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Going
Solo
 The
thought of lunching out or going to the movies alone is already
an unappealing notion to many, almost as if being alone carries
with it the stigma of being friendless. Venturing abroad with no
one but oneself is all the more an unthinkable option for Asian
women, and friends have given me curious looks the one time I've
told them I was doing so. But travelling by yourself is empowering
and may just prove to be the experience of your life, as one brave
chick proves.
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By Tanny Chia
 <eastciti.com,
September 15>
After
spending 2 months trotting through the region armed with a backpack,
Lonely Planet guides and close to nothing else, 26-year-old Jenny
Tham is back on home turf with an enriched world view and looking
none the worse for wear. This is not the first time the former investment
banker-turned-globe trotter has ventured off by herself. Short trips
into Malaysia by herself gave her the courage to take off on a solo
trip to remote Mongolia last year. She came home so overwhelmed
with the experience that she started making plans for another one
the moment the plane touched down. Quite fortuitously, the company
Jenny worked in underwent a major restructuring early this year
and she happily opted out, taking along with her a benefits package
hefty enough to keep her comfortably unemployed while she traipsed
from mysterious Tibet and picturesque Nepal into the pandemonium
of Bangkok and the dark past of Cambodia.
See
And Do More
So, what exactly was the allure of going solo that drew this modern
day Indiana Joanne to do it not once, but several times? One compelling
reason was the flexibility she enjoyed while alone that she did not
have the luxury of when travelling with companions. Anyone who has
journeyed with friends for a prolonged period would be familiar with
the many compromises that have to be made in order to keep the peace.
Without having to pander to another's whims, Jenny found it that much
easier to change plans and plan itineraries according to what tickled
her fancy. For instance, Bangkok and Cambodia were not initially part
of her planned destinations. But with ample time on hand, she decided
on a spur to continue on north instead of heading south towards home,
a decision she's not regretting.
 Another
curious outcome of being in a foreign country without the assurance
of friends is that the desire for company often draws the most reticent
out of their shells to strike up conversations with fellow travellers.
Locals curious about a lone traveller also tend to be friendlier
and extend more hospitality. While travelling on a boat to Phnom
Penh in Cambodia, Jenny chatted up a Cambodian woman who eventually
invited her to dinner at her home. Such valuable encounters would
be few and far between if you are busy giggling and chatting with
friends.
Centre
Of Attraction
Interesting encounters abound when a girl ventures the world alone.
When in the small town of Gyantse in Tibet, Jenny was trying on a
native costume in a market bazaar when she looked up to find that
a crowd of dusty-faced locals had gathered to stare at her. A lone
foreign girl in traditional garb was a spectacle that's not witnessed
every day. Often, travellers also find themselves attracting attention
of a markedly different kind - from beggars. Many children as young
as 5 in poor countries like Tibet and Cambodia beg for alms as they
know no other way to supplement their families' meagre income. But
the giving of money to beggars is always a double-edged sword - there's
no way of ascertaining whether the children are genuinely in need
or exploited as part of a syndicate. To solve this, Jenny distributes
food, not money.
In
addition to learning about different cultures and getting to know
herself like never before, is there any insight that this intrepid
traveller has gained while combing the remotest places? Yes, that
everyone the world over is fundamentally the same, and differences
arise from individual characters and personalities rather than the
colour of skin, she replies without hesitation.
Female
In A Foreign Land
 No,
we're not ignoring the fact that being a lone female in a strange
land carries with it a certain risk, especially in Third World countries.
But Jenny, for all her 1-woman expeditions, has not met with any threatening
episodes as yet. This, perhaps, is due to the fact that she adheres
strictly to the oft-mouthed advice - use your common sense and intuition.
"When you've travelled often enough, you'll learn to use your instincts
in judging whether to trust a person or place," she says. As an extra
precaution, she keeps friends and families informed of her travel
plans via e-mail and avoids going out at night, unless with other
female travellers she feels she can trust. She also keeps her cash
in several places (yes, even in her shoes), lies to cab drivers that
she's travelling with guy friends and basically keeps her eyes peeled
on her surroundings. Well, she should know.
Tips
Every Lone Traveller Should Know
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Where
possible, try to join other female travellers when travelling
at night or to remote places.
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Do
not store all your cash and credit cards in one place. Put some
spare cash in a secret hiding place.
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Do
not EVER let suspicious persons know that you're travelling
alone.
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Keep
in touch with family and friends at home through phone or e-mail
and keep them informed of your plans.
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Be
alert to your surroundings and use all senses.
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And
most importantly, use your common sense and trust your gut feeling
- it could save your life. |
Useful
sites:
http://www.journeywoman.com
http://www.lonelyplanet.com
Got
an interesting solo experience or travel tips?
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