“Backpacker Group Sparks Controversy with Free Ride Request to Gerik” Is About Damn Time We Teach Them – Netizen
Source: Tiktok | @miquelrudy
Western backpackers often love traveling on a budget, carrying only their backpacks for flexibility and cost-saving. However, their frugal ways sometimes lead to inconveniencing others, like begging for money on the streets or seeking free rides from locals.
The Viral TikTok Video
Recently, a group of foreign backpackers shared a TikTok video showing them attempting to hitchhike to Gerik, which was 55 km away. Holding a small cardboard sign with “Gerik” written on it, they waited eagerly for a kind driver to offer them a free ride to their next destination.
Cultural Differences in Hitchhiking
While hitchhiking is common and somewhat accepted in Western countries, in Asia, it’s more frowned upon. Here, people are taught to be cautious and not to ask for handouts.
Netizens’ Reactions
The video quickly went viral, with many netizens criticizing the backpackers for trying to take advantage of the locals’ kindness. Commenters advised the travelers to better plan their trips, including budgeting for transportation costs, instead of relying on the generosity of strangers.
Do you think the backpackers were out of line, or is it just a cultural misunderstanding? Let us know your thoughts!
