Tail to really cook through nicely. Scrap the fire out of the way and dig up the tail. You will know when it is done, if the fat is sizzling and the skin is starting to split in places, if still not done, roll over and cook for a further 20-30mins. The amount of fat and grissle in the tail ensures that this is one of the few parts of the roo that its hard to actually over cook<br />
Snake is also a great introduction to roadkill, choose a fresh wet smelling snake, chop off the head and squashed bits, cut open along the belly and degut, sew the stomach back together with thin twigs and cook as per instructions for roo tail above. the same goes for most lizards<br />
Nothing beats the total delight of fresh billy tea boiled in a discarded coke can, fresh damper and road kill under a full moon beside the road...<br />
<br />
== When really stuck for water ==<br />
<br />
If really stuck in the middle of nowhere, and yes it does happen and has happened to me! Remember to go into casual energy conservation mode, wander down the road till you find a nice shady spot not to far from the road edge and chill out, get up when you can hear a car approaching from either direction, and stand beside the road, looking clean presentable forlorn and lost... a "help" sign helps, but many people will slow down, look very innocent, look very unarmed etc, remember the primary aim at this point is to get out of wherever you are, which direction simply does not matter, just get to the nearest town. You can live for a month without food, but you will die without water in a few days.<br />
<br />
Never ever decide to take a short-cut across a paddock or field, stick with the road. If bitten by a snake or even if you trip over and sprain and ankle in the middle of a field, there is no guarantee that you will be found by anybody before you have dried out and desiccated like a dead-dingos-donga!<br />
<br />
Yes you can drink your own piss to stay alive, no its not pleasant, no I don't recommend it. If you are stuck on one of Australia's mad dirt "highways" like the Tanami or the Gunbarrel, a solar still is your best bet. Choose a very sunny location and Dig a whole in the ground as big as you have a plastic bag or tarp or tent fly to cover it, (1mx1m up to 1.5mx1.5m, 30-50cm deep), place a container in the middle of the whole.. rides side coke can is fine, grind the top off on the road by rubbing around and around in circles, doesn't take that long when your bored. Place your piss, green branches, fresh road kill (or better just its blood) or anything wet in the whole around the can. You can include battery acid, Radiator water etc. Stretch your fly/tent/tarp/plastic over the top of the whole, sealing around the edges with sand or dirt. Place a small rock in the middle of the tarp/plastic/fly so the whole top slopes down to above the can, leave in the sun for 4-5hours. This also works for really muddy shitty water when u have no fire to cook it. <br />
<br />
Other than that, you can get away with drinking just bout any water if you can boil it for a good 10-15mins. This includes, roadside puddles, brown sludge from underground, radiator liquid. As an old blackfella friend of mine once said, when looking for water in the outback, simply head down hill and when you get to the lowest point dig a whole... this works really well if there are any large hills or rock outcrops around, but for me, is a tad harder when the whole landscape appears flat and I'm bloody thirsty.... either way my advice still stands... stick to the road, the road is your friend. its actually pretty hard to get lost in the desert or outback, you really have to try hard. a cursory glance at a map should tell you which way the nearest roads are before you head out to wherever your heading, by walking only ion the early morning or late evening, you can easily know if your walking generally east west north or south simply by the sun angle, then rest during the day and the night and head for the nearest decent road. In the heat of the day, semi burying yourself in the sand under the shade of a tree helps, but gets boring. Sorting gravel into different colored piles loses its attraction after a few days as does plying god with the ants...<br />
<br />
Australia has water legislation that makes it mandatory to share water if you have it, makes it legal for anyone to have access to any permanent river or water source<br />
<br />
All in all, you will probably never need the above tips, but if your not on the edge of your comfort zone, your not trying, and for me being stuck in the middle of nowhere and learning to chill and enjoy, is the true zen of Hitchhiking<br />
<br />
Some of my most amazing experiences have included a night wrapped in cardboard in abandoned wheat silo in the cold of winter, sharing a humpy with blackfellas in a town camp on the edge of Tennant Creek, waking up by bashing my head on the underside of a dodge van i had crawled under to avoid the rain to be offered a cuppa tea by the occupants, digging my car out of a saltlake when we took a wrong turn with two English backpackers as rain clouds loomed... This to me is the real Australia (dave hodgkin)<br />
<br />
== Personal experiences ==<br />
:''I have hitched the entire coast line of Australia, and although there are sometimes a long wait between rides, I have met some of the most generous and welcoming people, make sure you get to the edge of the towns, just where the highways start or turn from a 70 into a 100, or similar.'' (author unknown)<br />
<br />
== Cities ==<br />
* [[Adelaide]]<br />
* [[Brisbane]]<br />
* [[Canberra]] (capital)<br />
* [[Darwin]]<br />
* [[Hobart]]<br />
* [[Melbourne]]<br />
* [[Murwillumbah]]<br />
* [[Perth]]<br />
* [[Sydney]]<br />
<br />
== Highways ==<br />
* [[Bruce Highway]]<br />
* [[Hume Highway]], from Sydney to Melbourne<br />
* [[New England Highway]], from Sydney to Brisbane<br />
* [[Pacific Motorway]], from Sydney to Brisbane<br />
* [[Princes Highway]], from Sydney to Melbourne<br />
* [[Stuart Highway]], from Darwin to Adelaide<br />
<br />
=== Links ===<br />
* [http://maps.google.com Google Maps] supports finding routes in Australia<br />
<br />
{{States Australia}}<br />
__NOTOC__<br />
{{IsIn|Earth}}<br />
[[trash:Australia]]<br />
[[wikipedia:Australia]]<br />
{{Excellent}}<br />
{{IsIn|Oceania}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Australia| ]]<br />
[[Category:Oceania]]<br />
<br />
[[de:Australien]]<br />
[[es:Australia]]<br />
[[fr:Australie]]</div>Toortothhttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Australia&diff=53122Australia2011-07-05T02:33:56Z<p>Toortoth: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{infobox Country<br />
|country = of Australia<br />
|map= <map lat='-27' lng='133' zoom='4' view='0' float='right' height='400' width='450' country='Australia'/><br />
|language = English (de facto)<br />
|capital = [[Canberra]]<br />
|pop = 21,468,700<br />
|currency = Australian dollar (AUD)<br />
|hitch = from {{average}} to {{good}}<br />
}}<br />
In '''Australia''', hitching is much the same as anywhere else in Western culture if you´re between [[Adelaide]] and [[Brisbane]]. In the outback, though, you may get more empty beer cans thrown on you than rides; some hitchhikers, however, wouldn't agree with that, stating that even hitchhiking through the desert can be pretty good, especially with the many trucks and 'road trains' that are usually going long distances.<br />
<br />
== The Outback ==<br />
I don't know about others, but hitchhiking throughout the outback was easy. The people were friendly, especially the aboriginal folks who would have six people already jammed in a little car and still squeeze you in. I managed from [[Broome]] through to Kununurra, Katherine up to [[Darwin]] and down to Alice. The only time I had to wait more than a half-hour was when I was dropped off on the turn off to Batchelor, which while on the main highway, is a real bad spot with nothing and no one for a long ways. Anyway, give it a go. If you're in the tropics, be careful where you swim (crocodiles) but don't worry too much about the other wildlife. Generally speaking, if you leave it alone, it will leave you alone. Definitely make sure to carry enough water AT ALL TIMES (3 litres per person/per day would be a minimum). It is very easy to get dehydrated. If you can get decent water, all the better, but don't bank on it. Most bores are quite brackish tasting and roadhouse taps are heavily chlorinated -- here's to a good litre of fresh rainwater on a sunny 45 degree day! (Amory Tarr)<br />
