So it's been a long time coming but I'm finally getting back into the adventuring game, and wow it feels good!
The last couple of years have been a complete roller coaster ride for me, with sadly a lot more dips than climbs and one of the things which I used to take for granted had become totally void in my life as a result. Travel.
So many see escapism as a negative. Running away from your worries and problems will never solve them, right? Well I think wrong, sometimes escaping the confinements of everyday life is exactly what you need to get everything into perspective. And with that in mind I packed my bags and decided to go on a mini adventure, alone...
And that was my next hurdle.
Apparently it's a massive taboo for young single women to want to holiday alone. Everyone I spoke to and told about my adventure seemed hell bent on making it a negative, "oh Hun, why you going away alone", " I'll come away with you, I'm sure you can find someone to go away with" - these were the constant reactions of people who asked me who I was going with. Now don't get me wrong, it is lovely that people seemed to care but I hated the fact that it seemed as though they pitied me - and ultimately it was something which was my decision. I could have changed the dates I had off, or gone on a shorter break with friends, but that's not what I wanted, and I wanted this next adventure to be for me. So important was it going away for me, due to the years of pale skin I've been collecting, that I wanted to do it my way. I've been on holiday with partners and friends before, and I've had a fantastic time but, especially when going away with groups, you don't always get to do the things that you love. I wanted a selfish holiday, and that's exactly what I got.
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| Waiting in the airport... Alone! |
Yes it felt weird journeying to the airport alone, boarding the plane and sitting in the "spare seat" next to a couple who were so excited to be on their first break together; and then arrive in a foreign country totally alone, but wow was it also empowering. I was excited, I felt accomplished and more than anything I wasn't stuck waiting at the conveyor belt for that one person in your party who's bag is always the last out.
It's not like I went anywhere particularly adventurous, however I did go all inclusive (why not spoil myself with food and alcohol) which did mean that I would be eating three meals a day, in a restaurant, on a table, alone... This was actually the easy part. I was so consumed and consuming of the food that I didn't miss the company. I also had time to take in the people around me, surrounded by family members and not saying a word to each other for an entire three course meal. If anything, I felt sorry for them. I had chosen to come away alone and expect silence, they had not.
The trip itself was extremely chilled, I ate, sunbathed, ate, swam, ate oh and did I mention I ate?! I did a little sight seeing of the local area but I mainly just wanted to escape from life for a bit and I really did feel great and come home refreshed. I also came home gagging for my next adventure which, luckily is very soon!
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| One course from my four course breakfasts (no joking when it comes to food) |
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| Waking up to this view everyday... tough life |
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| Beautiful pink sunsets |
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| Shadow selfie |
I think what I learnt most on this trip is that for the first time in a long time I was completely at ease and happy to just be me, by myself. I could handle the slight awkward looks of realisation from others that a young women was actually holidaying alone, and I felt happy to be doing so. Its taught me that, although I have always been seen as independent, I truly can believe that myself now and its taught me to take risks again as although daunting you may end up having one of the greatest experiences you've had in a long time.
So get out there, even if your alone, the adventures worth it! :)
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