My Lessons, Your Teachings
Hitchhiking, a conventional way of traveling that has, for me, uncovered the cultural, traditional and deep routed essence of Saudi Arabia, leading to an imperturbable unity between two different worlds based on understanding. A journey that has lead me thousands of kilometers, from one hidden gem to the other. Fed me with countless hours of priceless wisdom, gifted me new perspectives on life and infused me with unprecedented adventures.
Now It’s Your Turn
That’s right, I have taken on the challenge of hitchhiking Saudi Arabia as a woman and now I am here to blaze the path for your next hitchhiking adventure in Saudi Arabia through leading by example.
The words I write come from my own experience of hitchhiking this vast Kingdom. A country new to the world, still stereotyped and doubted my many. So, with that being said, my sincere wish is that you take what you read and turn it into an adventure of your own. Dare to dream, dare to live, dare to learn and dare to hitchhike. For it is an unmatched experience.
Don’t do it because of the financial reasons, do it to immerse, unite and understand.
Without further ado, lets get you started!
No Money? An Unknown Concept
To you and me hitchhiking might be a familiar thing. Backpack on the street, thumb out, maybe a sign in your hand and that’s that. In Saudi Arabia however, hitchhiking Is not something common yet. Many don’t understand what it is that you are doing. They are irritated by the sight of someone standing at the side of the road with luggage. What do they want? What are you doing? Two questions written in the speechless faces of Saudi’s. So, in a country where hitchhiking isn’t known, how do you find your way?
That leads us to the title of this topic, No Money? There comes the moment where a car stops for you, you’re optimistic. You tell the driver where you want to go and he says yes! Hold your horses, always, always express clearly that you do not want to pay money, you are not looking for a Taxi but a ride. This is where it gets interesting, the turning point, the moment that will determine how long you will be standing by the side of the road until you get your ride. For most often, when people know that you don’t want to pay money, the engine turns back on to full speed and they are off without you leaving nothing but a cloud of dust. Well, sh*t, you might think. Not ideal? I guess, but that’s ok.
You will find your way. What you don’t want to happen is getting into the car without having clarified at first. That might get uncomfortable and is avoidable.
Two guidelines to help you find your ride: Number one big, modern cars. The cars that have taken us with them where to 70% big cars and somewhat of high standard. Why are they more willing to take hitchhikers with them? That I am not completely sure of and without wanting to express obvious words I will not dive deeper into the subject. Simply know, big cars and those of a higher standard brand tend to be your hopeful sight of a ride.
Secondly, language. Saudi’s being able to speak English show a greater willingness and understanding towards hitchhiking. Not just that but you want to avoid getting into a car with someone you can’t communicate with. The distances are long, you want to make sure you are going the right way! I speak of experience; I have had the situation. My mother and I got into a car with a non-English speaking driver. We ended up going the wrong direction for he didn’t understand us. The same happened to us with the money topic. So, avoid it if you can.
Summary: A big car in sight, he/she stops, speaks English and goes in your direction, that’s your ride.
*NOTE, as hitchhiking isn’t widely spread, people might not think of the idea of simply taking you a bit further to your end destination and might express a ‘sorry’ as they are not going straight to your destination. Talk with them and show them this possibility, it could save you waiting time on the street.
Adapting an Imperturbable Mind
What do I mean by adapting an imperturbable mind? This is simply a reminder to you that you will come across many expressions stating that what you are doing is ‘impossible’ or that no one will take you with them if you don’t pay any money. This is due to two main reasons: Unfamiliarity and religion. The religion Saudi Arabia follows, the Islam, is, depending on person and destination, either your hitchhiking friend or somewhat an obstacle.This is especially true if you hitchhike as a woman alone. Note that here I am writing of my hitchhiking experience together with my mother. The fact that we are two women and not one makes hitchhiking easier. For Saudi Arabia follows the Sharia which states that a man can’t be alone with a woman if she is not related to him. So, if you have the chance to take a friend along with you on the way, it will make your trip a whole lot easier. Mostly though, the religion is your best friend and the very reason you find your ride for the religion states words and teaches values that allow no other behaviour. Countless Saudi’s I have met stated that the Islam is not just a religion but a way of life. Nothing else I have become a witness of and to speak the truth, I haven’t experienced human values like those of Saudi’s in any other country before nor do I have words to describe the beauty of these human beings.
The thing is, no matter what comes your way, it’s ok because as my own experience shows, you will find a ride. It is certainly not impossible and people are beyond willing to take you with them without any financial takeaway. Isn’t that the beauty of traveling? We inspire others, become inspired and together expand each other’s horizon and perspective.
