Photos - My American Dream | Squat the Planet

Photos My American Dream

amines

Active member
Joined
Oct 28, 2011
Messages
37
Reaction score
122
Location
des yard
So, I'm familiar with the concept of writing, but I keep my writing to myself, so this'll be a little weird.
Oh, and I write in details usually so the US trip would be a long thread, so I'll try to keep it short.
*takes a shot*

"You have been randomly selected for a security check" moments before boarding my plane to NY. That also was the moment I realized I'll be in America, The States, US, USA, United States of America, 'murica.
Hours later I see "Welcome to the USA" and I get out of the airport. HUGE THINGS.. BIG THINGS, fat poeple, BIG cars, the road SO WIDE, sidewalks GIGANTIC, the stoplights BIG, water fouitains, and everything I only saw in movies. This feeling continued for the first few days, yellow schoolbuses, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Chicago, Dallas. Things I saw in movies, pictures, on the Internet. Unlike all my past travels, everything felt so unfamiliar, unknown, different.
So, I've spent a few nights in NYC, explored around and shit. Took the bus to Chiacago, had a 12 hour layover there, explored it a little, found the people to be very cold, unfriendly, not even stopping when asked for directions. Got on the bus to Dallas, spent a night there. And so I headed out west and thumbed my way to California. Freshly shaved, showered, clean.
12345403_10205475257902387_4289796941641203018_n.jpg

This was a weird moment. Hitchhiking in AMERICA, in Texas. I can't really describe how it felt, it was weird but I barely even started to focus on it and I was already on the move heading west, a long long road ahead of me. So flat, so straight, miles and miles of Texas to cover. Got a few bucks, a knife, and lotta people giving me food. Third ride and it was sunset time.. The family that picked me up offered me to stay at their place, so I did, they took me to the STAR WARS premiere and I had my own ROOM. I don't even have my own room back home. The road was treating me well.
I've been hitchin around Europe for 5 years and it's so common to hitch here. But the experience in the US is so much different and it's just a bigger adventure, weird people you run into. And the best are the reactions of the "normal" people that pick you up. "WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS???" "AMERICA IS DANGEROUS" "GET ON A BUS" "You're the first hitchhiker I ever picked up" (wow, I've hitched over 200 rides and this was the first time I heard this) "You look normal, why do you hitchhike" "You're clean" "You're NOT EVEN FROM HERE" It was like being a rare species. And people GIVING me shit, that was new to me too. I got money, food, a knife, a tent, and a lot more.
So I thumbed my way West the second day too, spent the night outside near El Paso, TX where it was around 25F.. cold. I watched every train that passed by and looked wether I can spot a rider, but I never did. I assume since it's the low line and I mostly saw trains with cargo only
IMG_9915.JPG

The trains looked so nice, and I was dreaming of riding one of them, but still, I do have a brain I try to use sometimes so I didn't.
So the third day I got picked up by a trucker and had a ride all the way to Cali, I stayed at his place close to LA for 3 days, we drove around the truck, picked up and dropped off brand new BMWs that I got to drive! He then dropped me off in Indio and I thumbed my way to Slab city.
I stayed in the Slabs till a few days after NYE, I won't bother talking about that place, most of you have been there and know what it is about. I'll just say this.
The dirty kids didn't even talk to me or take me seriously just because I was clean :D Which I later found out, most of them never rode a train nor hitched, they've got cars and jug. And they wouldn't respect me and my travels, where as they just chose to be dirty to look cool I guess??
IMG_0201.JPG
IMG_0300.JPG

I met some StP people at the slabs..
IMG_0384.JPG

Alright, I can't do this, going back to those memories makes me want to leave and get on the road again.
And compared to the other stories around here I feel like I didn't do shit, but for me it was a great time, I was introduced to a totally different travelling culture, I flew a sign, I spanged, one time we got a motel room, I was kicked out of several places (Taco Bell, Love's, McD, etc) full american nomad experience :)
I made some friends in the slabs and we thumbed back east to Dallas where I got on my bus to NY and flew back "home"
I'll come back and write the rest.. (too soon for this atm)

