Gaining Confidence
The concept of solo-traveling can be mind boggling to most people. Traveling alone? Now why on earth would someone want to be by themselves in a foreign country? Welp. I do, and so does many other people as well. I recommend everyone doing it, at least once. All you need is a little confidence.
2018 Choi Hung Estate in Hong Kong
My sweaty self in my very first international solo trip for 3 days 3 nights in Hong Kong
So how the heck did I get my butt on a plane to the bustling city of Hong Kong?
Simple: I wanted to challenge myself.
In 2018 I studied abroad in Yokohama, Japan for 5 months, and discovered that plane tickets from Japan to other countries were super cheap (compared to flights from the USA to Asia.) Should I utilize this opportunity to travel to another country while I can afford it OR do I wait for someone I know to decide they want to go too? If you know who I am, I don’t wait for anyone. After figuring out that I only have to spend 500$ to take a 3 day trip to Hong Kong, I was almost sold. The only thing that was stopping me was safety, being alone, not knowing the language + other negative energy we don’t need. I had extreme doubt to my capabilities. Luckily, however, I had the very best support group. So I called up my dad and asked “Do you think I can travel to the chaotic city of Hong Kong by myself?” and with NO hesitation my dad said yes and laughed. Honestly not what I thought he was going to say. So I booked everything I needed and sought out what the world offered me. (Note: I did a lot of research about the city regards to safety and food. I also reached out to friends who know about the city for advice)
And to my surprise, I LOVED my experience. Loneliness did not exist in a new city. You are always discovering something new and learning more about the culture. After months of being in the cleanliness and orderliness of Japan, Hong Kong was a relief to my busy soul. Food, culture, color, (did I mention food?) was so unique. Something that I loved traveling by myself is the full capability to making my own decisions. If I want to do something, I don’t have to worry about another’s thoughts and decisions. One of these crazy decisions was to eat some snake soup (recommendation of a dear friend.) Imagine entering what would be considered a rundown restaurant with cages of snakes lining the walls. Being offered a menu fully in Chinese (a language I have no clue in) and having to call a friend in Los Angeles to call their dad in San Francisco to talk to the waiter on the phone in Cantonese. What a rough start. But after the silly commotion, I was served a snake rice bowl and soup. Warm to the stomach, interesting to eat. All while sitting beside a living snake stuck in a cage.
I would never have that experience if I wasn’t alone. This is why I love solo-traveling. Having the opportunity to create my own decisions, think for myself, and challenge my skills and capability. This trip taught me so much about myself and my interactions with others. Getting lost was never a problem, as you experience the kindness of humans in general despite language barriers and cultural differences. I also saw a higher likelihood of meeting new friends and communicating with locals. I’m a woman of color just below 5 feet tall, traveled to 10+ countries alone and have yet to be pickpocketed, kidnapped, or killed by solo-traveling. The crazy stories/experiences definitely override safety concern and loneliness.
Just by having that bit of confidence will definitely push you to have an adventure of a lifetime. The stories you will be able to tell will last forever. So I trust, that you too try solo-traveling and see where it takes you :)