Hitchhiker (Myanmar)

A phantom hitchhiker is a well-known urban legend across various cultures. Myanmar also has its own version of this ghostly traveler. Not surprisingly, taxi and rickshaw drivers often claim to have firsthand encounters with this ghost. 

Typically, the ghost appears as an ordinary person hailing a ride. Once inside, it takes the ride in silence, speaking only to provide an address. Upon reaching the destination, the passenger vanishes without a trace. Up to this point, Myanmar’s hitchhiking ghost closely resembles its counterparts worldwide. However, some encounters take a more sinister turn. 

In certain accounts, the ghost suddenly reveals a horrifying appearance, shocking the driver and sometimes causing accidents. Another commonly reported encounter involves drivers sensing something odd about the hitchhiker and choosing to drive past them. However, as they pass, they feel their vehicle sink slightly, as if someone has just taken a seat in the back. Throughout the journey, they sense an unseen presence, only for the weight to lift moments later, as if someone had got out of their car.  

Read more about these ghosts in Ghosts, Spirits and Paranormal Entities from Asian Folklore and Mythology (Book 1).