<br />
When going to the outback go to truck stops and talk to the truckies there (make sure the town you're going to HAS a truck stop, or you may be in trouble: see Kununurra on the map!), a lot of truck companies don't allow anyone but the drivers in their trucks but if you talk to the truckies at stops they are much more likely to ignore that rule. The only time truckies truly cannot give you a lift is when they are operating under a dangerous goods license and then, by law they are not allowed to have another passenger in the vehicle. For example petrol tankers, transporting more than one trailer of gas, etc. Not all companies have rules against taking passengers. Truckies will often take you long distances, for example [[Adelaide]] or [[Perth]] to [[Darwin]], [[Port Augusta]] to [[Perth]] or [[Darwin]] to Townsville, but if you want to get off the main road, then be prepared to wait awhile.<br />
<br />
In the eastern states (QLD, NSW, VIC, SA) more than the west (WA & NT), recent changes to [[insurance]] costs throughout the western world, have meant that trucks face stricter and stricter insurance limitations, one of which is that they are commonly not allowed to have any unlisted passengers in their vehicles. These rules are normally enforced by larger companies, where all riders sign in at the depot prior to the trucks departure. If you personally know a driver it is often possible for them to sign you in and take you along to help keep them awake. These rules don't really apply to owner/operators, unless on long term contract to a particular company. Unfortunately it's hard for you to know which trucks it will or wont apply to, though you can be confident that the big name trucks like Australia Post, Woolworths etc this is absolutely the case. All of this does not mean you can't get a ride in a truck. What it does mean is that our global fear of strangers has gone up here as much as elsewhere, and the amount of trucks picking up 'strangers' is greatly diminished. I have had some great lifts with road trains, Australia Post trucks etc etc, though they seem less and less common. In fact my first go at driving a road train was on a hitch across the Nullabor Desert, a truly mad but memorable experience of driving 50tonnes of rolling monster across the midnight plains (Dave Hodgkin)<br />
<br />
== Police ==<br />
Laws regarding hitchhiking come under State not Federal jurisdiction, I have been arrested and charged with hitchhiking in Queensland, though chargers were later dropped (long story). Throughout Australia, it is however illegal to incite a vehicle to stop in a non stopping zone. Such zones include bridges (and 30 odd meters either side, road edges with an unbroken white or yellow line, spots within 30 meters of an intersection, etc. Compared to some countries, Australian Police are fairly relaxed, more so in the country than the city, but they will get toey if they believe your actions are placing yourself or others in danger. Choose your hitching site carefully, as always look for somewhere well lit, with plenty of room to for approaching vehicles to see you well in advance and room for them to pull on to the shoulder with out blocking traffic.<br />
<br />
Most police officers won't harass you, but some cops might tell you that it's illegal to hitchhike in Australia. Don't show your thumb when you see a cop car, and if they stop, just tell them that you're waiting for a ride share that should have showed up a lot earlier.<br />
<br />
:''It is illegal but I've had police stop twice, once to tell me go back to town and catch a bus (but left me alone besides telling to do that) and the second time the cop gave me a lift about 40 or 50km to the border of Victoria/South Australia.''<br />
<br />
:''It's illegal to hitch in no-pedestrian zones like freeways but other places it seems to vary state to state. I don't think it's against the law at all in most places and I've never had any troubles anywhere in the eastern states.''<br />
<br />
:''Wait on gas stations or truck stops for a ride. This way you won't get into trouble with the police, can ask people for a lift and you're close to water, food and a toilet. Some service stations don't like hitchhikers hanging around, though so be careful they don't call the police on you.''<br />
<br />
Exact legislation can be found at Austlii;<br />
[http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/sinodisp/au/legis/wa/consol_reg/rtc2000113/s259.html?query=hitch%20hike WA]<br />
[http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/disp.pl/au/legis/nsw/consol_reg/rr2008104/s236.html?query=Road%20Rules%202008%20REG%20236 NSW]<br />
<br />
== Australia Particular Advice ==<br />
Australia poses some interesting and unique challenges for hitchhikers, distances between populated areas can be vast, by far the majority of Australians live next to the sea, with the majority of those living in the state capital cities. Temperatures in inland Australia can exceed 45 degrees Celsius in summer and go well below freezing in winter. In many ways Australia is an extreme environment, with some pretty extreme pests, people and weather, when it rains it pours, when it blows up a gale, it howls. But in saying this when Australia or Australians smile on you, the heavens open up from above and you can find yourself, taken in, taken home and for all practical purposes adopted for life.<br />
<br />
I have been stuck for up to 3 days in a number of places in Australia, (notably Coober Pedy and Ningin) whilst on the other hand I've been given the keys to the family holiday home and told to make myself at home when I get there (In Manjimup on the way from Perth to Albany), or taken home for a week, nurtured and spoiled rotten. Whatever the circumstance you find yourself in, more than in other countries be prepared.<br />
-Let someone know where you are heading and how long till they should next expect to hear from you<br />
-Carry more water than you think you need<br />
-Walking out of town, to look like your motivated, may leave you somewhere very isolated<br />
-Be very careful about not annoying your host, I've been thrown out of a truck by an irate driver, off his head on NoDoz, for some quite harmless comment, 200k from the nearest town...<br />
<br />
== When you're really stuck for a place to stay... ==<br />
You know you're off the tourist track when you get to a town without a backpackers. Most small towns have a town pub that offers pretty cheap accommodation and many have a free campground on the edge of town or a picnic spot beside a river<br />
* Schoolyards, normally there is somewhere discrete under cover, in most small towns there is green grass, and even toilets and drinking water, just set your alarm early and get out before 7:30ish when cleaning staff etc may start to arrive. (The primary school on thee edge of My Isa has rescued me on more than one occasion.<br />
* Non Returned soldiers areas at Cemeteries, clearly not for the superstitious, but these sites, tend to have nice soft green grass, and often have free public toilets and fresh drinking water. The cemetery at the end of thee railway line in Hexam on your way north out of Sydney is a classic, if headed north through from Canberra or Melbourne, you can jump the train in Campbelltown or Paramatta, ride it through to Central, change to the Newcastle line, then switch to the Hexam line, and get off at the unnamed station for free, right next to the best cemetery I have ever slept in, right next to the princess highway.<br />
