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Thailand

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== Hitchhiking in Thailand ==
Hitchhiking in Thailand is relatively simple and safe, contrary to what some people might tell you. Using the usual protocol of standing with your thumb out, where traffic is slow and leaving enough room for drivers to pull over is all you need to do. Prepare to spend a lot of time in the back of pick up trucks. By this I mean; bring a rain coat, some warm clothes (especially if hitching at night), a waterproof cover for your rucksack, even in the summer! There are wonderful experiences to be had hitchhiking in Thailand. In several cases, user [[User:haggismn|haggismn]] was asked if he wanted a ride when simply walking on the path to a place to hitch from. Some people will also invite you to stay at their homes. Whilst people do not recommend it, sleeping outdoors is safe, especially where people do not often walk. Another way of spending the night and sampling authentic Thai culture is by stopping at a temple (which are plentiful everywhere except maybe in the muslim Muslim provinces in the far south) for the night where you will usually be at the very least received with a bit of floor space to sleep on and a place to wash.
There are ''lots'' of motorbikes in Thailand, who are happy to pick up hitchikers. Remember it can be difficult if you're wearing a backpack and always ask/signal/mime if they have a spare helmet.
Hitching you don't have to freeze in the buses and you can get acquainted with locals and some foreigners too. They don't ask money for the rides but if a someone not so rich offers you a long ride, it would be polite to offer him a lunch if you can afford it.
Many Thai people do not know that hitchhiking exists, but many others understand very well the concept and call it ''bow'' in Thai, meaning "wave". These people will always drop you at a petrol station or another proper place to continue hitchhiking. The nature of the Thai people makes Thailand a really good country to use a [[hitchhiking letter]] if you can't speak thaiThai. You will often find yourself surrounded by locals who are willing to help you, but who are not familiarized with hitchhiking and cannot speak any English, which may lead to you being dropped at police offices or bus stations. The letter makes these situations much easier, and the hitchhiking in Thailand drastically faster. [[User:z-z-z88|z-z-z88]] ([[User talk:z-z-z88|talk]]) used a hitchhiking letter and it helped him a lot. Others report that they are being constantly driven to the bus stations. Although spoken Thai is understood in [[Laos]], Lao people had a lot of difficulties reading Thai. {| class="wikitable"| ผมเดินทางด้วยเงินจำนวนเล็กน้อยเพื่อเป็นค่าอาหารและที่พักราคาถูก ผมจึงโบกรถเพื่อเดินทาง ขอผมติดรถไปทางเดียวกับคุณด้วยได้ไหมครับ คุณจะส่งผมข้างหน้าที่ไหนก็ได้ที่สะดวก แล้วผมจะโบกรถต่อไปเอง| I am hitchhiking. I travel with small money only for food and cheap hostel. When your car turn off the road, drop me off and I find another car.|-| ไม่เป็นไรครับ ผมไม่ต้องการความช่วยเหลืออะไรตอนนี้ ขอบคุณครับ| I'm fine, do not need help, thank you.|-| ไปใกล้ๆ ก็ได้ครับ ระยะทางสั้นๆ ก็จะช่วยได้มาก| Small ride for few kilometers is ok|-| ส่งผมลงตรงนี้ด้วยครับ| Drop me off here please.|-| ผมขอตั้งเต้นท์พักค้างคืนที่นี่ได้ไหม| Can I put my tent here?|} Thai people may not understand the meaning of a hitchhiker with their thumb out. An American ex-pat told [[User:MolotovMocktail|MolotovMocktail]] to use the motion that Thais use to hail taxis when hitchhiking. To do this, hold your hand out with your palm facing the ground and make a downward-patting motion.
[[File:Amylin-thai-pickup.jpg|thumb|220px|left|[[User:Amylin|Amylin]] riding in the back of a hitched pick-up truck from [[Chiang Rai]] to the [[Laos]] border in [[Thailand]].]]
=== Exception: the taxi mafia in the tourist areas such as [[Phuket]] ===In some tourist areas like [[Phuket]] the taxi maffia mafia is in charge. You ''have'' to specify at least 3 three times that you are not going to pay. "No money", "no taxi", "free ride", ; rinse and repeat. [[User:Guaka|guaka]] ([[User talk:Guaka|talk]]) had a nasty experience with a guy who suddenly wanted 500 baht for a short ride. He then actually called the police. The corrupt police was actually ready to go to the police station so [[User:Guaka|guaka]] ([[User talk:Guaka|talk]]) settled with paying 400 baht (100 baht was not enough). (This was after 4 very nice rides across the island, including a free veggy veggie dinner in a restaurant.)
== Getting In ==
Another good option are 3rd class trains, which are really cheap (48 THB from [[Bangkok]] to [[Aranyaprathet]], which is 6 km from the [[Cambodia]]n border). They might also be convenient to get to a good hitching spot when you're leaving [[Bangkok]].
In addition, there are certain trains in Thailand that are free for Thai passengers (for example, the trains going from [[Udon Thani]] to [[Bangkok]], and from [[Surat Thani]] to [[Hat Yai]]), and it is also possible to get onto them for free as a tourist. If you attract the attention of the train station officers, they might insist that you pay the tourist price for the ticket, but if you just get into the train no-one should bother you there. The hardest part is finding out which are these trains exactly and when they come without asking the train station officers, but the locals can probably help you with that.
== Language ==
*User Airyk Hitchhiked across the world in 1 year, he started in Thailand and wrote about his first Hitchhiking experience [http://www.yourworldyourhome.com/chapter-4-hitchhiking-thailand/ here]
 
* [http://marcandoelpolo.com/viajar-a-dedo-tailandia/ Information, tips and personal experiences of hitch-hiking in Thailand. A 3437 km journey in 96 vehicles] (only in Spanish), by Marcando el Polo
 
[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:Thailand|*]]
[[fr:Thailande]]
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