Solo travelling

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I spent a year travelling, although I was with my (ex) husband at the time, not solo. It was fantastic. Travelling had become one of my obsessions.We spent most of the time in Asia. In Thailand there are loads of backpackers, but you dont really have to get to know them or socialise with them at all. In fact, apart from a few organised trips we did, we didnt really speak to other backpackers much. In some way this was a little disappointing - I had sort of imagined that we might meet some really interesting people and make some friends, but as it turned out we didnt make any. Maybe it was because we were two and a single person would have more luck, or maybe it was just both of us being socially awkward, particularly me, that we never really worked out how to connect with people on the road. Even for a month on a bus in N Zealand I never got to the stage of being comfortable speaking to any of the other travellers.

India is a bit different from SE Asia. There are far fewer backpackers and as a woman I was very glad to not have gone alone. It is possible, but the amount of hassle you have to put up with as a single woman makes the experience quite unpleasant and exhausting. Even with my husband we had a few hairy moments - however, this is what makes the experience worthwhile. My husband hated the dirt and discomfort, whereas for me it was part of the experience. I loved going on the overcrowded (and dangerous) trains, eating the street food (I have a strong stomach) and being able to navigate my way around Delhi or Bangkok without a map (I am good at memorising places).

There were disadvantages of travelling together - we did disagree a lot (I had read all the guidebooks as part of my obsession and planned the route and wanted to decide everything my way, which was selfish, but my husband had had no interest in the planning) and you will not have this problem. However, it was useful to have someone else to rely on in case of emergency (I am not good in emergencies) and just to have someone familier to talk to and feel safe with in unfamilier places.

I have travelled to several cities alone (Liverpool, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Oslo, Amsterdam , ... to name just a few) and emigrated 4x in the last few years, each time by myself. Probably emigrating yet again soon. Apart from the situation in which I'd have a girlfriend travelling with me, I would not want it any other way than to relocate and travel alone. I enjoy it, in a way I like it to be out there on my own with just my destinations and local people to focus on.