* Many remote areas have shade structures as bus shelters, these can provide quite a comfortable nights sleep, as can late night train stations (spent my time on the floor of the girls toilet at Ningin railway station) Church Foyers (3 nights in the foyer of the underground church in Coober Pedy).<br />
* Showgrounds on the edge of towns often have toilets water and a place undercover.<br />
<br />
== When you're really stuck for a ride ==<br />
Jumping railway cars is also still possible in Australia, (although you did not hear it from me).<br />
* The three day journey from Mt Isa to the coast on the coal trains (pick up a Beanbag, a tarp and a shade cloth from the Op-shop in town, few things beat making love on a pile of coal at 20km/h under the desert stars :)<br />
* The cargo train across the Nullarbor, a trip of a lifetime, my mate Alex did it, certainly one of those life changing adventures<br />
<br />
''However, don't be stupid and jump off when the trains are moving too quickly. I have had the terrible experience of seeing a teenager jump off a train which came from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast in Queensland and that did not end up well. That boy lost his life simply to save the cost of a short trip. What a waste.<br />
<br />
If you do jump onto rail services just make sure you use some common sense.''<br />
<br />
== When really stuck for food... ==<br />
I have been helped out when stuck in a small town, by the Country Womens Association, best scones of my life, nothing beats hunger to increase the flavour of jam and cream<br />
I've eaten my share of roadside fruits from passing orchards, and cooked my share of roadkill, the smell quickly gives away the freshness or otherwise. <br />
The best introduction you'll ever have to roadkill delights is a fresh kangaroo tail. Make sure the tale is still flexible and the smell is only of dirty fur, not the smell of old meat, Kangaroos are hit by trucks everyday in Aus, so this is not as uncommon as it sounds. Hack off the tale as close the rump as possible, do this by cutting all the way around the tail, through the fur, then levering and breaking the tail between two vertebrate, nit as hard or messy as it sounds. I recommend dragging the roo off behind some bushes before you start this process as mad hitchhikers wielding knives under the full moon, does not do much for our reputation.<br />
To cook the tail, first build a large fire over some clean ground, preferably riverside sand, though well above the water table, when the fire is at full blaze, singe all the fur off the tail, scraping it clean with the back of a knife or a sharp rock, repeat this a few times as it takes a while to sear off all the fur, being careful not to over cook or burst the skin as this is the wrapping material for cooking. Let your fire burn down till it has strong hot coals and the ground below has started to really heat up (30-40mins depending how much of a fire you made) scrap the fire off to one side and dig a whole in the sand where the fire was using a stick, bury the tail about 15-20cm below the surface (check, but this area should already be nice and hot by now)and return the fire to above. Re-stoke the fire and cook for a further 40mins till the fire dies down. letting the fire die down slowly will allow the Tail to really cook through nicely. Scrap the fire out of the way and dig up the tail. You will know when it is done, if the fat is sizzling and the skin is starting to split in places, if still not done, roll over and cook for a further 20-30mins. The amount of fat and grissle in the tail ensures that this is one of the few parts of the roo that its hard to actually over cook<br />
Snake is also a great introduction to roadkill, choose a fresh wet smelling snake, chop off the head and squashed bits, cut open along the belly and degut, sew the stomach back together with thin twigs and cook as per instructions for roo tail above. the same goes for most lizards<br />
Nothing beats the total delight of fresh billy tea boiled in a discarded coke can, fresh damper and road kill under a full moon beside the road...<br />
<br />
== When really stuck for water ==<br />
<br />
If really stuck in the middle of nowhere, and yes it does happen and has happened to me! Remember to go into casual energy conservation mode, wander down the road till you find a nice shady spot not to far from the road edge and chill out, get up when you can hear a car approaching from either direction, and stand beside the road, looking clean presentable forlorn and lost... a "help" sign helps, but many people will slow down, look very innocent, look very unarmed etc, remember the primary aim at this point is to get out of wherever you are, which direction simply does not matter, just get to the nearest town. You can live for a month without food, but you will die without water in a few days.<br />
<br />
Never ever decide to take a short-cut across a paddock or field, stick with the road. If bitten by a snake or even if you trip over and sprain and ankle in the middle of a field, there is no guarantee that you will be found by anybody before you have dried out and desiccated like a dead-dingos-donga!<br />
<br />
Yes you can drink your own piss to stay alive, no its not pleasant, no I don't recommend it. If you are stuck on one of Australia's mad dirt "highways" like the Tanami or the Gunbarrel, a solar still is your best bet. Choose a very sunny location and Dig a whole in the ground as big as you have a plastic bag or tarp or tent fly to cover it, (1mx1m up to 1.5mx1.5m, 30-50cm deep), place a container in the middle of the whole.. rides side coke can is fine, grind the top off on the road by rubbing around and around in circles, doesn't take that long when your bored. Place your piss, green branches, fresh road kill (or better just its blood) or anything wet in the whole around the can. You can include battery acid, Radiator water etc. Stretch your fly/tent/tarp/plastic over the top of the whole, sealing around the edges with sand or dirt. Place a small rock in the middle of the tarp/plastic/fly so the whole top slopes down to above the can, leave in the sun for 4-5hours. This also works for really muddy shitty water when u have no fire to cook it. <br />
<br />
Other than that, you can get away with drinking just bout any water if you can boil it for a good 10-15mins. This includes, roadside puddles, brown sludge from underground, radiator liquid. As an old blackfella friend of mine once said, when looking for water in the outback, simply head down hill and when you get to the lowest point dig a whole... this works really well if there are any large hills or rock outcrops around, but for me, is a tad harder when the whole landscape appears flat and I'm bloody thirsty.... either way my advice still stands... stick to the road, the road is your friend. its actually pretty hard to get lost in the desert or outback, you really have to try hard. a cursory glance at a map should tell you which way the nearest roads are before you head out to wherever your heading, by walking only ion the early morning or late evening, you can easily know if your walking generally east west north or south simply by the sun angle, then rest during the day and the night and head for the nearest decent road. In the heat of the day, semi burying yourself in the sand under the shade of a tree helps, but gets boring. Sorting gravel into different colored piles loses its attraction after a few days as does plying god with the ants...<br />
<br />
Australia has water legislation that makes it mandatory to share water if you have it, makes it legal for anyone to have access to any permanent river or water source<br />
<br />
All [b]in all, you will probably never need the above tips, but if your not on the edge of your comfort zone, your not trying, and for me being stuck in the middle of nowhere and learning to chill and enjoy, is the true zen of Hitchhiking<br />
[/b]<br />
