Q10. Where did you sleep when you didn't have a place to stay ?

I do couchsurfing and warmshowers quite often.

But in small villages, people don't know what is couchsurfing.

When I don't have a place to stay,

I sleep everywhere.

1. In the forest

Sometimes sleeping outside is better than inside.

I met Brano in Bratislava by chance when I didn't have a place to stay,

He was a really nice guy,

He showed me very good place to camp in the forest.

He said that one day he watched TV show about a guy who visited Slovakia.

Nobody tried to help this guy,

Brano didn't like that,

when he saw me, he decided  to help me.

Now, I can pitch my tent with my eyes closed.

But in the beginning I didn't know how to do that.

My friends in Bratislava taught me how to pitch my tent.

The forest had the natural swimming pool.

There were many friends of Brano,

So I felt very safe, we spent very good time together.

2. Ask local people 

I don't want to sleep just on the street.

Because while I'm sleeping on the street, 

a bad guy can come to me and attack me.

Normally I ask local people if they can let me pitch my tent 

in their garden or next to the house.

It was rainy season all day all night.

So I stuck in my tent for four days.

3. In the fields

It's better if you can find a roof.

Because when you wake up in the morning, it's too hot.

4. In the desert

Under the tree is perfect.

I was bit worried about wild animals.

Fortunately nothing happened.

You need to be careful of ants.

And don't forget to have much water to drink and clean always. 

It was not in the desert,

but you can find this kind of big tent in the desert as well.

If Bedouins let you work, you can help them and stay with them.

5. In the park

In the dark, you are happy to meet people,

or you are unhappy to meet people.

It's better to have some important stuffs with you in your tent.

6. A deserted house

It looks peaceful in thee morning,

but in the night, it seems bit scary.

Be careful of ghosts.

You can also find squats.

No electricity, no water, sometimes even no toilet.

But you can go to the library later.

And of course, it's always better to be with someone than being alone.

7. Monastery

It was not my plan to sleep in the monastery.

But it was too late to go home.

I've slept in the monastery in Montenegro.

You can also try churches and mosques, I had seldom tried though.

Because basically, I don't want to disturb anyone.

Practically, I'm disturbing couchsurfers though.

8. A parking garage or storage

You need to be careful of the smell of gas.

Think about ventilation twice.

Some people want to help me,

but we need time to trust each other.

I can understand them,

they don't let me inside home,

but they allow to use their storage.

9. On the chair

Of course, it's not very comfortable,

because you can't move very much.

But if you are tired,

it doesn't really matter, you can sleep anywhere.

10. On the roof

It's very hot in summer

I prefer to sleep on the roof,

it's cooler than inside,

you can see many beautiful stars in the sky in the night. 

Of course you need to prepare something for mosquitos.

11. A caravan

My friend hosted me here in the caravan.

It's nice, but it's very hot inside in Summer.

12. On the beach

It's better to find a place where is not very crowded.

When I slept here, people used to sing and walk around me all night long.

I couldn't sleep properly.

It didn't happen here,

but one day, annoying kids came to me and threw mud into my tent.

When I went out, they were hiding somewhere.

I was not in mood to play hide-and-seek.

I tried to sleep again, but they threw mud over and over all night long.

I couldn't sleep at all, and I didn't want to fight either.

I just tired to find another place to sleep.

Sometimes, when you traveling, you always meet the same people everywhere.

when I was traveling in Croatia, I met these girls many times.

We all didn't have a place to stay.

So I decided to be their bodyguard for one night. 

Because I'm a MAN!

13. Vineyard

You can have some grapes for your breakfast or for the road.

Sorry for farmers.

14. Near the police station

15. Gas station

I used to sleep next to gas station many times.

It's safe, you can get water for cleaning.

Sometimes, you can also meet friendly guys.

I really recommend you to go to gas station when you don't have place to stay.

16. Construction sites

You need to be careful.

You may meet some bad guys or not.

17. A small shop near borders

It was rainy season in Balkans,

I spent hard time to cross the borders.

I stuck in the mountain, 

it was too dark to ride a bike,

My clothes got all wet in the rain.

