With the summer months in full swing, vacation is on the minds of many. For
most, this means a holiday with family or friends, touring a number of places,
a packed itinerary and all the details sorted. However, a few intrepid
travellers have their eyes on something totally different – taking off, all
alone, to explore foreign lands on their own terms.
‘Solo travel’ is one of the latest travel
trends, with a number of people around the world swearing by it, and declaring
it to be one of those “things to do before you die”. While not exactly a new
idea, with the likes of Hiuen Tsang and Marco Polo beating 21st century
travellers to the punch by a few centuries, solo travel today has become more
possible than ever before, owing to the greater accessibility of travel, and
countries around the world embracing visitors in great numbers. Many in Goa are
being drawn to this unique, sometimes life-changing travel experience,
including youngsters from their late teens and upwards.
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But what is it about solo travel that
makes it so attractive? The reasons are many, ranging from a desire to explore
the world on one’s own terms, to the need to take some time off for one self.
Komal Bodke, aged 19, who embarked on a solo trip to Pondicherry earlier this
year, says, “I planned this trip during a stressful time in college; I wanted
to get away from it all. Throughout the year, I’d been making plans with
friends to go on a vacation, which never worked out. However, considering it a
priority for my mental wellbeing, I thought to myself, ‘Why do I need to depend
upon someone else? I have all I need to go on a vacation – the motive, the
determination and the resources. Why can’t I make that decision to believe in
myself and go solo?’.”
Having to mind no one but oneself is one of the major pluses of
travelling solo. For Saili Palyekar, aged 21, whose participation in a Design
Conference took her to Paris this April, that independence allowed her the
space to explore the beautiful city at her own pace. “I was planning everything
by myself. I would decide what I wanted to do, and it was okay even if all of
it didn’t work out. I chose to use the local transport and see as much of the
city as I could. I went to the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysses, Arc Du Triomph,
sat by the Seine, and walked over 10 kilometres a day. Walking around alone
might have appeared lonely to others, but it gave me a different kind of high
and pleasure. I’m the quiet kind; I like to sit and observe, and that’s exactly
what I did,” she says.
But that independence, while exciting, does come with its own unique
set of challenges, with travellers having to deal with everything from language
gaps to navigating public transport to unpredictable weather – relying on none
but themselves! Dunstan Dias, 25, experienced this first-hand, during his trip
to Europe in 2017. “I’ve travelled before with my parents, but in travelling
alone, as I did this time, I faced many challenges. Upon arrival in Amsterdam,
I was immediately caught up in a language barrier – there were no signs in
English! Everywhere I went, I was drawn out of my comfort zone, having to talk
to people, without which it would have been impossible to get around. And the
weather! It rained often, and I got caught in the biggest storm Munich had seen
in 400 years, leaving me stranded in a dark station, like a scene out of a sad
movie!” he recounts.
Loneliness is another factor that inevitably catches up with any
solo traveller, and is one that they must be prepared for. However, it isn’t
necessarily a bad thing! For Saili, her independence made up for the lack of
company: “I did feel like certain experiences would have been a lot more
‘grand’ if I had shared it with my family or friends. But because I was
prepared to do everything on my own, I didn’t feel like I missed out on much,
just because I had no company.” Dunstan on the other hand did not just accept
loneliness, but embraced it! “Most people aren’t okay being by themselves for
long stretches of time, like I encountered while travelling alone. But I wanted
to learn how to conquer loneliness, and to be content in my own company,” he
adds.
The three young travellers agree that in the face of what they
gained, all challenges seemed to fade – from surreal new experiences to
self-discovery, there is much that solo travel gives, drawing people to it over
and over again. For Dunstan, it was the chance to motorbike his way through
Italy, an experience that was possible because he chose to travel solo: “Biking
from morning till evening, riding through beautiful interior roads and
revelling in the European culture of motorcycling, with other bikers waving out
to you, as though saying ‘props to you for doing this!” Komal adds, “It’s
cliché because it’s true – you do discover yourself when you travel! I learnt
to rely on myself and make split-second decisions intuitively. And I understood
how important it is to break away from routine and take time to appreciate that
the true beauty of life lies in waking up early to catch the sunrise and
watching peoples’ lives unfold around you.”
When asked if this experience is one they would like to repeat
and recommend to others, each traveller responds with a resounding “Yes!”
However, they agree that it isn’t something to be taken lightly. Pre-trip prep
is extremely important, from booking tickets and making reservations, to
keeping all necessary documents in order and ensuring that you have enough
money to support your travels. With solo travel, the excitement is more, but so
are the risks – keeping one’s wits about oneself, being alert to one’s
surroundings and not taking unnecessary risks, are key.
With
these precautions kept in mind, there is nothing stopping anyone from joining
the league of travellers tripping solo around the world, chasing adventure. And
in the end, as Komal reminds us, “Every solo trip is a different experience,
and just as significant and moving as any other.” It is left to each traveller
to go find their own!
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TOP SIX DESTINATIONS FOR YOUR NEXT (OR FIRST) SOLO TRIP!
PONDICHERRY: a
little piece of France in India, perfect for long walks and lounging lazily in
cafés.
FORT KOCHI, KERALA: offering a plethora of cultural diversity,
including Dutch architecture, Chinese fishing nets, and a Jewish synagogue.
KODAIKANAL, KARNATAKA: Cool climes, tranquil lakes and lush
forest – the perfect summer getaway.
SEVILLE, SPAIN: The sunny Spanish city, famous for
flamenco dancing and Moorish architecture.
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS: The canal-lined Dutch capital makes for
great (self) exploration, whether walking, cycling or boating.
HANOI,
VIETNAM: A
quaint little town with an eclectic mix of colonial and Vietnamese culture, and
your best gateway to the magnificent Ha Long Bay.