Some of my most amazing experiences have included a night wrapped in cardboard in abandoned wheat silo in the cold of winter, sharing a humpy with blackfellas in a town camp on the edge of Tennant Creek, waking up by bashing my head on the underside of a dodge van i had crawled under to avoid the rain to be offered a cuppa tea by the occupants, digging my car out of a saltlake when we took a wrong turn with two English backpackers as rain clouds loomed... This to me is the real Australia (dave hodgkin)<br />
<br />
== Personal experiences ==<br />
:''I have hitched the entire coast line of Australia, and although there are sometimes a long wait between rides, I have met some of the most generous and welcoming people, make sure you get to the edge of the towns, just where the highways start or turn from a 70 into a 100, or similar.'' (author unknown)<br />
<br />
== Cities ==<br />
* [[Adelaide]]<br />
* [[Brisbane]]<br />
* [[Canberra]] (capital)<br />
* [[Darwin]]<br />
* [[Hobart]]<br />
* [[Melbourne]]<br />
* [[Murwillumbah]]<br />
* [[Perth]]<br />
* [[Sydney]]<br />
<br />
== Highways ==<br />
* [[Bruce Highway]]<br />
* [[Hume Highway]], from Sydney to Melbourne<br />
* [[New England Highway]], from Sydney to Brisbane<br />
* [[Pacific Motorway]], from Sydney to Brisbane<br />
* [[Princes Highway]], from Sydney to Melbourne<br />
* [[Stuart Highway]], from Darwin to Adelaide<br />
<br />
== Links ==<br />
* [http://maps.google.com Google Maps] supports finding routes in Australia<br />
<br />
{{States Australia}}<br />
__NOTOC__<br />
{{IsIn|Earth}}<br />
[[trash:Australia]]<br />
[[wikipedia:Australia]]<br />
{{Excellent}}<br />
{{IsIn|Oceania}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Australia| ]]<br />
[[Category:Oceania]]<br />
<br />
[[de:Australien]]<br />
[[es:Australia]]<br />
[[fr:Australie]]</div>Toortothhttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Australia&diff=53121Australia2011-07-05T02:32:17Z<p>Toortoth: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{infobox Country<br />
|country = of Australia<br />
|map= <map lat='-27' lng='133' zoom='4' view='0' float='right' height='400' width='450' country='Australia'/><br />
|language = English (de facto)<br />
|capital = [[Canberra]]<br />
|pop = 21,468,700<br />
|currency = Australian dollar (AUD)<br />
|hitch = from {{average}} to {{good}}<br />
}}<br />
In '''Australia''', hitching is much the same as anywhere else in Western culture if you´re between [[Adelaide]] and [[Brisbane]]. In the outback, though, you may get more empty beer cans thrown on you than rides; some hitchhikers, however, wouldn't agree with that, stating that even hitchhiking through the desert can be pretty good, especially with the many trucks and 'road trains' that are usually going long distances.<br />
<br />
== The Outback ==<br />
I don't know about others, but hitchhiking throughout the outback was easy. The people were friendly, especially the aboriginal folks who would have six people already jammed in a little car and still squeeze you in. I managed from [[Broome]] through to Kununurra, Katherine up to [[Darwin]] and down to Alice. The only time I had to wait more than a half-hour was when I was dropped off on the turn off to Batchelor, which while on the main highway, is a real bad spot with nothing and no one for a long ways. Anyway, give it a go. If you're in the tropics, be careful where you swim (crocodiles) but don't worry too much about the other wildlife. Generally speaking, if you leave it alone, it will leave you alone. Definitely make sure to carry enough water AT ALL TIMES (3 litres per person/per day would be a minimum). It is very easy to get dehydrated. If you can get decent water, all the better, but don't bank on it. Most bores are quite brackish tasting and roadhouse taps are heavily chlorinated -- here's to a good litre of fresh rainwater on a sunny 45 degree day! (Amory Tarr)<br />
<br />
When going to the outback go to truck stops and talk to the truckies there (make sure the town you're going to HAS a truck stop, or you may be in trouble: see Kununurra on the map!), a lot of truck companies don't allow anyone but the drivers in their trucks but if you talk to the truckies at stops they are much more likely to ignore that rule. The only time truckies truly cannot give you a lift is when they are operating under a dangerous goods license and then, by law they are not allowed to have another passenger in the vehicle. For example petrol tankers, transporting more than one trailer of gas, etc. Not all companies have rules against taking passengers. Truckies will often take you long distances, for example [[Adelaide]] or [[Perth]] to [[Darwin]], [[Port Augusta]] to [[Perth]] or [[Darwin]] to Townsville, but if you want to get off the main road, then be prepared to wait awhile.<br />
<br />
In the eastern states (QLD, NSW, VIC, SA) more than the west (WA & NT), recent changes to [[insurance]] costs throughout the western world, have meant that trucks face stricter and stricter insurance limitations, one of which is that they are commonly not allowed to have any unlisted passengers in their vehicles. These rules are normally enforced by larger companies, where all riders sign in at the depot prior to the trucks departure. If you personally know a driver it is often possible for them to sign you in and take you along to help keep them awake. These rules don't really apply to owner/operators, unless on long term contract to a particular company. Unfortunately it's hard for you to know which trucks it will or wont apply to, though you can be confident that the big name trucks like Australia Post, Woolworths etc this is absolutely the case. All of this does not mean you can't get a ride in a truck. What it does mean is that our global fear of strangers has gone up here as much as elsewhere, and the amount of trucks picking up 'strangers' is greatly diminished. I have had some great lifts with road trains, Australia Post trucks etc etc, though they seem less and less common. In fact my first go at driving a road train was on a hitch across the Nullabor Desert, a truly mad but memorable experience of driving 50tonnes of rolling monster across the midnight plains (Dave Hodgkin)<br />
<br />
== Police ==<br />
Laws regarding hitchhiking come under State not Federal jurisdiction, I have been arrested and charged with hitchhiking in Queensland, though chargers were later dropped (long story). Throughout Australia, it is however illegal to incite a vehicle to stop in a non stopping zone. Such zones include bridges (and 30 odd meters either side, road edges with an unbroken white or yellow line, spots within 30 meters of an intersection, etc. Compared to some countries, Australian Police are fairly relaxed, more so in the country than the city, but they will get toey if they believe your actions are placing yourself or others in danger. Choose your hitching site carefully, as always look for somewhere well lit, with plenty of room to for approaching vehicles to see you well in advance and room for them to pull on to the shoulder with out blocking traffic.<br />
<br />
Most police officers won't harass you, but some cops might tell you that it's illegal to hitchhike in Australia. Don't show your thumb when you see a cop car, and if they stop, just tell them that you're waiting for a ride share that should have showed up a lot earlier.<br />
<br />
:''It is illegal but I've had police stop twice, once to tell me go back to town and catch a bus (but left me alone besides telling to do that) and the second time the cop gave me a lift about 40 or 50km to the border of Victoria/South Australia.''<br />
<br />
:''It's illegal to hitch in no-pedestrian zones like freeways but other places it seems to vary state to state. I don't think it's against the law at all in most places and I've never had any troubles anywhere in the eastern states.''<br />
<br />
:''Wait on gas stations or truck stops for a ride. This way you won't get into trouble with the police, can ask people for a lift and you're close to water, food and a toilet. Some service stations don't like hitchhikers hanging around, though so be careful they don't call the police on you.''<br />
<br />
Exact legislation can be found at Austlii;<br />