I had to sleep in a small shop,

people went back home after they finished their work,

it was freezing, and I was scared a little bit,

I couldn't fall asleep at all.

On the way to Turkey from Bulgaria,

it was too much snowy.

I couldn't imagine to ride my bike,

and it was even difficult to push my bike, because it was very slippery.

It was too dark, and too much snow all day all night.

I had to sleep next to the bus station, I didn't want though.

I thought I might die, I tried to make a fire,

but it didn't work, because everything was wet.

There were no cars, no people, no villages.

I barely found a car, and it was big enough to put my bike and everything.

But he said NO! and left me in the mountain in the snow.

Unfortunately no photos with me.

If you see some photos in extreme situation with people,

I don't think the situation is really extreme.

Because if it's really extreme,

You can't even image to take your camera, take picture of yourself.

You think only about this,

Live or Die !

You can also try a bus station, fire station, school or wherever you like.

I wish you and myself, be alive anywhere always!

Anyway the conclusion is that 

There is no place like home!

Incredible Moroccans

#1
I was writing my diary on the street, and an old Moroccan man came to me,
he said hello in Japanese.
I was little bit afraid, because he was a stranger and I didn't know what he wanted from me.
I just said "I can understand Japanese, but I'm Korean."
He spoke fluent English for a Moroccan, I said "You speak very good English. "
He said he can speak more languages, 
Spanish, French, German, Arabic, Italian, Turkish, Japanese and so on.
I thought is it possible to speak so many languages ? I didn't take him seriously.
And he said he was 69 years old, he used to travel all around Europe by hitchhiking when he was young. 
So I asked him, "when was it ?" He said, "40 years ago."
If it's true, I thought he was great!
I'm really not sure the situation 40 years ago in Morocco was better than now, 
but I don't think it was easy to travel abroad for Moroccans. 
Even now, I can see many people from Morocco who have never been traveling abroad. 
I really admired his experiences. 
He said, people must travel as I do, and it's very important to discover the reality. 
Actually at my age in South Korea, I'm not suppose to travel in this way, I have to work hard. 
In a way, now I'm not a very practical person.
And many times, to be honest, If I thin about my future, I feel little bit nervous. 
But what he said, "You are doing good!" encouraged me very much.
Apparently, he was studying in France, when he was young.
Please, forgive me my French friends, but generally I didn't see many French people 
who can speak good English except young generation. 
I guess they were so proud of their own language. 
I know I should talk about myself, my English is also terrible enough. I'm just trying.
But this Moroccan man spoke very good English, it means he was quite open-minded, 
tried on his own. 
He said his son and grand son are living in Canada at the moment, 
he wanted to talk to his grand son in English, and teach Arabic in English as well.
He said he was very happy to meet me, told me gently below.

Can I give you some money ?

I have no income at the moment, even many times I have to worry about my food.
Of course, there is no reason to refuse him. I was bit shy to say YES!, but I did.
And he gave me a crisp new 200DH. It is like €20.
If I think about the price in Morocco, I don't think it was little money.
Of course, he could be rich, for him it might me nothing.
But I don't think every rich men help the others.
I was afraid of this man in the beginning, but I realized he really liked me or liked what I'm doing.
I didn't do anything for him, I'm a stranger for him,
but he wanted to help me.
I was overwhelmed by his heart.

#2
Now I'm thinking to sell my camera, and change to a small one.
I feel my camera is a part of my body or my very good friend, because it was always with me wherever I go.
Of course, I don't want to sell it.
But many people consider me as a rich man, I'm rich at all though.
Some bad guys can also steal it from me, when I sleep outside in my tent.

