User:CrazyEX

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I'm a hitchhiker from Phoenix, Arizona; Valley of the Sun!


Hitchhiking Experience

I'm from Phoenix, Arizona, and I hitchhiked all the way from there to Memphis, that was probably one of my longest hitchhiking trips. I started hitchhiking because of a stupid bet...Yeah, that's right (trust me, the details are not interesting).But later, I got addicted to it! I like traveling, and hitchhiking is the most fun way to do it...The easiest city to hitchhike? Istanbul, Turkey. Whenever I put a thumb up, a truck approaches to pick me up! Its like a public service out there, and it is a beautiful city. However; believe it or not, the most beautiful city I've ever hitchhiked to was non other, than ciudad de Mejico! (Mexico City). Great city, easy hitchhike (may cost a few pesos), and stunning views with warm drivers. I hitchhiked there from San Juan del Rio (long name, eh?), and the mountain views were perfect. Also, I'm a Boat Hitcher, and I got caught trying to sneak into Greece, via a boat without visa, which resulted a night in the lockup (seemingly, someone from the boat squealed on me).Other countries I've hitchhiked, train hopped or boat-hitched are Germany, Italy, Canada, Israel, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, and Hungary.

Tips for hitchhiking

Well, firstly, you must be sure that you are not afraid to hitchhike. If you are, you will either look very dark and quite and the driver will think you are a road thug, or you will rapidly start laughing weirdly which would make you look like a dumb. Don't be shy, but not too confident either, that would annoy drivers. Find a good place to hitchhike, could be a gas station (my favorite, at least) or or near a large sign. If it is hot, always stay in the cool-shaded places. Make sure you are not in the middle of the road, or it may risk your life. Wear bright clothes, so drivers can see you from a distance. Having a cardboard is also a good idea, and humorous ones work really well, as it catches eye. The rest is just about giving a thumb sign, and wait for a nice [ or lonely :) ] driver to pick you up. After he/she approaches, ask where he/she is going, be polite, and enjoy the ride (not too much, or you'll annoy the driver). And whatever you do, don't panic.

Items

The items I use during long trips are the following:

  • Sunglasses
  • Some money
  • A hat
  • Water (as much as possible)
  • Little snacks to avoid starving during long trips
  • A large Rucksack or two
  • A towel (to keep me awake, or to avoid over-sunbathing with a combination of water)
  • Bright clothes (to get attention, or people may not see you)
  • A large map
  • My iphone with the navigation system
  • A pen or a marker( to mark the map, or to write on the cardboard)
  • A dictionary
  • A small pair of binoculars (to catch the I.D plate)
  • Tissues (Don't laugh, you never know when you'll need one)
  • Lighter
  • A small med-kit
  • Card-boards
  • A small umbrella
  • And at last, but definitely not the least, the ultimate edition of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams.It kills time quite good, and its very funny, even tough it has nothing to do with hitchhiking, and avoids getting bored in long journeys. DON'T PANIC