[http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/sinodisp/au/legis/wa/consol_reg/rtc2000113/s259.html?query=hitch%20hike WA]<br />
[http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/disp.pl/au/legis/nsw/consol_reg/rr2008104/s236.html?query=Road%20Rules%202008%20REG%20236 NSW]<br />
<br />
== Australia Particular Advice ==<br />
Australia poses some interesting and unique challenges for hitchhikers, distances between populated areas can be vast, by far the majority of Australians live next to the sea, with the majority of those living in the state capital cities. Temperatures in inland Australia can exceed 45 degrees Celsius in summer and go well below freezing in winter. In many ways Australia is an extreme environment, with some pretty extreme pests, people and weather, when it rains it pours, when it blows up a gale, it howls. But in saying this when Australia or Australians smile on you, the heavens open up from above and you can find yourself, taken in, taken home and for all practical purposes adopted for life.<br />
<br />
I have been stuck for up to 3 days in a number of places in Australia, (notably Coober Pedy and Ningin) whilst on the other hand I've been given the keys to the family holiday home and told to make myself at home when I get there (In Manjimup on the way from Perth to Albany), or taken home for a week, nurtured and spoiled rotten. Whatever the circumstance you find yourself in, more than in other countries be prepared.<br />
-Let someone know where you are heading and how long till they should next expect to hear from you<br />
-Carry more water than you think you need<br />
-Walking out of town, to look like your motivated, may leave you somewhere very isolated<br />
-Be very careful about not annoying your host, I've been thrown out of a truck by an irate driver, off his head on NoDoz, for some quite harmless comment, 200k from the nearest town...<br />
<br />
== When you're really stuck for a place to stay... ==<br />
You know you're off the tourist track when you get to a town without a backpackers. Most small towns have a town pub that offers pretty cheap accommodation and many have a free campground on the edge of town or a picnic spot beside a river<br />
* Schoolyards, normally there is somewhere discrete under cover, in most small towns there is green grass, and even toilets and drinking water, just set your alarm early and get out before 7:30ish when cleaning staff etc may start to arrive. (The primary school on thee edge of My Isa has rescued me on more than one occasion.<br />
* Non Returned soldiers areas at Cemeteries, clearly not for the superstitious, but these sites, tend to have nice soft green grass, and often have free public toilets and fresh drinking water. The cemetery at the end of thee railway line in Hexam on your way north out of Sydney is a classic, if headed north through from Canberra or Melbourne, you can jump the train in Campbelltown or Paramatta, ride it through to Central, change to the Newcastle line, then switch to the Hexam line, and get off at the unnamed station for free, right next to the best cemetery I have ever slept in, right next to the princess highway.<br />
* Many remote areas have shade structures as bus shelters, these can provide quite a comfortable nights sleep, as can late night train stations (spent my time on the floor of the girls toilet at Ningin railway station) Church Foyers (3 nights in the foyer of the underground church in Coober Pedy).<br />
* Showgrounds on the edge of towns often have toilets water and a place undercover.<br />
<br />
== When you're really stuck for a ride ==<br />
Jumping railway cars is also still possible in Australia, (although you did not hear it from me).<br />
* The three day journey from Mt Isa to the coast on the coal trains (pick up a Beanbag, a tarp and a shade cloth from the Op-shop in town, few things beat making love on a pile of coal at 20km/h under the desert stars :)<br />
* The cargo train across the Nullarbor, a trip of a lifetime, my mate Alex did it, certainly one of those life changing adventures<br />
<br />
''However, don't be stupid and jump off when the trains are moving too quickly. I have had the terrible experience of seeing a teenager jump off a train which came from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast in Queensland and that did not end up well. That boy lost his life simply to save the cost of a short trip. What a waste.<br />
<br />
If you do jump onto rail services just make sure you use some common sense.''<br />
<br />
== When really stuck for food... ==<br />
I have been helped out when stuck in a small town, by the Country Womens Association, best scones of my life, nothing beats hunger to increase the flavour of jam and cream<br />
I've eaten my share of roadside fruits from passing orchards, and cooked my share of roadkill, the smell quickly gives away the freshness or otherwise. <br />
The best introduction you'll ever have to roadkill delights is a fresh kangaroo tail. Make sure the tale is still flexible and the smell is only of dirty fur, not the smell of old meat, Kangaroos are hit by trucks everyday in Aus, so this is not as uncommon as it sounds. Hack off the tale as close the rump as possible, do this by cutting all the way around the tail, through the fur, then levering and breaking the tail between two vertebrate, nit as hard or messy as it sounds. I recommend dragging the roo off behind some bushes before you start this process as mad hitchhikers wielding knives under the full moon, does not do much for our reputation.<br />
To cook the tail, first build a large fire over some clean ground, preferably riverside sand, though well above the water table, when the fire is at full blaze, singe all the fur off the tail, scraping it clean with the back of a knife or a sharp rock, repeat this a few times as it takes a while to sear off all the fur, being careful not to over cook or burst the skin as this is the wrapping material for cooking. Let your fire burn down till it has strong hot coals and the ground below has started to really heat up (30-40mins depending how much of a fire you made) scrap the fire off to one side and dig a whole in the sand where the fire was using a stick, bury the tail about 15-20cm below the surface (check, but this area should already be nice and hot by now)and return the fire to above. Re-stoke the fire and cook for a further 40mins till the fire dies down. letting the fire die down slowly will allow the Tail to really cook through nicely. Scrap the fire out of the way and dig up the tail. You will know when it is done, if the fat is sizzling and the skin is starting to split in places, if still not done, roll over and cook for a further 20-30mins. The amount of fat and grissle in the tail ensures that this is one of the few parts of the roo that its hard to actually over cook<br />
Snake is also a great introduction to roadkill, choose a fresh wet smelling snake, chop off the head and squashed bits, cut open along the belly and degut, sew the stomach back together with thin twigs and cook as per instructions for roo tail above. the same goes for most lizards<br />
Nothing beats the total delight of fresh billy tea boiled in a discarded coke can, fresh damper and road kill under a full moon beside the road...<br />
<br />
== When really stuck for water ==<br />
<br />
If really stuck in the middle of nowhere, and yes it does happen and has happened to me! Remember to go into casual energy conservation mode, wander down the road till you find a nice shady spot not to far from the road edge and chill out, get up when you can hear a car approaching from either direction, and stand beside the road, looking clean presentable forlorn and lost... a "help" sign helps, but many people will slow down, look very innocent, look very unarmed etc, remember the primary aim at this point is to get out of wherever you are, which direction simply does not matter, just get to the nearest town. You can live for a month without food, but you will die without water in a few days.<br />
<br />