I met two Moroccan guys on the street.
They also like traveling, but they did only in Morocco.
One of these guys said, "Don't sell you camera, if you need a small one, I can give my camera."
I don't know if he had a good camera or not. But it's not important.
He said it's better to give me his camera to me than he has. 
Because I go everywhere, see wonderful things, I can take photos of them.
But I feel guilty, it doesn't make any sense. I turned him down.
If he has many cameras, or he is planning to buy a new camera, 
or I can pay money to him for his camera, that's fine. 
But I can't take his camera without paying.
Anyway I was almost shocked, how is it possible to think in that way ?
In South Korea, many people buy expansive cameras.
Unfortunately, also many of them never use it after they bought them. 
Andy they just put cameras on pedestals, and happy to watch the dust on the cameras.
They never use them, and never give them to anyone.
I couldn't understand this Moroccan guy. 
I think in this dirty world, it's more natural to be selfish. 
He didn't have two cameras, he has the only one, and he may need it later.
He is studying architecture. And he said he can tell my storied to his friends in his faculty, 
he can collect some money from his friends who are willing to help me.
The other Moroccan guy was also nice, too.
I said I want to go to Fes by hitchhiking.
But he said "Fes is very dangerous, I can join you, don't worry about anything, 
where to sleep, what to eat, how to move."
He invited to travel together later in the south of Morocco.
He also said "Don't worry about anything while you are staying in Morocco, just think about your next steps."


Of course, it's always good to have local companies.
I can save money and time. And we can make great memories.
You can't get this from tourist guides.
But it happens only they are willing to help me.

They are not my old friends.
Incredible. So nice people.




#3
I visited a market in Morocco. It was very crowded.
My friend said be careful of pickpockets.
But people from the market liked me very much.
It's true that Moroccans are friendly, 
but I don't think they are friendly to everyone.
They can smile in front you, in order to sell something in expansive price.
You are the tourists who bring the money.
We can't blame them. They make a living.
But they treat me as a friend.
They already I don't have much money, 
they don't expect anything from me.
They know I'm hungry, they like me if they know I'm from South Korea by BIKE!
They are very welcoming.
And Obviously I don't look like a Moroccan,
I'm Jackie Chan. They laugh a lot in front of me.
I didn't like this when I was in Arabs before. 
I like friendly people, each people laugh only once,
but for me they are too many people. I was tired.
But now I'm fine. Because I'm used to it.
And it's good if I can make people smile or laugh.
Many people give me the thumbs up on the road.
It means they like my adventure.
I get very positive energy more than before.
I just want to say to little Kids,
"I know you love very much, 
but please, don't throw stones to me."

정이 넘치는 모로코

#1
길에 앉아서 일기를 쓰고 있었는데, 한 모로코인 할아버지가 내게 다가와 일본어로 말을 건네셨다.
겉으로 내색은 하지 않았지만, 마음 속으로 약간 경계는 했다.
아직 서로에 대해 아는 것이 없고, 그 분이 내게 무엇을 원하시는지 몰랐기 때문에.
어쨌든 나는 일본어를 알아는 듣지만, 한국에서 온 한국사람이라고 말씀드렸다.
모로코인 치고는 영어가 능숙하시길래, "영어를 잘 하시네요"라고 말씀을 드렸더니,
영어뿐만 아니라, 스페인어, 프랑스어, 독일어, 아랍어, 이탈리아어, 터키어, 일본어...도 구사하신다고.
이 할아버지께서는 세상의 모든 언어를 다 구사하시나?
혹시 지금 나한테 장난을 치시는 건지.
장난이라고 해도 재미로 받아들이면 그뿐이었다.
할아버지는 69세의 연세라고 하셨는데, 왕년에 히치하이킹으로 유럽을 일주하셨다고.
궁금해진 나는 왕년이 언제인지 여쭤보니, 40년 전이라고.
과거에 모로코 경제상황이 어떠했는지 모르겠지만,
지금도 모로코에는 해외여행 한 번 가보지 못한 사람들이 무척이나 많다.
40년 전 상황이 지금보다 낫지는 않았을텐데,
할아버지도 젊으셨을 때는 날아다니셨구나 싶었다.
그런 할아버지가 말씀하시기를, 사람들이 나처럼 여행을 많이 해야 한단다.
여행을 하며 다른 사람들이 어떻게 사는지 보는 건 아주 중요한 일이라고.
한국에서 한창 자리 잡고 열심히 일해야 할 나이에,
정신도 못 차리고 이곳 모로코까지 와서 방황하고 있는 내게 큰 위로가 되는 말씀이 아닐 수 없었다.
대학시절을 프랑스에서 보내셨다는데, 여쭤보지는 않았지만 프랑스 식민지배 때문인가 싶었다.
프랑스 사람들이 젊은 친구들 빼고는 솔직히 대체로 영어 잘 못한다.
머리가 안 좋아서 못 한다기보다는, 프랑스어에 대한 자부심이 너무 큰 나머지 안 한 탓이 크다.
그런데도 그렇게 영어를 잘 하시는 할아버지를 보니, 프랑스에서 공부는 하셨지만,
의식이 상당히 깨어 있으셨던 분인 것 같다.
자식이 캐나다에 살고 있는데, 손자와 대화하려면 영어 공부해야 된다고.
또 손자에게 아랍어를 영어로 가르쳐 주고 싶으시다고.
할아버지는 나를 만난 것이 너무 기쁘다고 하셨다.
그러시면서 조심스럽게 내게 이렇게 말씀하셨다.

