BigE

I am going to take my first solo backpacking trip next year and I decided to pick an area where I don't know anyone (Scandinavia). Almost everywhere else in the world I or my family knows someone. I wanted to pick a destination where (a) I don't know anyone and (B) I am interested in visiting. The idea of not making any duty calls to family friends is very appealing to me. This is the ultimate escape trip. I will know nobody.

I am excited about it, however, I just want to ask you, my fellow T-punks, what you think. Why do you solo-backpack?

I don't know how the transformer smiley got there.

__________________
You can't take a shirt from a naked man. - Arab Proverb

"An oppressive government is more to be feared than a tiger, or a beer."
-Confucius

Somewhere in England (maybe) - Spring (TBA)
Israel - Summer (TBA)

tumblezweedz

Hey, BigE - congrats on the bold decision to strike out totally on your own. I think you'll find plenty of explanations for going solo if you delve into the Traveling Alone threads, the best sources are the "I'm scared to death of going alone" type threads, because everybody expounds on why it's so great, in their opinion.

For me, going solo became a matter of necessity, as the friend I'd planned to travel with backed out early in the planning stages, but I really loved the freedom it provided, I had complete control over the itinerary, where I stayed, what and when I ate, what I visited, and for how long, and had the freedom to completely change my plans on a whim. I loved that. I also discovered that traveling alone doesn't by any means mean BEING alone - hostels, trains and what not are pretty easy places to fall into conversations with other travelers, and it's easy to join in another person's adventure for a couple of hours, a few days, or the rest of the trip, depending on how well things go.

On the downside of all this independence, of course, was the complete responsibility for every decision, which occasionally got a bit tiresome - no one to consult with about whether to get off at this Berlin station or that one (I got off at the wrong one...but it worked out in the long run) and not much company in Polish train stations at two in the morning. A couple of times I wasn't feeling well and would have liked nothing more than to lie in my hostel bed and have someone bring me a loaf of bread, but that not being an option, I'd just drag myself off to deal with it myself.

The best thing about it, though, was coming to the realization that, after a fairly easy and sheltered life, I was actually capable of handling any situation that came my way, and that gave me confidence in myself that my education and supportive parents couldn't, despite their best efforts. I enjoyed stopping by to see people I knew en route, or joining other travelers for portions of my trip, but to be completely free and as in control of your own life as humanly possible is a wonderful experience, and makes a nice inner complement to an outer journey.

BigE

Thanks Tumblezweedz.

__________________
You can't take a shirt from a naked man. - Arab Proverb

"An oppressive government is more to be feared than a tiger, or a beer."
-Confucius

Somewhere in England (maybe) - Spring (TBA)
Israel - Summer (TBA)

lauren313

Unfortunately, the transformer smiley is an evil being who rears his ugly head whenever he feels a little pissed off.

Actually, that's a lie. For some reason, b + ) = transformer. You just have to put a space between the b and the bracket if you want to do b )

See?!

Back to topic, I haven't solo travelled, so I can't really comment, but it sounds like a great choice you've made. I'd love to go to Scandinavia,

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Joker

Tell you what, BigE... solo is the only way to go. I've solo traveled all around the US, and now overseas, and its exhilarating. The sheer freedom of movement alone is worth it. Not once did I have to depend on the herd to do anything. If I wanted to go to XYZ, I did it. No putting it up for a vote, etc. I did it if i wanted.

Yes, it can get lonely. But to combat that I kept a journal and wrote down random thoughts I had. It keeps your mind sharp, and forces you to be more observant of your surroundings. Some of the stuff I wrote down was downright astoundingly deep, and some was batshit crazy, but I have that written log of EVERYTHING! But most importantly it keeps the time. Nothing like killing a 5+ hour busride into the mountains when your iPod is dead, and you're hungover


Now I'm in the beginning stages of planning another solo trip, and this time to somewhere I don't even remotely speak the language. And I'll be journaling that, too. Its all in the adventure!

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Misadventures of a Crazed Kitchen Pirate

"Steve is the prototypical cool American male. Y'know, I'm talking about Steve McGarrett, alright? Steve Austin, Steve McQueen. Y'know, he's the guy on his horse, the guy alone. He has his own code of honor, his own code of ethics, his own rules of living, man. He never, ever tries to impress the women but he always gets the girl."

Somnambulation

Similar to what Joker said, I find that solo travel really allows you to take in everything around you much better than if you were with someone else. No one to distract you from truely experiencing these palces you visit.

Diorama

I always travel solo. The first time was when I was a freshly turned 19 year old. I suddenly decided that I was going to be doing this backpacker/hostel thing. I don't think my parents believed me until I actually bought my plane ticket. Well I left Vancouver for London. I'll never forgetting being on the Tube in London, England!! The feeling of being in another country. The truth was I wasn't even scared. It just felt right yah know. Since that trip I have also been to Costa Rica, fiji, Oz, NZ and back to europe again alone...Although sometimes I get terribly lonely, for me it is the only way to go. I love meeting people. And I love having the control of my trip in my hands. And seriously I am never really "truly" alone. The best thing about traveling solo is the other solo travelers that you meet along the way...

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I have been to: Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, New Zealand , Australia, Fiji, Costa Rica, United States, England, Ireland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland , France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Vatican, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Panama, Colombia, Mexico, India, Nepal.

Where to Next? Iceland!

patchouli Lover

I haven't traveled solo unless you count the dozens and dozens of times I've driven the 18-22 hours drive from Oklahoma to Las Vegas.


But when I make that drive it definitly clears my mind... I never feel lonely because my mind goes into overdrive.


But anyway I want to go overseas by myself because I want to prove that I can live off of my wits and be away from my support group.... I'm really not needing to prove it to anyone just myself. Plus while I'm over there I want to be free to do whatever I want and really "find" myself... If ya know what I mean.

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He made the world to be a grassy road before her wandering feet

"At the center of your being you have the answer; You know who you are and you know what you want. "
-Lao-tzu



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brandonscrowley

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BigE @ Sep 8 2006, 10:20 AM) [snapback]138897[/snapback]</div>
Well, I'm planning on packpacking my first trip ever real soon, and I don't know anyone anywhere.
I'm excited just to see the world and meet new people.
Have a good travel

Bobbles

Im going solo this time after going away with 4 "friends" this summer on a 2 week trip of Europe.We argued alot and I came back actually feeling like I needed another holiday.After that I swore NEVER to go away with friends again.

hegartyc

I love travelling alone as well, but I like to do it with groups of people that I don't already know.