“…nothing so liberalizes a man and expands the kindly instincts that nature put in him as travel and contact with many kinds of people”
-Mark Twain

For good reason, I’ve been getting these questions a lot lately; “Ev, Why are you going by yourself? Aren’t you scared?” (Ok, that is two questions but one usually follows the other). I’ve also gotten the “Why Thailand?” question a lot which is to be expected when you go anywhere, let alone Southeast Asia.

I love to travel, I want to see every corner of the globe and experience whatever is out there to experience. I’ve never been able to understand the people who are content staying in their comfort zone but to each their own, I want to get out. Last year I posted one of those where have you been map things here and it made me sad. Hell, even the updated one which is what mine should look like after my trip is kind of sad. I’m completely missing 4 continents!

But I think what I’m most excited about is that I’ll be able to cross off 5 more of the Hillman 100 Wonders of the World, which my tally currently stands at 13 according to the list on my fridge.

“But Evan, Why are you going at it alone?

Its hard to explain why I want to go at this alone but even if I tried it would be hard to find someone who has the time. I’ve told people its because I want to see things with an uncluttered eye, devoid of the outside influences, it seems the simplest explanation but some still don’t understand.

I read and article a while back on solo travel and it has stuck with me. In my limited solo travel, I’ve come to very similar conclusions about traveling alone;

You are responsible for you, if you make a wrong turn or get on the wrong train, its your fault alone and you are only accountable to yourself. In my semesters spent in Italy and Austria I always ended up being the person people turned to for guidance. I don’t mind it at all its just my personality to be a leader, in fact those were some of the best times I’ve ever had, but every once and a while it feels good to be responsible for only one.

Soaking it all in. I remember sitting in the train station in Florence, Italy waiting and watching the trains come and go when this group of 5 American guys got off an incoming train impervious to what was going on around them. Rather than absorbing every bit of their experience of being in such a beautiful city they were going on quite loudly about being from Texas and their girls back home. I vividly remember telling Jen “that is sad.” Not only were they strengthening the negative stereotype the world has of Americans being loud and obnoxious but they were wasting a chance to appreciate their surroundings.

There is a pretty good quote from the article I’m about to link to that is pulled from the Book “The Art of Travel” and it sort of applies here:

It seemed an advantage to be traveling alone. Our responses to the world are crucially molded by the company we keep, for we temper our curiosity to fit in with the expectations of others. They may have particular visions of who we are and hence may subtly prevent certain sides of us from emerging… Being closely observed by a companion can also inhibit our observation of others; then, too, we may become caught up in adjusting ourselves to the companions questions and remarks, or feel the need to make ourselves seem more normal than is good for our curiosity

Meeting the Locals as a solo traveler is always one of the best parts of the trip because as a solo traveler you are approachable and interesting to people. I love meeting new people and hearing what they have to say and their perspective on things, its hard to do this when you are having a conversation with a travel companion.

You really should read this article on solo travel (opens in a new window), she does a much better job explaining it than I can with my 5th grade writing style.

I don’t think I’m going to “seek enlightenment” or come back a Buddhist but I’m going with an open mind that I’m sure I’ll learn some things about myself and as what happens every time I come back from a trip, I hope to gain additional perspective on things.

This last year has been the hardest year of my life to date between the ending of relationships and disappointing business partners, I’m taking this time for myself. Time to see things for myself, recharge and just plain enjoy myself.

The sign that now hangs in my house says it all. Cherish Yesterday, Dream Tomorrow, Live Today!