Turkish Traveller Overwhelmed by Thai Kindness After Struggling to Hitchhike to Chiang Mai

[spidermike007]

I used to hitchhike back on the late 60s and early 70s, and it was considered to be a pretty normal thing back then. But in this day and age I think people are just too leery of strangers to pick one up, generally speaking. It feels like the earth is a meaner and nastier place than it used to be. 

[black tabby12345]

24 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

 judging by looks never works..................

 

Very true.

That's my long standing belief.

Especially,  in case of fraudsters.

They often  come in a neat tidy attire.

In a smiley friendly manner, and look confident and well organized.

 

To them, those who judge others by appearance are just like Sitting Ducks...

[steven100]

Two hitchhiking friends were murdered on Queensland's 'highway of death' 52 years ago. Some believe their killer can still be found. It's a desolate, 800-kilometre strip of bitumen that has become so synonymous with tragedy, it's earned the sinister nickname "the highway of death".

[Andytheburiramman]

Here in Buriram there's loads of farang like him.  Funny enough they all seem to have enough money for drugs, alcohol and an under the counter visa.  They need to crack down on these bums ASAP and get them deported.

[steven100]

how can he get the hotel with no money    ?    how can he get the rice with no money    ?  

[thecyclist]

8 hours ago, Aleksey75 said:

Does the culture of "hitchhiking" exist here? Never noticed. Even when the money is not a problem...

It doesn't really exist here, but it is probably one of the easiest country in the world to get a ride if you are a farang, better even a farang with a bicycle. 

I have been doing it for ages, and most of the time I get a ride in under 30 minutes. I don't do it to save money, but because of convenience. riding my bike in the countryside till I get tired, and then hitch a ride to my destination, which used to be BKK. No fun cycling into BKK. 

I often ask the driver whether he would have picked me up if it had been a Thai man, and 90 % say no way, too dangerous.The reverse happens in farangland, where I have spent up to 7 hours waiting for a ride. Farangs are scared of farangs, Thais are scared of Thais. 

I assume that the Turkish fellow didn't look " farang" enough, more "kaek" /Muslim. 

Also he tried to get a ride in the city, BKK of all places, which is much more difficult than getting one in the countryside heading back to the city. 

 

[thecyclist]

55 minutes ago, steven100 said:

how can he get the hotel with no money    ?    how can he get the rice with no money    ?  

Buddhist monasteries might put him up and feed him. 

[steven100]

9 minutes ago, thecyclist said:

Buddhist monasteries might put him up and feed him. 

in Australia we call them Hobo's  ..... 

[praguecr]

On 2/23/2025 at 11:28 AM, steven100 said:

What's he doing here with no money  ?

A bus ticket is not that expensive  ?

He should have done a GoFunMe to Chiang Mai.

 

oh '     get the tissue ....   i think i'm gonna cry      !

Absolutely! I need to keep 800K in bank and he arrives with no money. That makes a lot of sense.

[norsurin]

Cheap charlie backpacker on his way to PAI

[George FmplesdaCosteedback]

I seem to remember from reading the Lonely Planet Guide about 40 years ago that hitchhiking is illegal in Thailand.

How people have the gaul to go on "holiday" and expect others to pay is beyond belief. This person should have been escorted to the airport and waved goodbye to.

[praguecr]

Call me heartless, but I would never pick up a guy like this, and obviously many others feel the same. He make it here. Bring another 200 baht for the public transport.

[Dogmatix]

Buses are cheap in Thailand.  Same price to males with long jihadi beards.

 

He could try the old scam of getting an attractive girl to flag down trucks while he hides in the ditch or behind a tree and jumping out as the vehicle stopped.  I was caught by that one in England once. 555

[Kinok Farang]

Should have had a wash and shave the scruffy baastard.

[Kinok Farang]

5 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I used to hitchhike back on the late 60s and early 70s, and it was considered to be a pretty normal thing back then. But in this day and age I think people are just too leery of strangers to pick one up, generally speaking. It feels like the earth is a meaner and nastier place than it used to be. 

Me too,once hitched from Le Havre to Perpignon and in 6 days only spent 1 franc 50.Europe was a doddle in the 60's n 70's.Not anymore.

[cardinalblue]

On 2/23/2025 at 12:12 PM, Centigrade32 said:

 

It's a thing. A 'friend' of mine cycled across the U.S.A. without using money. 

Most people go through life without experiencing real human kindness and therefore do not know how to demonstrate it themselves.

Everyone takes visa these days….

[Young Hick]

So he really did not bring enough money?   The way to do this kind of scheme is to bring lots of money, and then pretend to not have money and ask for people's charity.  Then give money to those who helped.   When I was reading the article, I was waiting for the paragraph where he would give 10x the amount of the ticket to the Rose foundation.