Travel by myself

Traveling by yourself is quite liberating in a certain way, but I think I would rather have someone with me. Getting out of your car alone to fill up on gas in a janky town can be frightening for fear of rape, but that’s probably just me and my paranoia. Also I encountered more hooting from sleezy men who have nothing bettter to do than sit outside convenience stores all day and be a nuisance.

I traveled to New York city when I was 18 by myself, on what was pretty much a whim. I’d always thought it’d be sweet to go there, but was never totally set on doing it. I’d been talking to some friends there about the possibility of going just to see a certain band in concert, when one of them bought me a ticket out of nowhere.

So now I had no excuse to back out! I managed to get the money for a plane ticket and booked myself for a week at a broadway hostel, where I would share a room with 8 other travelers like myself.

I spent the week surviving on take-out leftovers and partial starvation whilst I explored the city, hung out at central park, visited the museums, crashed at a friend’s place in New Jersey and rocked out at the Roseland Ballroom.

It was such an adventure (I arrived there with 80 bucks for the entire week) I met some great people and had some cool survival stories to tell when I got back.

Well worth it.

even if it is just somewhere within short distance. i’ve lived in the UK (from america) for almost 6 years and it’s only been in the past 6 months or so that i’ve become confident enough to get around on the trains past the local area. and taking two solo trips to London last month really sparked my desire to travel other places alone. i think it could not only be good for building my confidence in this aspect but also it would be spiritually enhancing.

It has come to my attention that I can be overwhelming to my travel companions with my excitement and desire to see and do every thing possible while in a different city (maybe even country). That is why I vow to travel alone more often…or at least with another person that is on the same page as me.

Last December, I went to Chicago with my good friend, Serena and
although there were a number of factors that made the trip
less than perfect (COLD weather, ridiculous walking journeys), we had different agendas in mind. She had been there in October and was able to see and do plenty, but since it was only my first time there I was excited by the newness of it all and she wasn’t. In the end, we had a wonderful time, but I still wish I could have done more.

This weekend I’m going to NYC for the first time in two years. I’ll only be there for 3 short days, but I really want to take advantage of every single second I’m there. I found myself researching and reading up on how to best utilize our time there, only to be met with mild enthusiasm by my friend, Tati. New York is her second home, so the novelty isn’t there for her.

Come to think of it, traveling alone was one of my new year’s resolutions last year. LOL!

This quote is probably the best way to sum up my thoughts:

“Develop interest in life as you see it; in people, things, literature, music – the world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls and interesting people. Forget yourself.” – Henry Miller

I absolutely loved it! The scariest part was when I rented the car and had NO idea how I would be able to find the rental return area bc I don’t know my way around at all. But I managed just fine. And now I feel stronger =)

I’ve traveled a lot within the US, but I’ve never gone alone. Never even flown by myself. This weekend, I have an opportunity that I can’t pass up. It requires that I travel to Maryland alone, rent a car and stay by myself. It’s only two days, but I still think it will be good for me.

Unforgettable, life-changing. Everyone must do this before dying =)

My first lone adventure was to Japan in highschool. It was great and fueled my thirst for travel. It’s not that I really wanted to go alone, but no one would come with me. I wasn’t going to let that keep me at home. Next, I went to Europe alone and backpaced and hitchhiked throught 8 countries. After that, off to Thailand and Bali alone. I have always been and always will be in love with Bali. I’ve since been to Bali and Thailand seperately, but alone several times. I also traveled to Boracay in the PI, Bunaken in Indonesia, Tioman in Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore, and Nepal alone. Of course, I met a lot of interesting, nice people along the way. Many of them were alone too. Just go.

ha! fixed it

So, I screwed up, and bought the wrong tickets, and had to cancel them, and now I can’t go.
I’m officially too stupid to vacation by myself.

Big surprise.