You can look at the pics I took with some stories at my fb profile(even my past travels and shit) :
https://www.facebook.com/amin.nakhle
And most of the pics are here:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/...453.1073741835.1279054071&type=1&l=c2f42230fc

Oh, and I got some souvenirs (stolen)
12484754_10205666928054021_8809281139853959621_o.jpg

IMG_0154.JPG IMG_0045.JPG IMG_0046.JPG IMG_00101.JPG IMG_0035.JPG IMG_0094.JPG IMG_0095.JPG IMG_0067.JPG IMG_0035 (2).JPG IMG_0373.JPG IMG_9986 (2).JPG IMG_9867.JPG IMG_9878.JPG IMG_9872.JPG IMG_0637.JPG IMG_9826.JPG IMG_9841.JPG IMG_9900.JPG IMG_9892.JPG IMG_9901.JPG IMG_0195.JPG IMG_0361.JPG IMG_0465.JPG IMG_0532.JPG IMG_0531.JPG IMG_0512.JPG 12511283_10205672954644682_854597163_o.jpg 12562398_10205672955484703_2017460315_o.jpg 12576183_10205672956004716_1781179130_n.jpg 12583959_10205672956244722_1226264193_n.jpg 12591976_10205672954804686_1476922565_o.jpg 12596900_10205672955284698_636708389_o.jpg 12620538_10205672955564705_148677035_o.jpg 12510851_10205672973165145_1204715801_o.jpg 12443510_10205672969485053_940458272_o.jpg 12557190_10205672971605106_421495843_o.jpg 12557722_10205672971125094_1125324107_o.jpg 12562398_10205672955484703_2017460315_o.jpg 12562449_10205672971805111_643445002_o.jpg 12562787_10205672967365000_664454696_o.jpg 12562961_10205672973445152_232092183_o.jpg 12583959_10205672956244722_1226264193_n.jpg 12591976_10205672954804686_1476922565_o.jpg 12591983_10205672969925064_563162355_o.jpg 12596704_10205672968285023_2031201732_o.jpg 12620623_10205672972885138_477572630_o.jpg 12620799_10205672968405026_2112931281_o.jpg 12620861_10205672972085118_725331576_o.jpg IMG_0201.JPG IMG_0146.JPG IMG_0134.JPG IMG_0139.JPG IMG_0069.JPG IMG_0067.JPG IMG_0184.JPG IMG_0424.JPG IMG_0407.JPG
 
Last edited:

amines

Active member
Joined
Oct 28, 2011
Messages
37
Reaction score
122
Location
des yard
Oh yeah, I've met a lot of people from StP, but can't rember their names, there was this guy at the slabs, he knew you too he told me he was hosted by you several time, he was taller than me.. most likely 6'5'', dreadlocks ..
And yes, it was an amazing trip .. I'm definetly coming back to the states
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kal

Kal

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 20, 2014
Messages
852
Reaction score
758
Location
Everywhere
Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

bystander

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 10, 2014
Messages
180
Reaction score
205
Location
Earth
Its funny you mention how large things are here in America.

Crazy, I never thought about that.

Good shit man!
 

WanderLost Radical

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 7, 2014
Messages
443
Reaction score
667
Location
Montreal
Theres no such thing as a small trip experience. Yeah, maybe did some more epic shit or whatever, but each trip is unique in its own way, and when you consider all the people sitting on their asses at home for a lifetime, the sole fact that you had the balls to pack your stuff and leave is impressive!

Keep moving, and happy trails, man!
 
F

Fanatical Steward

Guest
I can agree with the decision that a clean or a dirty appearance do not dictate the personality of a person. A person can act with rude behaviors while clean or dirty. In short, the physical hygiene of a person does not comprise the complete character of a person.
 

amines

Active member
Joined
Oct 28, 2011
Messages
37
Reaction score
122
Location
des yard
Thank y'all for the likes, nice words and support, I'm currently writing a thread with some of my past travels.
It was by far the most exciting hitchhiking experience I've gotten so far and changed some of my plans as I will explain later
 

About us

  • Squat the Planet is the world's largest social network for misfit travelers. Join our community of do-it-yourself nomads and learn how to explore the world by any means necessary.

    More Info

Help us pay the bills!

Total amount
$10.00
Goal
$100.00

Latest Library Uploads