If you have been reading our blog for a while (big thanks!), you might have known that we are 2 people currently in here. We took most of the trips that we have written here together or separate with family or friends. But on rare occasion, we took the trips by our self. By rare I mean just this one time, and by our self I mean, it’s just me, Steffia. Hey, nice meeting all of you! 🙋🏻
As a first timer on traveling solo, there are a bunch loads of things I learned. It might not be same with some of you with a different background, ethnic, nationality, etc. So, these might not be the ultimate “tips and tricks” as I also had no idea what I was doing tbh, but these are the things that I learned so far :
1. Please. Exercise. More
I never realize how badly I need to exercise until I was carrying 10kg++ backpack across the street of Stockholm. Yes, surprisingly, I didn’t expect my backpack to FEEL that heavy. The first and foremost you all need to prepare, more than your stuff, is your physical well-being. Especially if you are traveling backpacker style.
Of course, I didn’t always bring all my backpack every day. But even during the days when I was staying at the same hostel or Airbnb that I can leave my luggage there, I still did a fair amount of walking. So, I will say at least stay fit enough that you know your body won’t suffer during the trip.
2. Multitasking at its Worst Best
People say that women are good at multitasking, and I say it is a big BS. I am not good at multitasking, you can try and talk to me while I am typing and 50% chance that I will type half of your sentences without realizing it. So no, I am not expert on that and I found traveling alone needs a certain level of multitasking.
Navigating, phone with maps app on one hand and a camera in other hand is not an easy task let me tell you that. And what did I do at that time? I choose. That might be the reason why I didn’t really have heaps of photo during the Nordic trips (and the ones that I had most of them are blurry, whoops!).
3. Decision, Decision, Decision
For some people that know me knew that I hate deciding basically anything. I usually let people choose what to eat and where to eat, because… And if you are just like me, guess what, you can’t do that when going solo! I heard all the bf on the back saying “Ha!”
Not just where to eat, of course, you will have to choose everything. What time to leave the Airbnb, where to go first, where to go after this, the obvious what to eat, how much you want to spend, did I really want to buy that magnet, and so on.
4. It’s Mentally Tiring
My personal opinion, I found traveling alone to be more tiring, mental-wise.
At times when I ran across the Copenhagen airport to found that the boarding gate has closed with no air-crew around, having to begged the janitor that were passing by to help me find any staff at all and finally allowed to board with everyone already sitting and staring at me while I walk the plane aisle, landed in the Oslo to find their airport public wifi is not working and having to spend another hour trying to find a way to the city, reached the city center, starving as I had nothing for breakfast, and starting to shed some tears while eating in Burger King on the Central Station, hands down, was not my finest moment.
5. “Two is Better Than One”
You might have ever heard that phrase. For me, I will have to add more details to that, “When traveling, two is definitely better than one!” Feel free to disagree but having another person to share the tasks, to ask opinions about, or just to share the moment is definitely way more enjoyable than experiencing it alone.
Alright, just scroll past this point if this is getting too sappy for you. I don’t get emotional usually but like it or not, I do admit that there were moments where I start feeling “home-sick”. Home not as a physical building but more about the peoples I care about. Chatting and making video calls were life-savers. Or more like heart-saver.
6. Learning About “Me”
I learned more about myself during my less than 2 weeks traveling alone compare to the last 6 months before I go. When you are forced to be alone, not in your familiar environment, it’s like being locked in a room with a person that you have known for decades but never actually knew.
Realizing my bad habit that I always overlooked as it never really becoming a problem, a.k.a being too chill at the extent of almost missing flight(s). And also amazed at how fast I can adapt to new places and people. I’m not an anti-social as I thought I was.
7. Confidence Booster
Not sure where you are coming from but from my background, the female is consider delicate-being that hardly stand alone. I am lucky to be raised in a family that actually open-minded enough to let me do what I want to do, alone or not. But even with that privilege, there are sometimes when questions like “are you sure?” or “can you do it by yourself?” popping up.
I do not see solo traveling as a way for me to prove myself to the world that “I can!” or “I don’t need anyone!” But more like a small realization of “Oh..I can actually do it.” sort of things. And as conflicting as it sounds, I also found it to be a humbling experience that I do enjoy another person presence more than I thought I would.
8. Will I Do It Again?
Yes, if I have to. No, if I have other options.
I will not try sounds like an idealist as I have made it pretty clear to myself that I certainly enjoy traveling with a partner more with all the up and downside that I have experience.
9. Is it an eye-opening experience?
Yes, it is. I think especially if you are a female. With all the society said about what women should and should not do, going against the odd is like earning yourself a brownie point from you and for you. And especially if you are being held down by the excuses of not having anyone to travel with then you should try traveling solo! You might find it enjoyable more than I do. Don’t wait for the opportunity might not come twice! And now I sound like a motivational speaker… 🙊
Well, my opinion might change in the future but what do you think about traveling solo? Do you think it’s worth trying? Have you done it? Let me know! Anyhow, our next post will be a new exciting destination that we rather have a conflicting feeling about. You need to stay tuned for that tho. 😊 Until then, see ya!
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