Why is it so Damn Hard to Make The Decision?

I would definitely be more scared of hitching across the Middle East than I would the Mid-West. You plan to live out of a backpack, or do you have a vehicle?

 

Hi WanderingturnupII
I plan to hitchhike across Europe.
As for the Middle East i hope good times will come.

 

I'd guess Lebanon & Syria would be the hard parts, but Turkey's probably no piece of cake...and that's just getting out of Asia...

 

at times it's practical to use public transport . one could get from israel to greece by bus and ferry then hitch the roads to a rainbow gathering . it's very fine to have such a destination where people will welcome you .

home-sickness can make you depressed . this emotion happens . should the feeling have no relief either by the loving kindness of new friends or by actually returning to where you started - the feeling will become pathos .

 

It may not be financially possible though. I know I wont be able to afford public transport anyway...

 

Well when I when to Israel and across the middle east, we hitched a little but not a lot. In Morocco there are a few drifters, so that was easy. I have always found people very friendly and hospital over there

 

then one has a gift to share along the way ... sometimes i tell fortunes on the street . your giving heart provides .

 

I highly recommend doing an across the U.S. trip first learning to barter and getting a hang of it. For example I wear silver rings and bangles that I often pull off and can trade anywhere in the world for food, supplies and even guide's to remote hot spots.
Def leave the laptop behind. I lived with the Rastafari and would travel once a week to towns with internet shops to keep up with my online selling as it's very nice to walk around getting paid even in remote parts of the world.

If ya get to Europe I suggest hooking up with some travelin' Gypsy's. They can show ya the ropes fast! Small bottles of wine are Good trades there.

Happy trails to you!

Tradin' Bill a.k.a. Fla_Hippy

 

There is no advice I can give. Perhaps this little Sufi story might help.

The Songbird
There was once a successful businessman who had everything – a beautiful wife, adorable children and a big house in which they all lived happily. The pride of his life though was his exotic songbird which he kept in a cage and fed delicious titbits when it entertained his guests.
One day the man had to go on a journey far to the south and he asked his wife and children what presents they would like from abroad – they asked for fine silks, honeycomb and clockwork toys. Finally he asked his songbird if he would like him to bring anything back.
“I wish only for one small favour.” The songbird replied.
“Anything!” his master declared.
“Just this – when you see my cousins in the trees in the place you’re going to, please tell them about my conditions here.”
“Are you sure? I could bring you back a fine jewel-encrusted mirror or dried tropical fruit?”
“No, just this, thank you.” The songbird replied and the man went away feeling a little disconcerted but resolved to carry out his pet’s wishes.
The man made his trip safely and carried out his business to satisfaction and spent his remaining time there buying the presents his family had requested. Finally, he went to a park and saw some birds in the trees that bore a remarkable resemblance to his own songbird. He called up to one of them and told them about how his own bird lived in cage and sang for him.
But no sooner had he finished speaking than one of these exotic birds trembled on its perch and tumbled to the ground and ceased to move. The man held his head in grief and the incident quite spoiled his trip.
He returned home and greeted his wife and family who were delighted at their presents but he couldn’t share their pleasure as long as the forthcoming encounter with his songbird remained on his conscience. Finally he found the courage to go down to the garden.
“Well?” his songbird asked and, hesitantly, the man told him exactly what had happened. The song bird listened intently, then trembled on his perch and fell to the bottom of his cage, dead.
The man was now beside himself with grief and confusion. Weeping openly, he opened the door of the cage and carried out his beloved songbird in his hands. No sooner had he done so, however, the songbird returned to life and flew up to the branches of the nearest tree and let out a shrill of joy at finding its freedom.
The man scratched his head in wonder and eventually asked:
“Okay, you win. But tell me please, what was in the message that contained this trick?”
The songbird looked down at him with pity and said:
“My cousin in Africa showed me that it was my beauty that kept me in the cage. Were it not for the delight of my singing voice you would have lost interest long ago. I had to give up that life in order to become free.”