내가 너한테 돈을 조금 주고 싶은데 괜찮을까?

여행 중에 이렇다 할 수입도 없이, 때론 먹을 것도 걱정해야 하는 나로서는,
도와 주시면 저야 감사하지요 라고 머리를 긁적이며 대답했다.
주머니에서 방금 5분 전에 모로코은행에서 막 찍어낸 듯 아주 빳빳한 200디르함 지폐를 내게 건네셨다.
200디르함은 우리나라 돈으로 한 3만원쯤 되는 돈인데,
모로코에서의 상대적으로 저렴한 물가를 생각할 때 그 가치는 더 높은 듯 하다.
물론 할아버지가 경제적으로 여유로우실 수도 있다.
하지만 여유로운 사람들이 늘 다른 누군가를 돕는 것은 아니다.
낯선 이 할아버지를 처음에 나는 경계했었지만,
이 할아버지는 나를(또는 내가 하고 있는 일을) 정말 좋아하셨구나 싶었다.
내가 할아버지를 위해 해드린 것도 없는데,
잘 알지도 못하는 나에게 그 큰 돈을 주실 수 있다는 것은.
왠지 모르게 가슴이 벅차 올랐다.



#2
나는 지금 내가 가진 DSLR 카메라를 팔고 작은 카메라로 바꿀까 생각 중이다.
어디를 가든 나와 함께였던 내 몸의 일부와 같은 카메라를 팔자니,
당연히 아쉬운 마음도 들지만, 여러 단점도 많다.
부자도 아닌데, 부자처럼 보여, 강도에게 표적이 될 수 있다던지, 
텐트 속에서 혼자 잘 때 도난의 위험이 있다든지,
무거워서 들고 다니기도 좀 불편하고.

우연히 길에서 젊은 친구 두 명을 만났다.
둘 다 여행을 좋아하지만, 해외여행까지는 무리고, 모로코 국내여행을 많이 다녔다고 한다.

그 중 한 친구가, 자기한테 카메라가 하나 있는데, 나의 그런 사정을 듣고는,
카메라를 팔지 말란다. 작은 카메라가 필요하다면, 자신의 작은 카메라를 주겠다고.
듣자 하니, 남에게 쉽게 줄 수 있을 만큼 성능이 달리는 카메라 같지는 않았다.
사실 뭐 그 친구가 주려는 카메라가 좋은 카메라든, 후진 카메라든 별로 중요한 건 아니다.
그 친구는 자신이 그 카메라를 가지고 있는 것보다, 내가 여행을 다니며 의미 있게 쓰는 것이 더 나을 것 같고, 내가 자신의 카메라를 써 주면 자신은 영광이란다.
그러면서 내 분신과도 같은, 추억이 깃든 DSLR 카메라 팔지 말라고.
그 친구에게서 아직 카메라를 받지는 않았고, 여러 번 사양했다. 
그 친구에게 카메라가 여러 대 있거나, 그 전부터 카메라를 새로 살 계획이 있었다거나, 
그도 아니면 내가 그 친구 카메라가 마음에 들어서 적정한 값을 치루어 줄 수 있다면 모르겠는데, 
나에게는 그런 여유도 없다.
어쨌든 내가 놀란 것은, 어떻게 그런 마음을 먹을 수 있는 것인지.

한국에서는 DSLR이나 고가의 카메라 많이들 산다.

