Travel Advice

[niknak]

I am most of the way through an around the world trip at the moment. I have been through vietnam, cambodia, thailand, malaysia, Indonesia (sumatra and bali), australia and i am currently in new zealand, Aukland to be exact. However i still have the good 'ol USofA to go, unfortunatley i am quite short of money partly because ofoverspending and partly because i had all my gear bar the clothes i was wearing and my bank card stolen in Nelson (can't get enough of those friendly kiwis, eh).

     So here's the point - i need some diamond money saving tips for the US. I am flying to LA and doing the west coast to vancouver. If you guys save me enough money with some top tips i may do more.

Also i have hitched in New Zealand no problem (although i now have a bright yellow toyota corola station wagon i bought for $200 NZD, $120 US - any buyers in aukland by the way?). Is it a good idea to hitch in the US?

[Capt. Pork]

Originally posted by niknak
Is it a good idea to hitch in the US?

A lot of people do it. I've had many friends who've logged thousands of miles up and down the west coast. If you're planning on doing it going west to east, or east to west, however, be very careful.

[Nilsen]

buy a cheap car or a skateboard

[ravells]

Niknak, sorry to hear that you were robbed. Here are some money saving tips you can try:


Save a fortune on laundry bills. Give your dirty shirts to Oxfam. They will wash and iron them and you can buy them back for fifty pence.

Foil pick pockets by placing a freshly toasted "Pop Tart" in each
pocket. Would-be thieves will quickly rupture the fragile pastry and receive nasty finger burns from the steaming hot jam inside.

Next time you're out on your bike take a tin bath and about 4 or 5 gallons of water in plastic containers. In the event of a flat tire this will help you locate any punctures you may have.

Don't waste money buying expensive binoculars. Simply stand closer to the object you wish to view

Don't buy expensive "ribbed" condoms, just buy an ordinary one and slip a handful of frozen peas inside it before you put it on.

Save on booze by drinking cold tea instead of whisky. The following morning you can create the effects of a hangover by drinking a thimble full of washing up liquid and banging your head repeatedly on the wall.

OLD telephone directories make ideal personal address books. Simply cross out the names and address of people you don't know.

EXPENSIVE hair gels are a con. Marmalade is a much cheaper alternative, but beware of bees in the summer.

Ravs

[Ripsnort]

I'd suggest seeing Lazs once you arrive in LA. He's got a cheap little commie pistol he'll loan to you, you can just fedex it back to him once you get to the Canuck border since Canada doesn't trust its citizens with firearms.

As for hitching, daylight only hitching is my advise. Bus fares are relatively cheap (Greyhound) in the U.S. too.

[Nilsen]

lol ravells

[gofaster]

Originally posted by niknak
Is it a good idea to hitch in the US?

It is illegal to hitchhike in Florida.  The reason for that isn't to protect the hitchhiker, but to protect the motorists who think they're doing a good deed by giving a fellow a lift, but instead end up getting carjacked by wayward Kiwis with commie pistols hidden in their jackets.

[Naso]

Originally posted by Capt. Pork
A lot of people do it. I've had many friends who've logged thousands of miles up and down the west coast. If you're planning on doing it going west to east, or east to west, however, be very careful.

Why?

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by Naso
Why?

We're a country of immigrants. That should clue you in. German,Poles, Italians, you name it!

[Naso]

Originally posted by Ripsnort
We're a country of immigrants. That should clue you in. German,Poles, Italians, you name it!

I still dont get it.

Why North South is safe and East-West and viceversa is not?

Something in the ethnic distribution?

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by Naso
I still dont get it.

Why North South is safe and East-West and viceversa is not?

Something in the ethnic distribution?

Haven't a clue....and, I don't believe him.  Hitching in America is equivelent to placing one round in a revolver and spinning the drum, pulling the trigger...IMO. Although I've done it myself (In the 70's)

[gofaster]

Originally posted by Naso
I still dont get it.

Why North South is safe and East-West and viceversa is not?

Something in the ethnic distribution?

My opinion: crime follows the drug trade, and drugs flow east-west.  Asian and Mexican drugs flow from California and head east to New York, drugs from Europe flow from NY and head to Cali.  Coke comes in through Florida and Texas and dissipate east-west (although there's a strong pipeline from Fla to NY, too).

[Nilsen]

how are you ever gonna get east or west if you just go north or south ????

[midnight Target]

Hitched some in college. I wouldn't do it today though. Anywhere!

Go to local universities. Most have a "ride board" that lists people offering or needing rides to various parts of the Country. You may get a lift there and just share gas money.

[Capt. Pork]

Originally posted by Naso
I still dont get it.

Why North South is safe and East-West and viceversa is not?

Something in the ethnic distribution?

I should have been more specific. By North/South I meant up and down the pacific coast. It's still sketchy, but not nearly as much as passing through the center of the country, the plains, the deserts... Etc.