Hitchhiking in South Korea: Daegu to Gyeongju
22nd of April, 2025.
Goodbyes are funny. They give you all this renewed energy, and even though people say (or just believe it) they are sad moments, they actually make you feel happy and refreshed. They can even confuse you, and make you believe that you actually had a great time at that place. Perhaps people should say goodbyes more often, even when they are not leaving, just so they can feel a place more enjoyable, and if they wish to stay longer, they actually can.
Karina comes with me, as it’s her day off and normally she goes to Geochang in these days. The seniour drive is to take us down to the bus stop, about 15 minutes driving to the village. From there, we were supposed to take a bus to Geochang. I ask Karina if she can pay the 1000 KRW for me, as I have no cash at all. She says yes. But we don’t take the bus.
As we arrive to the bus stop, the lovely driver stop for a moment, check his watch, and then exclaims: “Geochang! Geochang!”. As I have never taken the bus to Geochang, I am a bit confused and thinking that he mistook one bus stop per another. Nope! What he means is that he’s taken us to Geochang. He’s driving us all the way to Geochang! I cannot believe it! And do you know what? It’s freaking raining a lot, so that’s actually wonderful for us. Karina and I already have strong mindfulness when we are apart, so when we are together, we can move mountains. Or at least cars. Laugh.
We chat for a while in the bus station. The rain doesn’t stop. I still cannot believe that, in my last day, Karina was to come all the way here to Geochang with me. But I mean, of course that is what was supposed to be. When we say our goodbyes, Karina try to give me some money. I reinforce to her something we talked about another day, that I don’t accept money. She reinforces to me what she told me then, that I should accept anything and everything what the universe gives me. I promise her I will start doing that from now on. But I still don’t take her money.
As the rain will continue the whole day, I decide to take a bus to Daegu, and perhaps there it’s not raining, so I can hitchhike from there. It’s a bigger town and on the way to my first destination, Gyeongju.
When we arrive in Daegu, as it’s still raining, I decide to take another bus to Gyeongju. They don’t accept foreigner cards. As I am to withdraw money from a ATM, I look outside and it seems as the rain has stopped, plus the ATM is taken ages to function so I quit that and decide to hitchhike. I get directions and start walking.
There’s a light but constant drizzle. I walk for about one hour until the drizzle gets too strong so I stop and wait. It’s nearly 16.00 hours now, and I have just passed a church. That’s enough for me to make the decision to stay overnight here in Daegu and carry on tomorrow. That’s the good thing when you don’t fully book all your travel days with an itinerary, as I used to do so much in the past. This time, as I have a very flexible and light schedule, I can afford to simply chill.
There’s a seniour lady at the church. She’s so carrying and attentive to what I have to say. She calls someone and they tell her I can stay in a small kids room. She shows me inside, explain certain things, gives me tea sachet (the amazing walnut and almond tea sachet we used to have at Buddha Forest), and also gives me some red beans buns. Funny thing happens when she is showing me the code for the bathroom. A young woman, coming out of another church building, and accompanied by a man, runs to us and stand right between the lady and I, as so I cannot see the code. Laugh. Laugh because I had already seen the code; and laugh once more because the attitude of Cho Ain Young (that’s how her name sounds), the seniour lady, is magnificent. She ignores the other woman completely, and keep on doing her stuff as there was only the two of us there. Brilliant!
When Cho Ain Young goes out with these people afterwards, I do some reading and study Hindi. She comes back around 18.00 hours and say we are going for dinner. In a nearby fresh local market, I have my first Bibimbap in South Korea. Which would actually turn out to be the only one. Well, if you consider how it was served, as other times I would also be presented with a variety of ingredients and rice; and as you mix altogether, that’s also Bibimbap. Anyway, I love it! It is not only delicious, I’s also vegetarian! With a very nice fried egg on top. Plus all the side portions. It’s all amazing!
I forgot to say that, as we walk to the market, I am holding the umbrella (even though it’s not really raining), and Cho Ain Young is holding on me. It’s so cute! I have never been anywhere with any of my grandmothers, but I imagine that this is just how it feels.
There is a service in the church at night but nobody comes to where I am.
Next morning, I hear someone coming before 5 o’clock to the church, but again, nobody comes to this kid’s room. I leave the church quite early, soon after 6.00 a.m, as I have a long walk until my hitchhiking spot.
23rd of April, 2025.
As I promise Karina that I would accept all the help the universe would send on my way, that’s what I do. As I am walking through the streets, going towards outside Daegu and holding my sign up, an angel in her tiny bright yellow car, stops and offers me some money. She doesn’t say anything, just stares at me with a smile and a look that pretty much it says – Here I am, I’m trying to help you, will you really keep your word and accept my help? – And I have a very surprising look, as this is exactly how I am, quickly followed by a relaxing and relieved face, which means thank you. When I take the cash, the little angel simply says: “Take care!”. She doesn’t has South Korean features at all, and I’m guessing she’s from Canada or U.S. I mean, if she wasn’t an angel…
This time, I feel so happy and grateful for the help, completely the opposite of the few other times when I accepted money and felt bad about it afterwards. So I am walking happily and hopping until my hitchhiking spot.
Until I get there. Just kidding. It sucks a little bit, but I manage. It’s a big road of four lanes; there’s a gas station somewhere before the traffic lights, but the entrance and the exit are tiny, as this is just a regular road and not really the highway, so that makes it difficult for the cars to simply park if they want to, they must enter the gas station. I cannot go any further as the highway will start soon after here. My best alternative is walking bypassing the cars, as the traffic lights go red, so if anyone wants to help, they have “the time” to turn their lights on and enter the station. It takes me only a few walks until somebody decide to help. South Koreans are such helpful, kind and generous people!
Vincent stops at the gas station. He can speak a little English, and tells me he will take me to a bus stop, to what I’m already happy, thinking that anywhere is better than here. And that’s when he says he will buy me a bus ticket over there. I accept. I know for a fact that the ticket is not that expensive, so that makes it easier to accept. But I also know that I would’ve accepted it anyway. I am now a Yes, man lady.
It’s a short drive and Vincent is a very pleasant guy. When we get there, I understand how advanced this far East Asian countries are from us in Brazil. And from Europe! There are ticket machines at the bus stop, so you can buy your long distance trip ticket right here, at any moment. I mean, this specific trip is less than one hour, but still, it’s from one city to another. With my tickets in hand, I say many thanks and good bye to Vincent, and wait for the bus.
I arrive to Gyeongju around 10 o’clock.
10 Years Around the World 