Solo Travel (Thread 3)

[meimei]

Just got back from my first solo travel. I had fun. BUT the utmost thing i didn't like was that everyone i came across with was asking me why i was alone. As in yung pagtatanong nila is parang nawe-weirduhan sila o naaawa sila. Parang i felt like a loser tuloy.

Lalo na nung nag-Sand Dunes ako. Eh di super enjoy ako kaya sabi ko babalik talaga ko dun. Paulit-ulit sabi nung guide, dapat sa susunod may kasama ka na. Paulit-ulit! Na parang ang loser ko kasi mag-isa ko.

I dunno. Maybe i'm not just meant for solo travel because parang nakakapagod mag-explain kung bakit mag-isa ko and it kinda irritates me when people keep saying na dapat may kasama ko, etc.

[eischied_21]

^ I think pinoys are not open minded when it comes to solo travelling unlike westerners. I travelled out of the country and I was receiving "you are brave" words of compliment to strangers. Just dont mind them, iba talaga ang feeling ng accomplishment and fulfillment once you travel solo.

[abbeydasassy]

^agree! I went solo on My very first international flight (tapang tapangan diba? LOL) but it felt so liberating and fulfilling nga.
 
many pinoys still not open to the idea of solo travelling.

[melodymedley]

@meimei: Three years ago, when I first travelled solo (in Europe), I met a lot of solo travellers. I stayed in backpacker hostels, so very supporting ang environment. I agree na mas open ang Westerners sa solo travelling. They just ask: "Are you alone?". Walang halong judgement. Question lang.

Then I travelled solo to Davao. Ayun na, katakut-takot ang tanong din sakin na ganyan. Bakit daw ako mag-isa? Dun ako nakaramdam ng judgement.

Nakakapagod mag explain. Very annoying. Kaya ako, I just give an offhand answer na "I like travelling alone". Makuntento man sila o hindi, I give short answers, or I change the topic.

I don't have to explain myself to anyone. And I don't think they'll understand anyway. I don't know if they want to understand. So I shrug it off, move along, and enjoy the journey.

Tuloy-tuloy lang ang gala after ng first solo travel ko. I consider my first solo travel one of my super achievements, until now.

[bagaholic_chewy]

^ reminds me of when I travelled solo to Bangkok before my "single" passport expired. Nagsenti ako, kasi after that, I'll change my passport to my married name na. My husband was supportive, dinagdagan pa nga niya pocket money ko para daw pang-shopping. Hehe.. requirement lang nya was - flight and hotel details. And phone on international roaming so he can contact me in case of emergencies.

But some of my inlaws and friends were like: "huh, ikaw lang? Bakit di kasama si hubby? Me problema ba kayo?", etc etc. I guess masyado sila nasanay na hubby & I travel a lot together na feeling nila something was wrong na kasi I travelled solo. I just smiled and said, "so kung may-asawa na di na pwede magbakasyon mag-isa?" Sabay hirit din ako ng pabiro "hinatid pa nga nya ako sa airport e, para masigurong umalis ako para maka-gimik na sya after.". Haha!

Sometimes din, when hubby & I travel together, like in Europe, we have at least a day na kanya-kanya kami ng lakad. Pag nagkatamaran e di maiwan sa hotel ang isa. Basta, kanya-kanyang trip for that day. Then we'll just meet up for lunch or dinner or something.

[purple.strawberry]

^Pag nababanggit kong gusto ko magsolo travel, yan din ang sinasabi sa'kin. Haha! True nakakapagod pakinggan, minsan nag-iispace out na lang ako.

Never tried it, but would like to sa cambodia. Ang nasubukan ko pa lang is to join travel buddies online or sama sa mga online travel groups. It's fun din kasi madaming bagong kakilala.

[blackgreen]

Ganyan din naeexperience kong reaction when I do solo travel. Parang feeling mo tuloy ka-awa awa ka kasi wala ka kasama. I enjoy travelling with friends and bf, but I also enjoy travelling alone.

Tama kayo sis, dipa open sa Filipinos ang solo travel.

[fredprinz]

Unfortunately, some Pinoys do not get the concept of solo travel. I went to Tokyo just this September for my first solo trip overseas. It was fun, kontrolado ko ang oras ko and I learned a lot from it like:
1) getting out of my comfort zone
2) adjusting to people in a foreign country where English speakers are not quite that many
3) planning more for my personal itinerary
4) realizing kaya ko pala talaga magsolo travel
5) finding out how beautiful other places can be.