Never ever decide to take a short-cut across a paddock or field, stick with the road. If bitten by a snake or even if you trip over and sprain and ankle in the middle of a field, there is no guarantee that you will be found by anybody before you have dried out and desiccated like a dead-dingos-donga!<br />
<br />
Yes you can drink your own piss to stay alive, no its not pleasant, no I don't recommend it. If you are stuck on one of Australia's mad dirt "highways" like the Tanami or the Gunbarrel, a solar still is your best bet. Choose a very sunny location and Dig a whole in the ground as big as you have a plastic bag or tarp or tent fly to cover it, (1mx1m up to 1.5mx1.5m, 30-50cm deep), place a container in the middle of the whole.. rides side coke can is fine, grind the top off on the road by rubbing around and around in circles, doesn't take that long when your bored. Place your piss, green branches, fresh road kill (or better just its blood) or anything wet in the whole around the can. You can include battery acid, Radiator water etc. Stretch your fly/tent/tarp/plastic over the top of the whole, sealing around the edges with sand or dirt. Place a small rock in the middle of the tarp/plastic/fly so the whole top slopes down to above the can, leave in the sun for 4-5hours. This also works for really muddy shitty water when u have no fire to cook it. <br />
<br />
Other than that, you can get away with drinking just bout any water if you can boil it for a good 10-15mins. This includes, roadside puddles, brown sludge from underground, radiator liquid. As an old blackfella friend of mine once said, when looking for water in the outback, simply head down hill and when you get to the lowest point dig a whole... this works really well if there are any large hills or rock outcrops around, but for me, is a tad harder when the whole landscape appears flat and I'm bloody thirsty.... either way my advice still stands... stick to the road, the road is your friend. its actually pretty hard to get lost in the desert or outback, you really have to try hard. a cursory glance at a map should tell you which way the nearest roads are before you head out to wherever your heading, by walking only ion the early morning or late evening, you can easily know if your walking generally east west north or south simply by the sun angle, then rest during the day and the night and head for the nearest decent road. In the heat of the day, semi burying yourself in the sand under the shade of a tree helps, but gets boring. Sorting gravel into different colored piles loses its attraction after a few days as does plying god with the ants...<br />
<br />
Australia has water legislation that makes it mandatory to share water if you have it, makes it legal for anyone to have access to any permanent river or water source<br />
<br />
All in all, you will probably never need the above tips, but if your not on the edge of your comfort zone, your not trying, and for me being stuck in the middle of nowhere and learning to chill and enjoy, is the true zen of Hitchhiking<br />
<br />
Some of my most amazing experiences have included a night wrapped in cardboard in abandoned wheat silo in the cold of winter, sharing a humpy with blackfellas in a town camp on the edge of Tennant Creek, waking up by bashing my head on the underside of a dodge van i had crawled under to avoid the rain to be offered a cuppa tea by the occupants, digging my car out of a saltlake when we took a wrong turn with two English backpackers as rain clouds loomed... This to me is the real Australia (dave hodgkin)<br />
<br />
== Personal experiences ==<br />
:''I have hitched the entire coast line of Australia, and although there are sometimes a long wait between rides, I have met some of the most generous and welcoming people, make sure you get to the edge of the towns, just where the highways start or turn from a 70 into a 100, or similar.'' (author unknown)<br />
<br />
== Cities ==<br />
* [[Adelaide]]<br />
* [[Brisbane]]<br />
* [[Canberra]] (capital)<br />
* [[Darwin]]<br />
* [[Hobart]]<br />
* [[Melbourne]]<br />
* [[Murwillumbah]]<br />
* [[Perth]]<br />
* [[Sydney]]<br />
<br />
== Highways ==<br />
* [[Bruce Highway]]<br />
* [[Hume Highway]], from Sydney to Melbourne<br />
* [[New England Highway]], from Sydney to Brisbane<br />
* [[Pacific Motorway]], from Sydney to Brisbane<br />
* [[Princes Highway]], from Sydney to Melbourne<br />
* [[Stuart Highway]], from Darwin to Adelaide<br />
<br />
== Links ==<br />
* [http://maps.google.com Google Maps] supports finding routes in Australia<br />
<br />
{{States Australia}}<br />
__NOTOC__<br />
{{IsIn|Earth}}<br />
[[trash:Australia]]<br />
[[wikipedia:Australia]]<br />
{{Excellent}}<br />
{{IsIn|Oceania}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Australia| ]]<br />
[[Category:Oceania]]<br />
<br />
[[de:Australien]]<br />
[[es:Australia]]<br />
[[fr:Australie]]</div>Toortothhttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Australia&diff=53120Australia2011-07-05T02:31:01Z<p>Toortoth: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{infobox Country<br />
|country = of Australia<br />
|map= <map lat='-27' lng='133' zoom='4' view='0' float='right' height='400' width='450' country='Australia'/><br />
|language = English (de facto)<br />
|capital = [[Canberra]]<br />
|pop = 21,468,700<br />
|currency = Australian dollar (AUD)<br />
|hitch = from {{average}} to {{good}}<br />
}}<br />
In '''Australia''', hitching is much the same as anywhere else in Western culture if you´re between [[Adelaide]] and [[Brisbane]]. In the outback, though, you may get more empty beer cans thrown on you than rides; some hitchhikers, however, wouldn't agree with that, stating that even hitchhiking through the desert can be pretty good, especially with the many trucks and 'road trains' that are usually going long distances.<br />
<br />
== The Outback ==<br />
I don't know about others, but hitchhiking throughout the outback was easy. The people were friendly, especially the aboriginal folks who would have six people already jammed in a little car and still squeeze you in. I managed from [[Broome]] through to Kununurra, Katherine up to [[Darwin]] and down to Alice. The only time I had to wait more than a half-hour was when I was dropped off on the turn off to Batchelor, which while on the main highway, is a real bad spot with nothing and no one for a long ways. Anyway, give it a go. If you're in the tropics, be careful where you swim (crocodiles) but don't worry too much about the other wildlife. Generally speaking, if you leave it alone, it will leave you alone. Definitely make sure to carry enough water AT ALL TIMES (3 litres per person/per day would be a minimum). It is very easy to get dehydrated. If you can get decent water, all the better, but don't bank on it. Most bores are quite brackish tasting and roadhouse taps are heavily chlorinated -- here's to a good litre of fresh rainwater on a sunny 45 degree day! (Amory Tarr)<br />
<br />
When going to the outback go to truck stops and talk to the truckies there (make sure the town you're going to HAS a truck stop, or you may be in trouble: see Kununurra on the map!), a lot of truck companies don't allow anyone but the drivers in their trucks but if you talk to the truckies at stops they are much more likely to ignore that rule. The only time truckies truly cannot give you a lift is when they are operating under a dangerous goods license and then, by law they are not allowed to have another passenger in the vehicle. For example petrol tankers, transporting more than one trailer of gas, etc. Not all companies have rules against taking passengers. Truckies will often take you long distances, for example [[Adelaide]] or [[Perth]] to [[Darwin]], [[Port Augusta]] to [[Perth]] or [[Darwin]] to Townsville, but if you want to get off the main road, then be prepared to wait awhile.<br />
<br />
