Traveling Alone

When I was in Peru, I was the only single person amongst a bunch of married people. Sure, it felt weird being the 9th wheel, but the bonus was that I had my hotel room. And that, my friends, was paradise.

There is a strong possibility that I'll be traveling to Thailand by myself next year. However, I do have relatives in Bangkok, as well as a friend who is a missionary over there, so it's not like I would totally be by myself. But for the most part, I would be going it alone. Thinking about it scares me, but intrigues me at the same time.

I'm very picky about who I travel with. There are some people I know would be good travel buddies, and there are some people who I know I'd probably kill within 24 hours of traveling. And yet, solo travel is something I don't feel comfortable doing. It's dangerous. You stand a good chance of getting scammed or mugged. You have a huge target on your back the second you step off the plane.

Just thinking about it brings up and grip of insecurities and fears. But healthy travel, where you immerse yourself in a place, taking in everything, getting your hands dirty, so to speak, that kind of travel breaks down those fears, shows you that you're not that different from the strangers around you, and reveals to you the adventurous spirit that we all carry within us.

My point is, don't be afraid to consider solo travel. Because really, it's not really solo travel unless you're going to a place where there is absolutely nobody present. And that's just scary.