Comments on: Reflections From A Female Solo Traveler

By: Anonymus

Anonymus — Fri, 29 May 2009 12:14:32 +0000

I recently got back from Paris in April. I definatley had a great time.
However even though I was sitting right outside the Louvre Museum a guy approched me and started talking to me.
The conversation was the usual intro, what’s your name? Where you from? etc. Followed by discussions of the Art in the museum and music. (I mentioned I played the Piano)
After about 20 minutes it turned into more personal things (with no help on my part) and resulted in the guy asking me to go back to his place to the play the piano for him (apparently he had one himself).
Well you can imagine what I said, “Ahh I don’t think so, sorry”. After another ask and getting the same answer he left to go and “buy a book” from the museum (that’s what he said anyway).
He seemed like a nice enough guy but some of the questions were just a little too personal for me, considering we’d been talking for only 20 minutes. Plus you never no what to expect even if you do think it’s just innocent.

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By: Hannah Pocock

Hannah Pocock — Thu, 21 May 2009 05:33:45 +0000

What an inspiring article! Last year I took a semester off from college to spend five months backpacking around East and Southeast Asia with my boyfriend. I had an incredible experience, and we’re already planning our next grand adventure, but I realized that, while we’re perfectly matched travel partners, I also wanted to have the experience of backpacking solo. I wanted to challenge myself to do it all on my own – bargain for food at the market, find the bus station, venture out to remote mountain temples – without having anyone to rely on but myself. I wanted to see what I could learn about myself and the world around me by opening myself fully to new cultures and experiences, rather than giving in to the loneliness and closing in on myself.

So here I am in Vietnam, a little over a week into my two and a half month solo adventure in Vietnam and Cambodia. It’s been challenging at times, but I’m loving the freedom of being alone, the time to reflect – and write like crazy. While some people (as anywhere) leer or make unwelcome advances, I find that (as you noted) modest clothing, self-assurance and a little common sense go a long way toward fending off danger and over-eager suitors. And I have found the vast majority of people I encounter to be incredibly warm and welcoming – I’ve been treated to more meals at local haunts in the past week than in the whole five months I was on the road with my boyfriend! I’m rapidly learning to love traveling alone, and reading articles like yours reassures me that coming here alone was the best decision I could have made. Thanks for your insights!

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By: Sarah

Sarah — Sat, 02 May 2009 03:00:00 +0000

I just had a conversation with my friends over dinner that somehow turned to me telling them how badly I want to travel the world after I graduate, and often alone. I spent the next half an hour trying to convince them that I wasn’t just running blindly into a death trap, and it infuriated me. These are my friends, fellow women (one of them a gender studies student), telling me that it wasn’t safe for a woman to be travelling by herself. Then I stumbled across this article tonight in my nightly Matador wanderings, and it hit the spot! This is exactly the kind of reassurance and validation I need to be confident and common sensical when I step out of my doorway.

In addition, I highly recommend the book “Maiden Voyage” by Tania Aebi. It’s a true story of a girl who sailed around the world by herself. It’s probably more interesting for people who love sailing but it’s also a fantastic story of a young woman seeing the world by herself.

Bon voyage women!

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By: Emily

Emily — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:39:50 +0000

Thanks Kate! Hope you enjoy all of your future adventures. I wouldn’t take any of my traveling moments back, that’s forsure, and it really is great to hear from young women who have been “bitten”.

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By: Ian MacKenzie

Ian MacKenzie — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 01:25:58 +0000

@Kate – glad you enjoyed the article, and the rest of the articles on BNT. We’re glad to have you as a reader!

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By: kate

kate — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 01:22:08 +0000

Aw, this was so great to read. Thank you for this! I’m a 16 year old female who was been bitten by the travel bug as well (who totally relates to you on how yours developed), and whose main concern (aside from funds) is being a female who would like to travel alone. I always envied the Kerouac-types until now, because, “they’re men and can travel alone without a problem.” I’m definitely feeling reassured now, especially since I hope to be going to Peru this August by myself to work in an orphanage (Oh, how I hope it works out!)

Anyway, thank you again. This site is filled with so many gems, articles like this are why I am addicted!

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By: jilly

jilly — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 20:04:17 +0000

Part of the reason I travel solo as a woman, often through “unsafe” parts of the world, is the same reason I dance with my whole body regardless of who watches and whether it looks right – to give others permission to do the same.

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By: Mercedes

Mercedes — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 02:31:20 +0000

this was very inspiring! I am a 20 year old female who chose to do study abroad in Brazil. I attempted for the first two months here to find people to travel with outside of the state I go to school in here in Brazil, but everyone is too busy or doesn’t want to. I’ve since decided to travel solo starting next month.

Every reaction has been negative! And I recognize that my generation has so many advantages as far as the gender gap, but it still exists. Instead of people being happy for me that I get to do something I have wanted to for a very long time, travel, people try to deter me and change my mind. It would be nice if people tried to encourage self reliance and strength instead of fear and dependancy.

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By: Michelle

Michelle — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 05:59:14 +0000

hi emily, just read ur article really nice. I travelled solo last year for the 1st time and it was amazing, i loved every second of it.
I’m 27 and life had just stopped. I was stuck in a dead end job that i could not leave, I had just visited my parents and was back from the “holiday” that was more like pleasing people rather than taking a break for myself. I then just booked my tickets to Nepal & left within 3 days i had no accommodation, just the Lonely Planet guide. I thought i would be scared but was not, it was more of excitement that being scared, my parents freaked (we’re Indians, so u can expect that).
Currently i’m doing an MBA which really doesn’t leave me much time except work & study but hope this keeps my interest until i get restless again.
bye
michelle

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By: Marjorie

Marjorie — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 02:53:10 +0000

I’m so inspired by this post, I want to take a trip this summer and have been leary because of the whole “female traveling alone” issue! I am definitely doing it! Thanks!

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