Car accident in Mozambique

You don't have to feel bad Liam, I would not have given them money for petrol either.

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed it...

=)

L

can't believe it- I log on for the first time in, um, five years or so, and the first message under Mozambique is from the stalker team!

i actually did read your blog entry with Fred, scary stuff! Now go and read mine, although it is, admittedly, boring!

hee hee!

Maaret

Have really enjoyed reading your blog, Liam. You tell a good story and the photos are fantastic! Especially liked the ones of the Goma military parade....

That was some car accident. Glad you and your friends are all right.

Leslie

Hi Liam,

Your car accident aside (glad you're all ok!) I've heard that hitch hikinh is in general safer (and of course cheaper!) than getting bush taxis. I'm about to go on an 8-month trip round Africa with my boyfriend and was just wondering whether you would mind posting a list of tips for how to go about hitch hiking successfully? Sorry this may seem lazy - I have tried searching but if you have put it on here I'm having trouble finding it!

Thanks!

M

hmm. well, i don't know if you really need hints. but i can say that it's easier to hithhike in southern africa. as much as i don't like to make race generalizations, white people were most of our free hitchikes, and there are far more white people in southern africa. we hitchiked with a lot of black africans as well, but they generally charged because that's the culture. We were never in any danger from our hosts, but the driving can get a little hairy at times (obviously).

I dunno... let's see about these hints:

1. Go out of town and on the main road. Make sure you are outside town so that you are getting all the leavig traffic and none of the local traffic. it seems obvious, but just check that there isn't a little community 100m away that everyone is going to.

2. look fun and non-rapey.

3. give them a chance to see you and consider stopping before they pass you. once they have passed, they are unlikely to come back.

4. be willing to turn down rides if you don't like the look of them. we never did this, but we would have

5. agree on a price FIRST! Or else you are in a sticky situation at the end when the extortion comes your way.

6. make conversation with them. they love to hear all about you! =)

if you have any further questions, ask away.

L

oh, and i just posted a follow-up to the car accident if anyone wants to hear the stupidity that followed...

http://awoliam.blogspot.com/2009/09/car-crash-aftermath.html

Byee!
Liam

Just to add to Liam's tip number 3 above - Stand at a spot where the vehicle can stop safely - where the road has a wide shoulder, or at a lay-by or similar, not where the driver places him/herself and other traffic in an awkward or potentially dangerous situation and not where it is illegal for a car to stop. I often drive past wondering who in his right mind would even consider stopping where that hitch-hiker is standing.
Liam - a well-told tale. Thanks.

this is a good point, but not so relevant for africa. the line between dirt road and dirt verge is very blurred, and there's usually plenty of room. but yeah, if there's limited room, i concur! =)

Cheers,
Liam