In the eastern states (QLD, NSW, VIC, SA) more than the west (WA & NT), recent changes to [[insurance]] costs throughout the western world, have meant that trucks face stricter and stricter insurance limitations, one of which is that they are commonly not allowed to have any unlisted passengers in their vehicles. These rules are normally enforced by larger companies, where all riders sign in at the depot prior to the trucks departure. If you personally know a driver it is often possible for them to sign you in and take you along to help keep them awake. These rules don't really apply to owner/operators, unless on long term contract to a particular company. Unfortunately it's hard for you to know which trucks it will or wont apply to, though you can be confident that the big name trucks like Australia Post, Woolworths etc this is absolutely the case. All of this does not mean you can't get a ride in a truck. What it does mean is that our global fear of strangers has gone up here as much as elsewhere, and the amount of trucks picking up 'strangers' is greatly diminished. I have had some great lifts with road trains, Australia Post trucks etc etc, though they seem less and less common. In fact my first go at driving a road train was on a hitch across the Nullabor Desert, a truly mad but memorable experience of driving 50tonnes of rolling monster across the midnight plains (Dave Hodgkin)<br />
<br />
== Police ==<br />
Laws regarding hitchhiking come under State not Federal jurisdiction, I have been arrested and charged with hitchhiking in Queensland, though chargers were later dropped (long story). Throughout Australia, it is however illegal to incite a vehicle to stop in a non stopping zone. Such zones include bridges (and 30 odd meters either side, road edges with an unbroken white or yellow line, spots within 30 meters of an intersection, etc. Compared to some countries, Australian Police are fairly relaxed, more so in the country than the city, but they will get toey if they believe your actions are placing yourself or others in danger. Choose your hitching site carefully, as always look for somewhere well lit, with plenty of room to for approaching vehicles to see you well in advance and room for them to pull on to the shoulder with out blocking traffic.<br />
<br />
Most police officers won't harass you, but some cops might tell you that it's illegal to hitchhike in Australia. Don't show your thumb when you see a cop car, and if they stop, just tell them that you're waiting for a ride share that should have showed up a lot earlier.<br />
<br />
:''It is illegal but I've had police stop twice, once to tell me go back to town and catch a bus (but left me alone besides telling to do that) and the second time the cop gave me a lift about 40 or 50km to the border of Victoria/South Australia.''<br />
<br />
:''It's illegal to hitch in no-pedestrian zones like freeways but other places it seems to vary state to state. I don't think it's against the law at all in most places and I've never had any troubles anywhere in the eastern states.''<br />
<br />
:''Wait on gas stations or truck stops for a ride. This way you won't get into trouble with the police, can ask people for a lift and you're close to water, food and a toilet. Some service stations don't like hitchhikers hanging around, though so be careful they don't call the police on you.''<br />
<br />
Exact legislation can be found at Austlii;<br />
[http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/sinodisp/au/legis/wa/consol_reg/rtc2000113/s259.html?query=hitch%20hike WA]<br />
[http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/disp.pl/au/legis/nsw/consol_reg/rr2008104/s236.html?query=Road%20Rules%202008%20REG%20236 NSW]<br />
<br />
== Australia Particular Advice ==<br />
Australia poses some interesting and unique challenges for hitchhikers, distances between populated areas can be vast, by far the majority of Australians live next to the sea, with the majority of those living in the state capital cities. Temperatures in inland Australia can exceed 45 degrees Celsius in summer and go well below freezing in winter. In many ways Australia is an extreme environment, with some pretty extreme pests, people and weather, when it rains it pours, when it blows up a gale, it howls. But in saying this when Australia or Australians smile on you, the heavens open up from above and you can find yourself, taken in, taken home and for all practical purposes adopted for life.<br />
<br />
I have been stuck for up to 3 days in a number of places in Australia, (notably Coober Pedy and Ningin) whilst on the other hand I've been given the keys to the family holiday home and told to make myself at home when I get there (In Manjimup on the way from Perth to Albany), or taken home for a week, nurtured and spoiled rotten. Whatever the circumstance you find yourself in, more than in other countries be prepared.<br />
-Let someone know where you are heading and how long till they should next expect to hear from you<br />
-Carry more water than you think you need<br />
-Walking out of town, to look like your motivated, may leave you somewhere very isolated<br />
-Be very careful about not annoying your host, I've been thrown out of a truck by an irate driver, off his head on NoDoz, for some quite harmless comment, 200k from the nearest town...<br />
<br />
== When you're really stuck for a place to stay... ==<br />
You know you're off the tourist track when you get to a town without a backpackers. Most small towns have a town pub that offers pretty cheap accommodation and many have a free campground on the edge of town or a picnic spot beside a river<br />
* Schoolyards, normally there is somewhere discrete under cover, in most small towns there is green grass, and even toilets and drinking water, just set your alarm early and get out before 7:30ish when cleaning staff etc may start to arrive. (The primary school on thee edge of My Isa has rescued me on more than one occasion.<br />
* Non Returned soldiers areas at Cemeteries, clearly not for the superstitious, but these sites, tend to have nice soft green grass, and often have free public toilets and fresh drinking water. The cemetery at the end of thee railway line in Hexam on your way north out of Sydney is a classic, if headed north through from Canberra or Melbourne, you can jump the train in Campbelltown or Paramatta, ride it through to Central, change to the Newcastle line, then switch to the Hexam line, and get off at the unnamed station for free, right next to the best cemetery I have ever slept in, right next to the princess highway.<br />
* Many remote areas have shade structures as bus shelters, these can provide quite a comfortable nights sleep, as can late night train stations (spent my time on the floor of the girls toilet at Ningin railway station) Church Foyers (3 nights in the foyer of the underground church in Coober Pedy).<br />
* Showgrounds on the edge of towns often have toilets water and a place undercover.<br />
<br />
== When you're really stuck for a ride ==<br />
Jumping railway cars is also still possible in Australia, (although you did not hear it from me).<br />
* The three day journey from Mt Isa to the coast on the coal trains (pick up a Beanbag, a tarp and a shade cloth from the Op-shop in town, few things beat making love on a pile of coal at 20km/h under the desert stars :)<br />
* The cargo train across the Nullarbor, a trip of a lifetime, my mate Alex did it, certainly one of those life changing adventures<br />
<br />
''However, don't be stupid and jump off when the trains are moving too quickly. I have had the terrible experience of seeing a teenager jump off a train which came from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast in Queensland and that did not end up well. That boy lost his life simply to save the cost of a short trip. What a waste.<br />
<br />
If you do jump onto rail services just make sure you use some common sense.''<br />
<br />
== When really stuck for food... ==<br />
I have been helped out when stuck in a small town, by the Country Womens Association, best scones of my life, nothing beats hunger to increase the flavour of jam and cream<br />
I've eaten my share of roadside fruits from passing orchards, and cooked my share of roadkill, the smell quickly gives away the freshness or otherwise. <br />
