Hitchhiking in Thailand: Sura Thani to Phanat Nikhom

11^th of April, 2024.

Hitchhiking in Thailand: Sura Thani to Phanat Nikhom

The ferry from Koh Phangan to Sura Thani, direct, it costs only 240 THB, and it takes less than three hours.

Again, the crew is so slow that, by the time I can finally walk out of the ferry, most of the cars have already left. Plus, they don’t allow me to walk alongside the road, so I cannot really show my sign to the very few remaining cars. Damn it! That’s because the pier, just as most of others, it is located outside the town, so if I don’t get a lift from the cars coming out of the ferry, it will be very difficult to grab another car around here.

But I am lucky, and soon enough Play and Ton stop for me. They are very sweet and really want to help. Play is a beautiful young girl. She has some star stickers in her face. They are going to a hotel in Sura Thani, but they find a good intersection where they can drop me off, which is great!

Then a man drives me for a short distance, dropping me off in front of the mall Central Sura Thani. It should be a good spot for hitchhiking, although I believe that most of the cars are from locals, and perhaps that’s why it takes quite some time until somebody finally stops.

Pik is a very nice man, who is a salesman for insurance. We drive together for about 20 km only, but it is very helpful. Pik is learning English, so apart from practicing with me, I also give him some tips. He gives me some delicious rice crackers and a bottle of water. Yay!

Something crazy happens next. A pick-up stops. A couple and their baby have some furniture and stuff on the back. My sign it says Bangkok, in Thai. Because of their stuff on the back of the pick-up, I don’t believe they are going much further, most likely only locally, so I kindly say no to them. But they insist and are trying to explain something to me. I am worried about the time, as it is getting dark soon, so I keep trying to reach the cars passing by. Suddenly, a motorbike stops, and the senior lady who is riding with a man, start to talk with the couple, and as she can speak a bit of English, she tells me that they are actually going all the way to Samut Sakhon. What? That’s just before Bangkok, which is actually perfect for me. I will have to ride in the back, but because it is after five already, and the temperatures are cool even at night, I am totally fine with it. Yay!

Fain, Paul and their baby Epek are lovely people, and they even buy me some water, a bun with red beans filling, and two salapao, these white steamed Chinese buns, which are very popular here in Thailand. I eat everything in the back of the trunk. The trip takes more than five hours and it is fun.

When we arrive in Samut Sakhon region, they stop by a PTT Station, where I plan to camp for tonight, and even though they are much concerned about me, and so reluctant to leave, I tell them I will be alright.

I am actually not sure. Laugh. It is always a mystery how camping in a gas station will be. PTT Stations in Thailand are super busy, even at night. There are always so many people, and shops too. Almost everywhere is illuminated, saving only a few darker spots. I am wondering where would be the best spot to pitch my tent.

I walk to the gas pumps, planning to ask the people working there if it is OK for me to camp here overnight. What a surprise when I see two women working now, just sitting there and chatting. At first, they are extremely surprised to see me too, but when I ask them about the camping thing, they chill out completely, and ensure me that is totally fine for me to camp here. And I feel that way then, as it is the most logical thing to do, just pitch my tent somewhere. I choose to stay right beside 7-Eleven, as it is the closest spot to the gas pumps and the illuminated areas. Right by the door of 7-Eleven, two homeless people are begging, a senior man and a young woman, but I am not sure if they are together. I do believe they saw me with my tent and understood that, afterwards, the tree of us would be sleeping here. Apart from the heat, everything else is just fine.

Next morning, while I am having breakfast, a big group of workers, men and women, are also outside of 7-Eleven, and they are all having breakfast too. I am having my muesli with some yogurt, and later on I get some hot water to have some coffee. I can feel the enquiring eyes of the workers, probably wondering what the hell am I doing. The homeless guy from last night is now playing the guitar and singing some songs. Even though some of the workers give him some coins, I know that they are also making fun of him, laughing and all that. When I am leaving, I give 20 THB to the beggar, and he seems very happy with it, saying thank you many times. In somehow, I don’t really think he was happy and grateful just for the money, but mostly for my attitude.

I decide to walk into the highway, otherwise my chances will be too small here at the gas station. By the road, it is not easy either, but at least there’s more cars coming. I get very lucky that a small truck stops for me. Taiae and A. are going all the way to Chonburi. Yes! That’s great for me. They drop me off at the intersection with Phanat Nikhom road, which is great! Two more lifts and I am back home.