Month: January 2020

Why solo traveling can be tough

If you’re like me and have done a lot of solo traveling, you know all about the pros and cons. Although the pros eventually outweigh the cons, there’s still a lot to consider when you’re going to travel all by yourself. Here are some of the reasons why solo traveling can be tough:

You’re all alone

This is the first and obvious reason why it can be both frightening and tough. It’s one thing to be alone in your home country, it’s another in a completely strange one. It takes a while to get used to it as well, but once you do, you’ll realise that you’re not the only one traveling alone and that itself is a comforting thought. When you’re traveling, you’re bound to meet other travellers who are either by themselves or with friends. Being alone isn’t the worst thing in the world either. Once you get used to it, you’ll end up loving all the time you have by yourself.

However, prepare for those situations when you get ill or something goes wrong such as missed flights, etc. Those are the moments when you’re going to think feels extra tough because you’re all alone. Don’t be too frightened though! I’ve experienced these situations many times and I made through it all by myself, sometimes with the help of kind strangers as well who offered me aspirin (thank you!).

Missing friends and family

Although you’re bound to miss your closest ones even if you’re traveling with people, you especially miss them when you’re traveling by yourself. It’s always a bit different when you’re spending time with people from home versus the people you meet abroad. When the feeling hits you, remember that they’re only a phone call away.

Safety

Depending on where you’re traveling, it can be a bit unsafe to walk around all alone, especially at night. You might feel more exposed when you’re solo traveling. Just remember to always be extra cautious, especially if you’re a woman, and try to stick to the touristic parts of the city for example, where there’s people around. The first time I traveled alone, I noticed a difference in how people looked at me, which made me feel uneasy. After a while, I got used to it, but there are still places in the world I’d never travel to as a female solo traveler, just because of the reputation the country have.

Planning

One of the best things about traveling solo is that you can plan everything according to your plans! But sometimes it gets too confusing as well and you have no idea what to do. It’s those moments when you wish that you were traveling with someone else who could make that decision for you. But in the end, you know it’s worth it because the decision is all yours.

Solo traveling might be tough at times, but it’s also one of the most rewarding things. Not only will you learn so much about yourself, you’re also more open minded towards meeting new people and you have the freedom to do exactly what you want. It’s worth all the small troubles on the way.

This post was made possible by our sponsors at oiltowndrywall.com

Phong Nha Ke-Bang – The new place to go to in Vietnam

Heading to Vietnam anytime soon? Make sure you make a pit stop in Phong Nha, the latest destination in Vietnam that’s destined to become a popular backpacker place. As you enter the small, quaint town, you’ll already notice how there’s established western restaurants and hostels. Even so, it still remains its small town charm and feels authentic.

There’s just something about Phong Nha which makes everyone come here. If you’re tired of the big cities or you’re just looking for a place where you can relax, enjoy nature and still be able to do plenty of actives, this is where you need to go. Rent a scooter for a day or two, ride around the National Park, explore the incredible underground caves, go zip lining, swimming and much more! You can also just cruise around the park and look at the women working in the rice fields, watch the sunset and then head back for a cold brew in one of the restaurants. What makes Phong Nha so great is that you don’t need to do a big effort in order to fully enjoy it. There’s beauty everywhere here. It’s also easy to find accommodation, with plenty of hostels, hotels and homestays in the area, and you can enjoy a good local meal here or western food. The choice is yours! Whether you like vegetarian food or not, you should check out “Veggie Box” which is situated in the center and serves some incredible, healthy and fresh food. You can come here for breakfast and try one of their smoothie bowls or why not grab some sushi for lunch? Either way, it’s a must when you’re in Phong Nha.

As night falls, there’s a few bars in the area that you can go to. One of the most popular hostels and bars in Phong Nha is the “Easy Tiger Hostel”, where you’ll find plenty of backpackers lounging around, eating and drinking. There’s also the newly built hostel “Central Backpackers” which is planning on opening their pool this year. The weather can get quite hot so a pool is just a welcoming touch to a hostel.

So, don’t miss out on this lovely place in Vietnam and come see it for yourself. You’re guaranteed to have a good time here.

This post was made possible by our good friends at Microblading Seattle.