It is correct that social media apps such as Instagram, SnapChat, Facebook, etc. portrays a world filled with lies. Whenever you will scroll through, you will come across uncountable posts where you will see backlit silhouettes against “Balinese Sunsets” and “Pristine Coffee Cups” on Parisian bistro tables. But the truth is something else: Solo travel is often a messy trip, occasionally boring and to our utmost surprise it is expensive too.
If you are planning or wanting to plan your first trip alone, here are some of the truths about what often happens when you are found off the grid:
The Silent Weight of “Decision Fatigue”: It is true that when you travel with some partner, you both can share the tasks between yourselves and make things easier. However when you travel alone, you have to be your own “CEO”, the navigator, the translator, and the emergency contact as well. Every single minute of your day while you are on this trip, you have to spend it by just figuring out things and the choices that you have to make for the entire day.
Sense of Loneliness And Weird Moments: Loneliness is more like a sudden thunderstorm, you can go two or three days feeling like strong and courageous but suddenly when you will walk through a street and see a street performer doing something funny and at that moment when you look around to find someone to say ‘ look at that!” that quiet feeling hits like a physical weight. Also, suppose you are eating in a restaurant and scrolling through apps just to feel ‘ connected “ while everyone around you is seen laughing and enjoying themselves over food. This feeling ruins the entire mood and you don't even feel hungry anymore.
Becoming a “Professional Liar”: Safety is the truth that no one can ignore intentionally. For women solo travellers especially, the truth is not always going to be trustable friend. You have to lie often like that chatty shopkeeper, you might say that one of your family members is going to meet you at dinner sometime or to the driver who is driving the taxi you boarded, you might just say that you are staying at a hotel nearby, without revealing your actual hotel address. All the things that you say to a stranger especially in new places have to be false, you cannot trust them entirely; hence you have to turn into a professional liar so that safety stays in your hand.
The Chaos Of Hidden Expenses Is Real: If we do mathematical analysis, we will find that solo travel is after all a bad idea. You cannot make the choice of splitting the cost of the hotel room where you are staying, or share the fare of a taxi. Beyond this, the logistical awkwardness is another challenge to face; if you ever have to be away from your luggages while at the airport , you have no one whom you can trust to watch your luggages while you are away or grabbing a coffee.
You Won’t “Discover Yourself” Immediately: In reality, while on a solo trip, you will always end up thinking about basic things such as data roaming plans, why you felt hurt, what hurts you or where you can find a nearby pharmacy. But maybe after you spend a couple of hours in that new place, you will suddenly discover yourself. This moment could either take place in the quiet, boring long bus rides, or sitting beside a window in a rainy afternoon where you are forced to do nothing but to be with yourself. Remember that self discovery is always a slow burn and not a lightning bolt.
Why Do We Do It Anyways?
It is understandable that all of the above mentioned reasons might seem daunting to you; but something might still spark wonder in you to think that amidst all these reasons, why still everyone choose to go solo travelling?
Becoming Self Capable: It is definitely agreeable that when you can survive a missed flight and a dead phone battery all on your own, you might be having the capacity also to handle things which you think you cannot handle.
Being On “Your Own”: In a solo trip, you will have the choice to wake up at morning 11 or you can spend a couple of hours by sitting at a museum, and for doing all these, you don't have to be answerable to anyone.
Building A Deep Bond With Yourself: It is quite that when you start doing things all alone while on a solo trip, you will end up knowing yourself more than you ever knew. Also, you start enjoying your own company more than you ever did, which is such a beautiful experience one could get.
Final Thoughts:
Solo Trip is not that sort of vacation about which we are typically aware of; it is rather a deep connection with nature and with yourself. It primarily refers to doing things all by yourself, but once you have navigated successfully in a foreign city with absolutely nothing but with your own intuition, you will realize that the person you were so afraid to be with, “yourself” is actually the best travel partner you will ever have!
