On the plane for Bangkok
I finally did it!
Today, I collected all my strengths and reserved a one -way ticket from Thailand to Indonesia for early April.
Nothing so extraordinary, right? As I have been traveling for more than a month, booking a plane ticket should be a routine for me.
The difference this time is that I will travel alone!
This is not a decision that I made overnight of course. The idea crossed my mind before I even left for Asia.
My traveling companion already knew my idea, and even if at the beginning, he was a little skeptical about this, he now agrees with me that it can be a wonderful opportunity to evolve for both of us.
What are the reasons for this decision?
Let’s start by saying that it was not an easy step. Many people have this idea that I am a little crazy, determined and courageous with all the decisions I made in my life. Well, let me tell you what’s going on behind the scenes: Whenever I make a risky decision, I literally panic. And this is no exception.
As soon as I reserved the flight, I immediately realized that it would be a totally different experience from the one I live at the moment, which is already quite incredible and quite difficult! I felt lost, vulnerable and frightened like a small child.
Despite this, my inner nature always wins against my greatest fears. As someone said one day: “If you are not frightened by your dreams, it means that it is not big enough”
Here are the main reasons why I bought this post:
1 | My independent nature
I have always been really independent.
Don’t get me wrong, I love spending time with my friends and meeting new people, but it’s also vital for my mental health to have a space for myself if I want. Only in this way, I can treat the millions of thoughts that join me in mind and understand what’s going on with my life.
Sometimes I wonder if there is something that does not go with me, but the answer is still no. For a simple reason: when I have my spaces, I feel so much better and I realize that I am also a better person with other people. Better, quieter and nicer.
I think everyone is different and that we have to understand what works best for us, to achieve a good balance between life.
2 | Love of challenges
Traveling with a good friend is always a good choice for many reasons:
- You have someone with whom to share all the incredible experiences with
- You don’t have to worry about who looks at your bags if you need to go somewhere
- You do not have the feeling of being alone and overwhelmed by everything so that you can relax a little
But again, I like the challenges. I want to see if I can survive myself in a foreign country, far from my house, my friends and my culture.
Example: When I arrived in Krabi, they stole my debit card. I had another, so I was not too worried. Guess what? I could not withdraw money with him because the bank did not allow the transaction in Thailand.
I found myself without access to my money and I lacked money. Shitty situation. I was lucky because my friend supported me until I managed to solve the problem.
What would have happened if I was alone? How would I have treated all of this? These are situations where you discover your strengths and weaknesses.
I am sure that traveling alone will teach me good lessons, the mind is completely different when you know you have your back covered. Just like what is happening in your own country: you feel safe around your usual friends and family and the possibility of really testing your skills of “survivor” are very limited.
3 | The need to know more about me
Such a cliché ‘, right? Well, I don’t think this is the case. Not for me.
The other day, I met a 60 -year -old woman here in the hostel where I stay in Siem Reap. We had an incredible conversation. She is 5 months in her solo trip RTW. I was surprised by her energy and her positivity and asked her how she managed to be like that, especially to be exactly a teenager.
She said a few things that struck me for any reason: one was that she was not traveling to be somewhere in particular, She traveled just to be. I totally have what she meant. I can be anywhere in the world, see the most beautiful temple or the landscape, but what really makes the difference is my attitude towards it.
And my question was: “So, if these are not the sites, but your attitude and the people you meet, why you have to travel? Can’t you try it at home?” But I think I already knew the answer before she replied.
Routine kills your observation skills. Safety, the environment “without challenge” decreases your sensitivity to events and people around you. During the trip, emotions are amplified and improved. Your senses become sharper and fatigue is sometimes a very good tool for that.
When I travel, I feel that I am more in contact with myself than before. It will not be easy, I already know, but I am 100% sure that it is one of the best decisions I made during this trip. Anyway, it is just a “test test”. There are no rights or wrongs here. Only experience to win.
And I hope it will be good, for me and for my paolo travel companion too. We will have to live it and see how it goes, and as panicked as possible, I am also super excited for this trip inside the trip. Stay listening!
Acclamations!
