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liam_wallls16:24 UTC02 Sep 2009

Hi all.

When in Africa recently, I and my two travel buddies passed through Mozambique. We hitchhiked the whole time and, ultimately, were involved in a terrible car accident.

I have posted three blog entries about it, but the day of the accident itself is here:
http://awoliam.blogspot.com/2009/09/car-accident.html

Any feedback is welcomed, and if you want to read the other entries about Mozambique or anywhere else in Africa, see them here:
http://awoliam.blogspot.com

Liam

rudik20:58 UTC02 Sep 2009

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

liam_wallls09:44 UTC03 Sep 2009

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

pigtailsandall15:39 UTC03 Sep 2009

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

lesliemac18:09 UTC03 Sep 2009

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

missmichelle2219:26 UTC03 Sep 2009

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!

liam_wallls22:29 UTC18 Sep 2009

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:

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.
look fun and non-rapey.
give them a chance to see you and consider stopping before they pass you. once they have passed, they are unlikely to come back.
be willing to turn down rides if you don't like the look of them. we never did this, but we would have
agree on a price FIRST! Or else you are in a sticky situation at the end when the extortion comes your way.
make conversation with them. they love to hear all about you! =)

if you have any further questions, ask away.

liam_wallls22:31 UTC18 Sep 2009

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

rudik12:55 UTC19 Sep 2009

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.

liam_wallls12:45 UTC22 Sep 2009

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

missmichelle2212:58 UTC22 Sep 2009

Thanks for v useful tips! Funny that I would NEVER hitch-hike in the UK but am seriously considering it in Africa....

liam_wallls10:48 UTC26 Sep 2009

I honestly think that because you stand out, you are less likely to get into trouble. Because people would notice if you were in trouble.. =)

Also - i have a couple of new blog entries if you are interested... About the car crash aftermath, entering Malawi and arriving in Blantyre. Not as interesting as the Car crash, but still really, really interesting. =P

http://awoliam.blogspot.com/

Byee!
Liam

liam_wallls10:57 UTC26 Sep 2009

well, i guess mostly of interest would be the "car crash aftermath", here:

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

Car accident in Mozambique Country forums / Africa / Mozambique
liam_wallls16:24 UTC02 Sep 2009	Hi all. When in Africa recently, I and my two travel buddies passed through Mozambique. We hitchhiked the whole time and, ultimately, were involved in a terrible car accident. I have posted three blog entries about it, but the day of the accident itself is here: http://awoliam.blogspot.com/2009/09/car-accident.html Any feedback is welcomed, and if you want to read the other entries about Mozambique or anywhere else in Africa, see them here: http://awoliam.blogspot.com Liam
rudik20:58 UTC02 Sep 2009	You don't have to feel bad Liam, I would not have given them money for petrol either.	1
liam_wallls09:44 UTC03 Sep 2009	Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed it... =) L	2
pigtailsandall15:39 UTC03 Sep 2009	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	3
lesliemac18:09 UTC03 Sep 2009	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	4
missmichelle2219:26 UTC03 Sep 2009	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	5
liam_wallls22:29 UTC18 Sep 2009	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: 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. look fun and non-rapey. give them a chance to see you and consider stopping before they pass you. once they have passed, they are unlikely to come back. be willing to turn down rides if you don't like the look of them. we never did this, but we would have agree on a price FIRST! Or else you are in a sticky situation at the end when the extortion comes your way. make conversation with them. they love to hear all about you! =) if you have any further questions, ask away. L	6
liam_wallls22:31 UTC18 Sep 2009	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	7
rudik12:55 UTC19 Sep 2009	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.	8
liam_wallls12:45 UTC22 Sep 2009	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	9
missmichelle2212:58 UTC22 Sep 2009	Thanks for v useful tips! Funny that I would NEVER hitch-hike in the UK but am seriously considering it in Africa....	10
liam_wallls10:48 UTC26 Sep 2009	I honestly think that because you stand out, you are less likely to get into trouble. Because people would notice if you were in trouble.. =) Also - i have a couple of new blog entries if you are interested... About the car crash aftermath, entering Malawi and arriving in Blantyre. Not as interesting as the Car crash, but still really, really interesting. =P http://awoliam.blogspot.com/ Byee! Liam	11
liam_wallls10:57 UTC26 Sep 2009	well, i guess mostly of interest would be the "car crash aftermath", here: http://awoliam.blogspot.com/2009/09/car-crash-aftermath.html	12

Car accident in Mozambique