다 그런 것은 아니나, 사놓고 몇 번 쓰다가 더 이상 사용하지 않고, 

집 안에 고이 모셔만 두다가 먼지만 쌓이는 경우도 많다.

먼지만 쌓이도록 집안에 모셔는 둘 수 있어도, 그냥 남 주기에는 아깝다.

그러한 이기심이 보편적 인간심리라 믿고 있는 내게 그 친구는 상식을 벗어난 행동을 하고 있지 않은가?
또 이 친구가 건축학을 전공하고 있는데,
자신의 학과 친구들에게 내 이야기를 소개해서,
나를 돕기를 원하는 친구들로부터 돈을 좀 모아서 내 여행을 위해 보태주고 싶다고.

함께 있던 다른 친구도 마찬가지였다.

내가 페스에 가고 싶고, 짐들은 라밧에 두고 페스까지 히치하이킹으로 갈까 생각 중이라고 말했다.

그러자 그 친구는 페스가 얼마나 위험한 곳인데, 혼자 가려 하느냐며, 

자신이 같이 가주겠단다. 그러면서도 먹을 것, 지낼 곳, 이동요금 그 어떤 것도 염려 하지 말라고.

또 모로코 남부에서 나중에 한 번 더 만나서 같이 여행하자고.
모로코에서 지내는 동안에는 아무 걱정하지 말고, 다음 스텝에 대해서 생각해보라고.

오랫동안 이 친구들을 알고 지낸 것이 아니라, 난 그냥 이 친구들을 길에서 만났을 뿐인데.

사실 아무리 멋진 곳엘 가도, 혼자 가서 헤매는 재미도 물론 있지만,
현지 사정을 잘 아는 사람과 동행하면, 시간과 비용을 아낄 수 있음은 물론이요,
동행한 사람과 잊지 못할 추억도 남길 수 있다.
이것은 여행사 가이드를 따라 다녀서 얻을 수 있는 것은 아니라고 본다.
그러나 이것은 누군가가 기꺼이 시간을 할애하고, 수고스러움을 감수해야 일어날 수 있는 일이다.

아무튼 이 두 친구의 상식을 벗어난 친절에 나는 어리둥절할 뿐이다.

#3

라밧의 한 시장에 갔다. 모로코인 친구가 소지품을 조심하란다.

워낙 사람들이 많아, 무리 중 소매치기가 있을 수도 있다고.

그런데 시장 사람들이 나를 되게 좋아한다. 밥도 막 주고.

나의 착각일 수도 있겠으나, 모로코 사람들이 친절하다고 하더라도,

누구에게나 다 친절하다고 생각지는 않는다.

그냥 일반 관광객에게는 앞에서는 웃으면서도, 바가지를 씌울 수도 있다. 

그들에게는 관광객이 곧 돈이니까.
그렇다고 그들을 탓할 수는 없다.
그것이 그들의 생업이니까.

하지만 나에게는 다르다. 

그들은 나에게 돈이 많지 않음을 이미 잘 알고 있다.

그들과 나의 거리는 그리 멀지 않다.

그들은 내가 배가 고프다는 것을 잘 알고 있고,

모로코까지 힘들게 온 나를 좋아하니까,

어디를 가든 환영을 받는다.

그리고 그들의 용모를 기준으로,

나는 이상하게(또는 다르게) 생긴 아시아인이기 때문에,

보든 사람들마다 나만 보면 웃고 난리다.

그게 싫었다. 팔레스타인이나 요르단에 있을 때만 해도.

한 두 사람이 그러면 모르겠는데, 

어디를 가든 나를 보는 사람들마다 나 때문에 웃어대면 사실 힘이 든다,

이미 팔레스타인이나 요르단에서 경험했기 때문인지,

그런 반응들이 이젠 전보다는 익숙하다.

사실 생각해보면, 어떤 이유에서든, 

내가 누군가에게 웃음을 줄 수 있다는 것은 좋은 거다.

그리고 많은 사람들이 엄지 손가락을 치켜 세워준다.

당장 내 주머니에 돈은 얼마 없지만,

사람들이 나를 응원하고 있음이 힘이 된다.