Mischief Managed — A Wandering Soul on Solo Trips!
Musafir hain hum bhi,
Musafir ho tum bhi
Kisi modh par phir mulaqat hogi
— Bashir Badr
As a solo traveller, I have learnt a lot about myself in the last two years. Being an introvert and someone who prefers planning to the T, to strik conversations with random strangers and letting a day take its own course as I get into it without any plans and telling my anxious self that “we will figure out as we go friend”, I have learnt to tame my insecurities and fears with the world. I think these experiences have taught me that World isn’t as bad a place as we make it look from inside our houses, indeed its not perfect and comes with its risks, but then what really is perfect?
Is it all rosy picture as your Instagram story makes it seem? Not really! You have people staring, your safety is something that is constant bug that keeps wheezing in your ears, finding a table for one is a struggle, your space is always up for grabs because how much space does a single person need anyways!, your estimates go wrong, you are stuck with a flat tyre in a no network area, you have to carry your luggage in the lavatories because what if it gets stolen, take the risk of that nap at the bus stand or railway station knowing if you don't wake up in time you will be stuck…and the list goes on.
But despite all of this, I always look forward to these escapes where I can feel the adrenaline rush, explore places, enjoy the moments, learn to come out of situations that were never envisaged but above all, create experiences on my own terms, at my pace and discover a part of me that I didnt know existsed. It was on my recent solo trip to Andaman that the thought of documenting my trips took shape in my diary. The idea is not to tell anyone ‘what to do’ when you go these places for, every traveler is different and how you choose to explore the place is your story to create and live. The idea here is to give words to my experiences that photos can’t capture! To feel the wonder so I don’t lose the ability to be amused by the World around me in the midst of a hectic routine and hope that, reading these might tempt a few more individuals to take a plunge into this addiction called wanderlust!! :)
I do acknowledge that, travelling in general and solo travelling especially is indeed a luxury for most. Just like when we watch ZNMD and say that “not everyone can take that trip to Spain”, but then as Pankaj Tripathi said “every individual must travel across India because travelling through local transport in this country is possible and affordable for it will teach you a lot about life as an individual”.
However, before I began this journey let me first address the most common Seema Aunty notions, myths and stereotypes associated with solo travelling:
- You must hate human company (underlying intention ‘you don’t like travelling with family’) — Solo travelling doesn’t stem from the need to avoid humans or family but from possibly the need to spend time with oneself. Both travelling solo and with family has its own charm. No one is comparing the experience but at the same time we can’t deny that they both differ in their inherent nature.
- You are stingy and don’t lie spending money (I mean…) — So peeps, expenditure is a personal choice. Even on a solo trip I can end up spending more than what two people travelling to the same place may end up spending. Budget planning and travelling is an art and a choice. But as Math would have it, yes! group travels are expensive affair as compared to solo travelling but when one chooses to travel that itself is a decision to spend money and not save, isn’t it?
- You don’t like to adjust/You are anti-social — Again…if you think solo travelling does not require adjsutments then you should try it yourself. Every situation needs adjsutment. What differs is the situations to which I am expected to adjust. For instance, I may not plan a hike if am travelling with my family unless I know everyone can manage it. But if I am travelling alone I ave to adjust with another group of people whom I don’t know. Also, sometimes its okay to take a break from everyone you know and meet people you don’t which isn’t exactly anti-social!
- What will people say…a girl travelling solo — People might say she is brave, independent, loves travelling and guess what? If they don’t say all of the above…well then you can tell them this is what it means ;)
- It is unsafe and risky — Safety is indeed a concern when travelling alone, but nothing that planning and some cautionary approach can’t overcome. Sound planning basis the place you are visiting does reduce the risk factors. However, personal experiences can be different despite all the planning.
- Solo travelling makes you selfish — Well this is the most interesting and baffling argument all at once! Being selfish sometimes is okay let me start there but, travelling alone is about learning to manage yourself, relying on yourself, believing in yourself and above all learning to be in your own company, which is not the easiest one to be with. Also, just out of curiosity, what selfless endeavour are we embarking on when we decide to go on family trips?
- Solo travels are easy and stress-free — Like most of the conjectures this comes from the belief that more people means more stress and concerns to address. However, solo travels has its own difficulties for only person you can go to help is you and strangers and getting help when you need it is the most difficult thing to come along.
- How do you have fun alone? — Well! unless you try you will never know I guess!!
With this in the next blog of this series which I’d like to call “Mischief Managed”, I will start with the recent trip of Andaman Island and then go backwards down the memory lane! These will mostly be anecdotes of experiences that changed my perspective, what went into planning the trip and executing it and about people and stories they carry because ultimately we are all a bunch of stories waiting to be told
and as Jaun Elia said,
“Kaun sikha hai sirf baaton se, sabko ek haadsa jaroori hai”