Hello, and welcome to one of my more personal posts. I cannot believe that it has already been two months since I began travelling. As you can guess, quite a bit has happened in that time, although I feel that this first ‘chapter’ is coming to an end.

As of writing this, I am in Rhodes, Greece, whilst a couple of close family friends are also down. At the end of the week, I will be heading to Turkey to meet up with friends, before I visit Bali. I think Bali might be what I have been the most nervous and excited about.

I will be staying with a Balinese family and will be working with small businesses there. Staying with the family will be very different from anything I have experienced so far. Particularly because their culture is much more communal, and the religion, festivals, etc, are all very different from those in the UK (or Europe for that matter). 

But how have the last couple of months actually been?

There have been some moments that have felt beyond ecstatic, and there have been other moments where I have felt like throwing my suitcase into the sea. 

The Greek Islands that I visited were absolutely stunning. I might do a longer post or guide on Greek Island hopping, although I visited Naxos, Paros, Corfu, Astypalaia, and, of course, Rhodes. They are all distinct from one another, and I would certainly recommend them. If I were to revisit Greece, I would choose to go during the spring or autumn. 

What travelling has taught me

I am incredibly grateful for having been able to visit so many beautiful places, and for the places I am yet to see. I think that my perspectives have evolved, although I can’t really put it into words. A lot can happen throughout life, and I am sure that everyone experiences this in the face of unfamiliar situations, whether travelling or not. 

Travelling has taught me to value the connections, however temporary, even more. Maybe that is because there is something distinctive about the connections made when travelling, seeing that you are communicating with someone from a totally different background, who you would never have met if you hadn’t chosen to travel. 

It has also made me care less about what others think of me, and has given me the confidence to try things that I may not have done at home. It sounds pathetic, but I used to avoid doing certain things at the gym (when I actually went), because I thought I would look silly. Or after finishing uni, I didn’t really put myself out there to meet others. But if I am lugging all my bags somewhere whilst struggling to navigate Google Maps, chances are, I look a bit silly. The thing is, no one really cares. So, why would I worry about doing or saying something from day to day? 

Solo travel, of course, will push people outside their comfort zone, although you don’t have to travel to learn more and grow as a person. Instead, it is always good to try new things if you can, even if you are scared, because chances are, you won’t regret it afterwards 🙂

So why did I want to throw my suitcase in the sea?

There have been moments where I have felt anxious, ashamed, and, admittedly, lonely. When I have felt that way, I have told myself that these feelings are unavoidable but also temporary (until they come back again). Yet, these feelings have certainly been worth enduring. 

I have also found myself becoming an ‘easy target’ for creepy men, with one or two incidents having been objectively unacceptable. There have been other occasions when I have found it harder to read someone’s intentions, leading me to adopt the ‘stranger danger’ mindset just to be safe. I really don’t want to come across as rude, although I don’t want to take risks either. My gut feeling is that it is probably the best way to handle these situations, although I am not entirely sure. However, frequently navigating a balance between vigilance and politeness to ward off potential creeps can be pretty tiring. 

Do I want to carry on Solo Travelling?

I still have next year to plan. In terms of timing, I will still be visiting home at Christmas and returning home for good by the middle of next year. 

I have learned that I enjoy taking little trips by myself. I will say it as it is. I like doing what I want, when I want, in a beautiful location.

But I have realised that I need to work on my planning skills. I don’t think I would want to visit somewhere during peak season. I was also booking a lot of things at the last minute, meaning that I stayed in some places that wouldn’t have been my first choice.

I would like to stay in specific locations for more extended periods next year. I also want/need to find work if I continue travelling. I will try to find temporary work abroad, and that will help me feel more connected to the world. It will also be a break from constantly travelling around. 

Do you prefer the idea of taking little trips or staying somewhere for a more extended period when solo travelling? Please let me know in the comments. 

Finally, if you enjoyed this post then please make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any of my future content. And if you love travel photos, then why not give my Instagram a follow?