My first time traveling solo

by Stephanie Haakman (Netherlands)

I didn't expect to find Thailand

"There will always be a reason why you meet people. Either you need them to change your life or you’re the one that will change theirs." – Angel Flonis Harefa About two years ago I got my heart broken and completely lost myself. I didn’t like who I was, I didn’t know what to do with my feelings or myself and after a few months I decided that enough was enough! I didn’t want to be that person anymore and I was ready to work on a better version of myself. I started working out frequently, made some new friends and it took me a long while but I even met a guy who I dated a couple of times. On our first date, he told that he had recently returned from a one-year solo trip around the world and with great interest, I listened to his stories and admired his awesome pictures. When I asked him if he was ever alone or felt lonely during his journey abroad, he told me that he was constantly meeting new people and that if I would make such a trip, I wouldn’t have to worry about being alone. I had never ever even considered going on a holiday by myself, I was always waiting for somebody to come along and as it can be a struggle to find a travel buddy due to work or financials I had only been on two holidays with friends besides the usual trips I take to visit family and friends in Spain and Italy. Even when I was working as a flight attendant we would always visit places and go out with the whole crew. His world trip got me thinking and somehow, the idea of going somewhere by myself started to be more and more appealing. So when my boss told me we would get a Christmas bonus I immediately asked him if I could get some weeks of in February. Not long after that, I bought a ticket to Bangkok. I didn’t really realise what was going to happen until the night before I was supposed to board the airplane, I was going somewhere by myself! Just me, myself and I and a lonely planet! Who was I going to talk to? From the moment I arrived I experienced exactly what he had promised me, meeting people and going out with them, then saying goodbye, moving to a next place and starting all over again. It was so much fun and gave me a great confidence boost! It was comforting knowing that besides my group of friends at home other persons also enjoyed my company! My after glow from this first solo trip lasted for many many months and I have promised myself to keep doing it on a regular base! Because you are by yourself you are more approachable and if you don’t want to eat alone all the time you must make an effort to have an interaction with fellow travellers! I am still in touch with a some of the people I’ve met during this trip and hope that I will meet them again soon somewhere around the world. So why should you go on a solo trip? To make new friends from all around the world To learn more about yourself and become more assertive To create many many new memories Just do it! You’ll love it!