What I love about traveling alone

Traveling is always fun especially when you're with someone. They could be your friends, loved ones, workmates, anyone. You get to explore together, someone could take photos of you, have fun together. I love it, but traveling alone will always be special to me.

This photo was taken way back in 2016 in Metro Manila, Philippines. I've had to take a plane ride from my city to Manila. I've been here probably 2-3 times before but I was with my family that time. This time, I was 19 and I was alone.

It was my first flight alone

and boi was I nervous. There's just so many uncertainties. What if my flight was redirected and I end up in an unfamiliar place? What if I get robbed in Manila and I have no one else to run into? I was nervous but excited at the same time cos I know I will be exploring the place alone.

I got there at night. Woo. Night. You know there's lots of robbers in Manila and it is dangerous to be a girl, alone. This isn't like my city where it has low crime rate compared to this place so I was really cautious.

Hell, I even almost got lost there and my aunt started freaking out when she knew I was in the wrong city that night when I was supposed to be in their city. That was quite scary.

The next day I went to that place (at the pic). I only followed instructions and Google Maps was my bff and thankfully I didn't get lost. I was sitting there at Starbucks waiting for my interview time, that's when I realized a lot of things.

Some of the things I learned

I'm a shy person and I would only talk if you're gonna talk first. I'm not gonna approach you to ask some questions cos I would rather figure it out myself first, unless I'm really desperate. I'm that kind of shy.

But then, looking at that one night that I almost got lost, I've never thought I would manage to be at my destination safely. How? I asked questions and I talked to people. LOL. I even asked the driver many times if he's gonna drive to that city which rarely happens to me.

So woah, I can be independent and I can talk to people? Lol. Being out of your comfort zone with a potential risk really makes you grow. You are forced to do things by yourself cos you got no one else to push and be like "NO U DO IT". You only rely on yourself.

Focus

Being alone in a place you barely know lets you focus on yourself, the place, the people, the culture... and how you react to them and how they interact with you... unlike being with others, you focus on your experiences together. You learn better when you're alone.

So the thing that I love the most when traveling alone

is that I get to know myself better. The things that I need to improve at, things that I'm good at, things that I didn't know that I could do, how I react with being uncomfortable... I could even say that I learned a lot in one day during this travel than I have learned in a year lol.

From that time, I became more confident when traveling alone. I'm not afraid to go to places now. Heck, I even managed to go to a rebel-infested area and got out without getting beheaded.

It's just so satisfying knowing you could actually rely on yourself, you know. I'm sure you can relate. :p

I definitely will travel alone next time. And would love to live by myself next time too.

Cheers to traveling alone!