I remember looking in the travel magazines as a teenager with wanderlust, assuming I would never get the chance to see those places. They were just far off places to dream about. Something unattainable. Completely unrealistic. But I did get it. I did go to the places I’d always dreamed about- and I made it happen for myself. Hard work, lots of cut backs and saving here there and everywhere- but I did it! And I haven’t stopped solo travel since.
I was always interested in seeing those stunning destinations in magazines and on TV but I think the idea of travel first came into play after a talk at my school, aged around 17/18. This guy explained all the things we could do after sixth form college, one of them being to take a gap year. I hadn’t given it much thought until then, but the idea became ever more intriguing as he spoke about volunteering opportunities abroad.
Two of my friends were also interested and we decided we would all take a gap year and use those last few months of sixth form to save up. We started researching places to go and types of volunteering we could do. I’m not sure I actually believed it would happen at the time but as we started to save up our money the idea became more real.
To save up the cash I worked at my minimum wage job, cut back my spending, sold old clothes on eBay, did some gardening for a friends dad, and face painted at a summer fair. Anything for a little extra money, I did. We eventually had the funds and booked our trip to South Africa to volunteer on an animal sanctuary, hand-rearing rescued animals and building new enclosures for them.
I’d only been on a plane once before, with my parents, but having friends with me felt comfortable and exiting more than anything else. My two months in South Africa were some of the best. We had around 12 volunteers all living and working together and they became my family away from home. Some of my best memories were had here and I felt free and independent. Seeing new places, new people, jumping off the worlds highest bungy bridge, bottle feeding baby lynx cats, going for a morning run past a stampeding herd of zebra are just a handful of things that come to mind.
I learnt to live away from home, take care of myself and deal with problems independently. Solo travel has a way to force you to talk to strangers, to see things from a different perspective and to re-invent yourself. I came back from that trip inspired. I wanted to travel again. After doing a 1 year art foundation I decided to go on to uni and get a bachelors degree in Fine Art. I was 2 years behind but there were people of many ages on my course- including a 70 year old woman!
About halfway through uni, not being able to resist the travel urge for much longer, I booked a 4 week trip to South East Asia with GAdventures. All I had to do was fly to Bangkok alone and get to the hotel- then I would be with a tour group. It made me feel much more at ease knowing they would take care of the rest and I would have others to travel with.
Getting on the plane alone for the first time was daunting. I kept worrying that I’d forget how it works! But I did it. Arriving at Bangkok I carefully followed all the signs to the official taxi rank and took a pretty pricey taxi to my hotel. Staring out the cab window I wondered what had I got myself into, nervous but so excited and proud of myself for making this happen.
That trip opened my eyes to the world of travel and culture and I was already planning my next trip before returning home. The following year I went back to Asia. This time alone. Completely alone. I loved it. I felt comfortable with the customs, rules and culture from being there previously and was completely free to do whatever I wanted. I volunteered for a short while at a school in Cambodia and lived with a local family. It was nice to see a less touristy side and to come home each day to the friendly neighbours and their children, all sitting outside together and chatting.
Cambodia: A Must Do: Riding Battambang’s Bamboo Train, Cambodia
I continued to become braver and more adventurous in my travels, going to Peru & Bolivia alone with just the first 3 nights booked. I would never have seen myself doing this in the beginning but the more I solo travel the more I learn. I picked up advice from other travellers and learnt from my own mistakes.
Adventurous Travels: Salar de Uyuni: Guide to the Bolivian Salt Flats
When you’re travelling you’re constantly learning, seeking out new places, cultures and growing as a person. And that never stops.
Your perspective and priorities will change as you grow but that’s the beauty of it. Travel always holds something new, something exciting and something unexpected.
After Peru and Bolivia I felt a new sense of confidence and have since travelled to some amazing places, including India, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Bali, Namibia and many more. I like the way travel changes over time and your experiences will differ with age. I want to look back on my life and say “I’ve been able to travel the world and see these incredible places, cultures and people”.
Making memories like these last a lifetime and I want to say I’ve really seen the world and experienced many things. What I will say is that if are looking to travel but not sure if its worth it then there’s only one way to find out! You will soon know if it’s for you or not.
Travel has done so much for me and it can do so much for you also. I hope I can inspire you to take the adventures you’ve always dreamed about. If you like the blog, please share along any posts to others you think will benefit 🙂
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