I highly suggest doing solo travels often, wala namang masama eh. Just do enough research on the place you're going to and take care of yourself. =)

[simang]

^i love Tokyo. was there last month

i always encourage my girl friends to travel solo at least once. for the experience. my last solo trip was a few months ago na. sabi ko that might be my last, pero we'll never know. masaya magtravel mag isa and i just ignore the eyes on me. the less i care, the happier i am, haha. pag tinatanong ako bakit mag isa, i just say, gusto ko magisa eh. or kung nasan boyfriend ko, i say nasa trabaho. i keep my answers short without explanation. wala naman sila pakialam sa reasons ko eh. haha.

[insanelypurpleprincess]

In fact, it's the people who always have "automatic" travel buddies who should try solo travel. What do I mean by automatic? Having friends who also travel a ton, so when you invite them, it's always just a question of when & where right away or having a partner in life who travels or having a jet-setting family. So, in my case, I usually ask for a time out from everyone and just plot my solo travel. I want to see more of the Philippines, so I am spending my Saturday trying to figure out where I should go for my next solo travel!

[karxn]

Gusto ko gawin 'to, kahit sa Tagaytay lang sana muna. Kahit isang weekend lang.

[iwannabeasupermodel]

For first timer san ba maganda pumunta? Somewhere that has a beach or more of site seeing?

[fredprinz]

Hi supermodelgal,

I suggest Singapore or Hong Kong, bukod sa walang visa (no hassle to apply for one), maganda ang transportation and maayos. Nasa sa'yo na yun kung gusto mo beach or maglakad lakad, kung beach, pwede ka magPhuket or Bali, though masyadong commercialized.

For first timer san ba maganda pumunta? Somewhere that has a beach or more of site seeing?

[shielala]

I've been to Cebu, Sg, HK and Davao for my solo trips and the experience is very liberating. Sobrang nakakaproud kase not everyone can do that. If you want to meet locals na travelers din, I suggest you sign up sa couchsurfing. I tried that during my recent trip to Davao and met up with fellow couchsurfers. Masaya kase I was able to join their Trivia nights every Tuesday and sobrang dami ko nakilala na locals. 

[iwannabeasupermodel]

^^ ay pano pag sa pinas sis? Wanna start small and simple sana haha!

[fredprinz]

Hi Supermodel Gal,

I highly suggest Cebu, maganda 'yung city and you can go to the nearby beaches, pwede mo ren idiretso ng Bohol if your time/schedule permits it.

But do thorough research ha? Iba pa ren yung may alam/background ka sa pupuntahan mo. Feel free to ask any questions. =)

I'm a guy by the way. Hahaha!

^^ ay pano pag sa pinas sis? Wanna start small and simple sana haha!

[iwannabeasupermodel]

^ and ^^ thanks bros. Guy din ata si cussler haha.

[fredprinz]

No worries. Do thorough research and Google stuff like, "Things solo travelers bring" or "What and what not to bring when you're traveling"

OK ang solo travel kasi ikaw mafo-force na gumawa ng itinerary mo, kung may sumablay, it's on you. Kasi minsan, pag may kasama ka, either ikaw lang yung gagawa or you'll let your friends do it. Dito sa solo traveling, ikaw ang responsable.

^ and ^^ thanks bros. Guy din ata si cussler haha.

[callmemissj]

I really want to try. My gay friend told me na nagMacau siya magisa nung birthday niya and nalulungkutan ako sa idea pero enjoy daw. Ewan parang nakakatakot rin (at walang tagapicture hehe) pero I want this ultimate me time since sanay ako magplan with my boyfriend or friends na pag wala sila ayoko na. Independent woman lang peg. Haha. Sana kayanin ko.

[xtine]

You also have to prepare emotionally and mentally.  If someone is the type who often clings with or is used to of being with somebody, then I am not sure if travelling alone will be a liberating experience for that person.  You must be prepared to face it with a positive attitude to avoid the feeling of "loneliness" during the experience, like eating alone and talking to strangers.  Can you emotionally handle it?

http://www.nomadicchick.com/how-to-prepare-for-solo-travel/