The JOYS and MISERIES of traveling ALONE
More and more instances of my traveling alone were a constant way of my life. Even now, I travel alone more rather than with companions. My traveling alone has always been a self-discovery for me, but there are times that things are not always as they seems to be. I had learned this through my personal experiences. It is not always that you find someone that you’d like to talk with. It is and has always been a matter of chance to find something good in solitude. I know this for a fact and I am sharing with you my JOYS and MISERIES in traveling alone.
Joys
Finding myself in solitude. Being alone with myself leads me to a better understanding of my inner feelings and encourages me into deep thinking. I find that being away and have the world by myself is an effective stress buster. The solo-artist may come to terms with the depth of Ralph Waldo Emerson when he said “none of us will ever accomplish anything excellent or commanding except when he listens to this whisper which is heard by him alone.”
I am the master of my time. It is my own world and my adventure.
Freedom and independence from commitments. No more meetings, no deadlines! No issues from others to contend with!
Me and only Me making all the decisions. I don’t have to listen to anyone and I don’t have to meet anyone’s expectations.
I can do whatever I want to, without considering others.
A chance of meeting new friends, new connections.
Miseries
Trusting Myself Only. Though meeting new people is one of the perks of solo travelers, it is always my belief that I am more vulnerable to bad elements. I exercise extra-precautions especially if I meet charming people. Stories had been told that the most charming people could be scam artists.
Heartbroken. My fellow travelers, most often than not, thought that I am in the most challenging time of my life. This happened several times, as always in the movies that the actor or actress travels alone because he/she is brokenhearted. And they will be just surprised if I told them that I just want to travel alone.
Health Concerns. No one else to take care of me. No one will remind me to take my medicines.
Safety concerns. Without someone to watch my back, I felt more susceptible to bad elements of the society.
Higher cost for single. The cost of traveling alone could cost as much as paying a second traveler. This is often referred to as the ‘single supplement’, wherein the hotels, cruise lines, and tour operators add a certain percentage to the tour cost for a single occupant, to make off for the money they’re supposed to collect from the second occupant. Paying another one without the benefit of a physical presence is one of my regrets of traveling alone.
Loneliness and feeling separated. There were several instances that I felt lonely and sad in my solo sojourns. I had already cautioned myself that if I travel alone again, I would not take any cruises and would not go to romantic places.
Knowing these joys and miseries, would the joys compensate the miseries? Well, it depends on the purpose of your trip. As for me, I would still travel alone. There are more great things to see, but it is not always true that you can just grab someone to accompany you. On the better side, wouldn’t it be nicer if I can talk and laugh with a familiar person during traveling? And my best reason for having a companion is that I love posing for the camera.
2 comments:
so true..... it's still best to travel with someone!
sometimes travelling alone has its advantages. it gives you freedom on where and when to go, what to do but i think travelling with someone is much better. to have someone to talk, to see with, to experience with and of course to love the place with and to make plans with. travelling alone is kind of lonely. the travel would become more nostalgic and makes you think of more crazy things.
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