“What are you crazy?!” is most people’s initial reaction when I tell them that I thumbed across Thailand all on my own.
This question comes from fear and the assumption that the world is an unsafe place. I challenged that mentality. I decided that I am loved and protected from harm, and that I have a lot of street smarts. I can read people and immediately determine if they have my best or worst interest in mind. This psychological shift opened up hitchhiking to be a legitimate form of transportation and an incredible opportunity to interact with locals, exchange stories, and get around for free. Some of my best experiences travelling have been in a stranger’s car.
The truth is that in Thailand I never waited for more than five minutes to get a ride, and the most kind genuine human beings picked me up.
Let me share with you one of the coolest experiences I had while thumbing.
Had one day left on my Thai visa, and a flight home to California booked the next day. However, I was 730km away from the airport in Bangkok, and no train nor bus reserved. I planned it out this way on purpose. I had utter confidence that the glory of beautiful Thailand would take me home. So, I hitchhiked.
The bus from the small town of Payao to Bangkok took fifteen hours. I thumbed there in eight. Nearly half the time, and double the fun. Each ride drove me for about two hours. On my very last ride, these two sisters picked me up.
They just happened to live five minutes drive from the airport, and to be going to the airport the next day for a job interview!
They drove me nearly 300km, invited me into their humble home, and fed me all of my meals for about twenty four hours. They did not let me spend a penny or give them anything in return for their generosity.
They just wanted to be kind to the traveler.
And that, steem world, is one of the many reasons that this Earth is such a beautiful place. Sometimes, you must take risks to see its beauty.
If you liked this story, you may also enjoy How to Travel the World for Less than $3,000 a Year
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Love,
@AcroButterfly