4 ms·

I hitchhiked down the east coast of Australia. I had about 6 rides. In at least 4 of them the driver was drinking. I had beers in each so they wouldn't have the

I hitchhiked down the east coast of Australia. I had about 6 rides. In at least 4 of them the driver was drinking. I had beers in each so they wouldn't have them. In one car the guy in the passenger seat wasn't driving because he was banned (for drink driving) yet both he and the driver were drinking cans of rum and coke. They'd drink a can, scrunch it and then lop it out the open window before cracking open another. In another truck the guy was having beers whilst driving pulling another car. In one car the guy said he was stopping for a pee. We pulled off the road, down another road, down another, into a wood. He then stopped the car. I was worried. He got out, too a pee and then off we went again. Everyone was very nice and we all had fun.

Estragon 11y ago
Was this before or after the arrest of Ivan Milat?
- branchless 11y ago
  Never heard of him. It was 2001.
- tajen 11y ago
  Cultural point: Ivan Milat was a serial killer in NSW, the state of Syndey, Australia, in the 90'. He certainly inspired the movie "Wolf Creek", a famous horror movie among backpackers, since it depicts carpooling in the outback with other sane youngsters and getting savagely murdered. The movie is introduced like a documentary, with scary statistics at the beginning, the "based on a true story" at the end, and is very effective at deterring backpackers from doing anything risky in Australia. I would even recommend NOT watching it before a gap year in Australia, or it will kill the adventure. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Milat_(serial_killer) http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Milat_(serial_killer) http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf_Creek_(film) http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf_Creek_(film) My experience with travelling in the outback is that everyone is well-intentionned, but after a few days on the road in closed circle, tensions arise. Far from the civilization, under the benefit of not being seen by the rest of the world, discussions sometimes heat up and end up as a fight. It's good to be able to walk away as early as possible, like no more than 24hrs after the first tensions. A friend of mine stabbed a redneck who didn't want to let go of his girlfriend; I've had a fight with someone who didn't like my political opinions (he was extreme right) and who practised judo. Just remember to walk away as early as possible... and hitchhiking in case of emergency is a very good way out.

Estragon 11y ago

Was this before or after the arrest of Ivan Milat?

branchless 11y ago
Never heard of him. It was 2001.
tajen 11y ago
Cultural point: Ivan Milat was a serial killer in NSW, the state of Syndey, Australia, in the 90'. He certainly inspired the movie "Wolf Creek", a famous horror movie among backpackers, since it depicts carpooling in the outback with other sane youngsters and getting savagely murdered. The movie is introduced like a documentary, with scary statistics at the beginning, the "based on a true story" at the end, and is very effective at deterring backpackers from doing anything risky in Australia. I would even recommend NOT watching it before a gap year in Australia, or it will kill the adventure. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Milat_(serial_killer) http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Milat_(serial_killer) http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf_Creek_(film) http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf_Creek_(film) My experience with travelling in the outback is that everyone is well-intentionned, but after a few days on the road in closed circle, tensions arise. Far from the civilization, under the benefit of not being seen by the rest of the world, discussions sometimes heat up and end up as a fight. It's good to be able to walk away as early as possible, like no more than 24hrs after the first tensions. A friend of mine stabbed a redneck who didn't want to let go of his girlfriend; I've had a fight with someone who didn't like my political opinions (he was extreme right) and who practised judo. Just remember to walk away as early as possible... and hitchhiking in case of emergency is a very good way out.