Loneliness
The question which I am asked the most often when I am traveling solo is, don’t you get lonely? People assume that because I am alone I am lonely.
The way I travel and the places I stay and by being open I find that I am rarely alone. By staying in hostels and backpacker type accommodation I am always meeting new people, sometimes people with whom I hook up with to travel for the next few days or only to the next destination. Local people, especially in Asia and the Middle East (off the beaten track) are always curious about this woman on her own and the bus ride becomes a question and answer period and often results in new friends and invitations to people’s home to meet their family and friends.
In Europe and more developed travel destinations the hostels are a great place to meet interesting people, who may also become travel companions to the next city. The nice thing is if you meet someone you like you can alter your plans and travel with them for a few days more and see things which you may not have originally planned to see.
When traveling on local transportation and another foreign traveler is on the transport an immediate connection is made and you can choose to embrace it or ignore it.
Most often for me, I am overwhelmed by all the people I meet, both local people and other travelers. After walking into a hostel, immediately you will meet a roomful of new people. In minutes you are being introduced and the common bond of travel already exists and the time is spent in great conversations and sometimes data gathering for the next leg of your trip.
Although these are not the enduring friendships you have at home, I have met two women and a couple of men with whom I have developed long-term and deep friendships.
I love traveling alone. I can live my life according to my own plan or lack thereof. I am totally free to do and go wherever I want and know I will always meet someone new along the way…a new place…another conversation…and maybe another new friend.
People also often say, most of the other travelers are so young. I don’t really notice the age. When you travel, the common bond is travel and that you are out there experiencing what the world has to offer. I am immediately accepted into the group and the conversation and am asked to share a beer, a snack or even a side trip with no thought that I am any different to any of the other travelers in the group. |