Keep a focused mind, smile when life throws facets of hardship at you and know, your ride is just around the corne
Where am I, where do I want to go? – Destination
Where are you? In which city, town or village do you find yourself?
Why Is this important? As touched on above the Kingdom has opened itself to the world just recently. So have its citizens. Religion being another factor why you want to have your destination in mind. Some places are more conservative than others, some open-minded others not so much. No doubt, absolute respectable. For us hitchhikers this might through an obstacle on our hitchhiking journey. Lets take Medina as an example.
A highly holy place in the Islam. Just 2 years ago, no non-Muslim was granted access into the city. Now it is open to whomever wants to roam its street and enjoy its special spirit. Here, hitchhiking as a non-Muslim faced us with a bit of a challenge. The drivers decision of taking a hitchhiker with them or not didn’t lie in the financial aspect but the religious aspect. Not a Muslim, then I am not taking you with me. This refers to our current location.
My End Destination and Itinerary
Now, why is my end destination and itinerary required to get to my end destination important to have in mind? Due to exactly the same reason. Another example from just a week ago. My mother and I were on our way from Taif to Jeddah. At the first site, flawless. The second look at the map faces you with a challenge. Mecca, the holiest city of the Islam, accessible only for Muslims, lies right in-between these two cities directly on your route. A problem? Only if you face it blindly. Look at you route beforehand, study the maps, find the roads accessible to you and be strategic. If you are faced with such a situation build in a bit more time into your plan as many cars may be required for many small rides, each leading you a step further until you reach your end destination.
Meaning; Look at your route beforehand, study the maps, find the roads accessible to you and be strategic.
Your Cornerstones – Location and Timing
Now to the finest of detail, location and timing.
Destination and Location, Where Lies the Difference?
Above we talked about destination, touching on considering the destination you are at and the destination you want to go. Location however means, preselecting and studying the small details of the map in order to find your starting point and to get a good start through strategic allocation. That’s right, locate yourself strategically.
How can I locate myself Strategically?
Using Facilities: Your friend the petrol station. Petrol stations are a very effective and safe place to start your hitchhiking journey. Many cars stop there and the fact that they are fueling up could mean that their journey will lead them out of the city.
Safe because no matter the waiting time you have (the longest, and only, time to find a car ride was 1 and a half hours, the shortest 15 min for a 7-hour drive!) you can rest assured that you are in the tangible distance of water, food and toilets.
*NOTE, you don’t want to wait right at the petrol station but just a bit behind its exit back onto the main road. This way you use both opportunities, the cars that stop at the petrol station and the ones continuing on the main road.
The Art of Good Timing
Obviously, you will want to calculate the normal duration of the ride plus waiting time, there are a few more factors you must consider though. Again, the religion.
In Islam there are 5 prayers a day and the important Friday prayer (Jumah) at 12pm (noon). This Muslims take serious and the streets will, at these times be pretty much empty.
Therefore, you want to know when the 5 prayers are and avoid (if possible) starting your hitchhiking journey on Fridays before 12pm (noon). Having these factors in mind will make your hitchhiking adventure much more flawless and waiting times shorter.
Special occasions are also to be considered. Last week, on the 11 of March Ramadan started. The month of fasting in Islam, one of the 5 pillars of Islam. This event is therefore highly important to Saudi’s (Muslims) and carries profound value in the religion. I know when Ramadan started because at this day I stood at the side of the road, with my luggage on the street and my thumb stuck out into the air. Yes, I was hitchhiking. The streets where empty, it was hot and between my current location and my end destination lied Mecca. It was a big adventure yet not necessarily one I would want to repeat.
That ladies and gentleman’s Is the art of timing. Use it as a driving force.
Then again there’s a twist to it. The religion. Yes, the streets where pretty much empty because of Ramadan but it Is because of Ramadan that we got our first ride. For all good deeds are rewarded 70% extra. See the beauty of life?
The Truth
Hitchhiking in Saudi Arabia is unmatched. The religion is a big driving force for the values Saudi’s embody. They cherish culture and tradition, are proud citizens of their Kingdom and live with an extraordinary view on life. This you will learn on your hitchhiking journey for the distances are vast, the human are extraordinary and the time you have is prized, used to turn strangers into friends, become a student of locals perspectives on life, family stories and wisdoms, crafting a world of unity in just a few hours. Even If you don’t talk much a lot is said for the most probably the reason you sit in this very car are the values the driver embodies guided by the religion, he/she follows. The Islam, for it states when you can help someone you must do all in your power to contribute. Others have said, I can leave no women standing at the side of the road alone.
So, I leave you to learn and to reflect but above all to take my words and turn them into your next adventure. One you haven’t lived before. Simply otherworldly.