The best introduction you'll ever have to roadkill delights is a fresh kangaroo tail. Make sure the tale is still flexible and the smell is only of dirty fur, not the smell of old meat, Kangaroos are hit by trucks everyday in Aus, so this is not as uncommon as it sounds. Hack off the tale as close the rump as possible, do this by cutting all the way around the tail, through the fur, then levering and breaking the tail between two vertebrate, nit as hard or messy as it sounds. I recommend dragging the roo off behind some bushes before you start this process as mad hitchhikers wielding knives under the full moon, does not do much for our reputation.<br />
To cook the tail, first build a large fire over some clean ground, preferably riverside sand, though well above the water table, when the fire is at full blaze, singe all the fur off the tail, scraping it clean with the back of a knife or a sharp rock, repeat this a few times as it takes a while to sear off all the fur, being careful not to over cook or burst the skin as this is the wrapping material for cooking. Let your fire burn down till it has strong hot coals and the ground below has started to really heat up (30-40mins depending how much of a fire you made) scrap the fire off to one side and dig a whole in the sand where the fire was using a stick, bury the tail about 15-20cm below the surface (check, but this area should already be nice and hot by now)and return the fire to above. Re-stoke the fire and cook for a further 40mins till the fire dies down. letting the fire die down slowly will allow the Tail to really cook through nicely. Scrap the fire out of the way and dig up the tail. You will know when it is done, if the fat is sizzling and the skin is starting to split in places, if still not done, roll over and cook for a further 20-30mins. The amount of fat and grissle in the tail ensures that this is one of the few parts of the roo that its hard to actually over cook<br />
Snake is also a great introduction to roadkill, choose a fresh wet smelling snake, chop off the head and squashed bits, cut open along the belly and degut, sew the stomach back together with thin twigs and cook as per instructions for roo tail above. the same goes for most lizards<br />
Nothing beats the total delight of fresh billy tea boiled in a discarded coke can, fresh damper and road kill under a full moon beside the road...<br />
<br />
== When really stuck for water ==<br />
<br />
If really stuck in the middle of nowhere, and yes it does happen and has happened to me! Remember to go into casual energy conservation mode, wander down the road till you find a nice shady spot not to far from the road edge and chill out, get up when you can hear a car approaching from either direction, and stand beside the road, looking clean presentable forlorn and lost... a "help" sign helps, but many people will slow down, look very innocent, look very unarmed etc, remember the primary aim at this point is to get out of wherever you are, which direction simply does not matter, just get to the nearest town. You can live for a month without food, but you will die without water in a few days.<br />
<br />
Never ever decide to take a short-cut across a paddock or field, stick with the road. If bitten by a snake or even if you trip over and sprain and ankle in the middle of a field, there is no guarantee that you will be found by anybody before you have dried out and desiccated like a dead-dingos-donga!<br />
<br />
Yes you can drink your own piss to stay alive, no its not pleasant, no I don't recommend it. If you are stuck on one of Australia's mad dirt "highways" like the Tanami or the Gunbarrel, a solar still is your best bet. Choose a very sunny location and Dig a whole in the ground as big as you have a plastic bag or tarp or tent fly to cover it, (1mx1m up to 1.5mx1.5m, 30-50cm deep), place a container in the middle of the whole.. rides side coke can is fine, grind the top off on the road by rubbing around and around in circles, doesn't take that long when your bored. Place your piss, green branches, fresh road kill (or better just its blood) or anything wet in the whole around the can. You can include battery acid, Radiator water etc. Stretch your fly/tent/tarp/plastic over the top of the whole, sealing around the edges with sand or dirt. Place a small rock in the middle of the tarp/plastic/fly so the whole top slopes down to above the can, leave in the sun for 4-5hours. This also works for really muddy shitty water when u have no fire to cook it. <br />
<br />
Other than that, you can get away with drinking just bout any water if you can boil it for a good 10-15mins. This includes, roadside puddles, brown sludge from underground, radiator liquid. As an old blackfella friend of mine once said, when looking for water in the outback, simply head down hill and when you get to the lowest point dig a whole... this works really well if there are any large hills or rock outcrops around, but for me, is a tad harder when the whole landscape appears flat and I'm bloody thirsty.... either way my advice still stands... stick to the road, the road is your friend. its actually pretty hard to get lost in the desert or outback, you really have to try hard. a cursory glance at a map should tell you which way the nearest roads are before you head out to wherever your heading, by walking only ion the early morning or late evening, you can easily know if your walking generally east west north or south simply by the sun angle, then rest during the day and the night and head for the nearest decent road. In the heat of the day, semi burying yourself in the sand under the shade of a tree helps, but gets boring. Sorting gravel into different colored piles loses its attraction after a few days as does plying god with the ants...<br />
<br />
Australia has water legislation that makes it mandatory to share water if you have it, makes it legal for anyone to have access to any permanent river or water source<br />
<br />
All in all, you will probably never need the above tips, but if your not on the edge of your comfort zone, your not trying, and for me being stuck in the middle of nowhere and learning to chill and enjoy, is the true zen of Hitchhiking<br />
<br />
Some of my most amazing experiences have included a night wrapped in cardboard in abandoned wheat silo in the cold of winter, sharing a humpy with blackfellas in a town camp on the edge of Tennant Creek, waking up by bashing my head on the underside of a dodge van i had crawled under to avoid the rain to be offered a cuppa tea by the occupants, digging my car out of a saltlake when we took a wrong turn with two English backpackers as rain clouds loomed... This to me is the real Australia (dave hodgkin)<br />
<br />
== Personal experiences ==<br />
:''I have hitched the entire coast line of Australia, and although there are sometimes a long wait between rides, I have met some of the most generous and welcoming people, make sure you get to the edge of the towns, just where the highways start or turn from a 70 into a 100, or similar.'' (author unknown)<br />
<br />
== Cities ==<br />
* [[Adelaide]]<br />
* [[Brisbane]]<br />
* [[Canberra]] (capital)<br />
* [[Darwin]]<br />
* [[Hobart]]<br />
* [[Melbourne]]<br />
* [[Murwillumbah]]<br />
* [[Perth]]<br />
* [[Sydney]]<br />
<br />
== Highways ==<br />
* [[Bruce Highway]]<br />
* [[Hume Highway]], from Sydney to Melbourne<br />
* [[New England Highway]], from Sydney to Brisbane<br />
* [[Pacific Motorway]], from Sydney to Brisbane<br />
* [[Princes Highway]], from Sydney to Melbourne<br />
* [[Stuart Highway]], from Darwin to Adelaide<br />
<br />
== Links ==<br />
* [http://maps.google.com Google Maps] supports finding routes in Australia<br />
<br />
[[testing site]]<br />
{{States Australia}}<br />
__NOTOC__<br />
{{IsIn|Earth}}<br />
[[trash:Australia]]<br />
[[wikipedia:Australia]]<br />
{{Excellent}}<br />
{{IsIn|Oceania}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Australia| ]]<br />
[[Category:Oceania]]<br />
<br />
[[de:Australien]]<br />
[[es:Australia]]<br />
[[fr:Australie]]</div>Toortoth