INDIE VOYAGER

Unconventional traveling equals unpredictable scenarios.

And these are what you’ll remember the most.

I’m not saying that you won’t remember spectacular landscapes, the people or crazy parties, but I’m completely sure that you’ll definitely remember that time you smashed your head on a traffic sign or the time you’ve slept on the beach surrounded by scorpions or the time a drunken guy yelled at you in the middle of the night in the middle of the park.

My favorite 3 unpredictable indie travel scenario situations (2015/2016):

A BLOODY HITCHHIKER

I’ve already written about this and you can read the whole story here, but to sum things up, here’s what happened…

While visiting Crete Island in Greece last year, two of my friends and I decided to check out a cute, little town on the south coast of the island called Matala – basically a hotspot for hippies back in the 60s and the 70s, and the best way to do this, of course, was to hitchhike the 60km route to this place…

It was ridiculously hot outside. Like “the end of the world” kind of weather situation. And these temperatures can mess with your head, right? Absolutely right. While approaching the place that seemed like the perfect spot for lifting our thumbs up – I had a close encounter with a traffic sign.

Resulted with my head started bleeding. Resulted with catching a ride just a few minutes after “the incident”. Resulted with a visit to a local pharmacy where they fixed my skull.

Advice: don’t panic. There are still cool folks who will offer you a ride, as long as you look decent. Screw the head. Hide the cut.

WTF IS HAPPENING?!

Location: Porec in Istria, Croatia

Time: 2am…

We were on our way to Slovenia, just arrived from Pula and decided to sleep over in Porec, in this nice park located quite close to the city center.

Approx. at 2am some guy starts yelling just “Aaaaaaaaaaa” right above our heads. I’m awake in a matter of milliseconds, and so confused that I actually don’t know whether I’m dreaming or this is actually happening.

I see a guy, a drunken guy starring at me. There’s a moment of silence. And then he starts yelling again: “Are you okay??? Are you okay??? Are you okay???”

Yup, he thought we’re dead or something. And once I answered him, he just took off.

Advice: don’t panic. Just take your stuff and change the location. A bus station. A bench. Or don’t sleep at all.

OMG, IS THAT A SCORPION?!

Hitchhike an island. Visit some beautiful places along the way. Find a beautiful beach just outside the town that looks perfect for spending a night. Ignore a guy you’ll meet on the beach who’s insisting that you just have to spend a night at his place, a lonely house on the other side of the mountain. Listen to the waves…

And then wake up and realize that you've been sleeping on a beach full of scorpions…

Advice: don’t panic. Next time sleep in (not on) the sleeping bag, like I did…