A little over a month ago, I came back from a solo two week long adventure to Iceland, London and Paris. Having had time to marinate on all that happened and all the insights gained, I’m sharing them with you in the hopes that you navigate your own adventures with awareness. But first, I’ll start with why I went. Simply put, because I wanted to. I was able to take the time off, I had the money and a valid passport. I was attracted to Europe because I went to Italy as a junior high student with my parents but unfortunately didn’t appreciate the opportunity.
So as an adult, I figured let me explore more of Europe. I picked Paris, not only because of it’s fame and reputation for being a beautiful city, but I felt an energy pulling me there. Actually, Paris turned out to be my favorite part of the trip, because it was the most fun! I met a lot of people and partook in alot, including the 1st AFRO PUNK fest in Paris and a Kelela concert. I chose London because rapper J Cole (who I love) was ending his European tour for his Forest Hills Drive album in London. Great show!. And lastly, I chose Iceland for the natural landscape that includes volcanoes, glaciers, black sand beaches, geysirs, waterfalls and the phenomenon Northern lights from Oct-April. Unfortunately I missed them since I went in May, but I still saw and experienced a small portion of the natural beauty Iceland has to offer: the geo thermal baths, pools and saunas, the famous Gulfoss waterfall and Geysirs, as well as the national park. I definitely plan to go back to see the Northern Lights.
It also didn’t end up costing me too much. I used Google flights to find cheap airfare which included from Phila to Iceland on to London then from Paris (took a megabus from London to Paris) back to Philadelphia. All under $1000. Not bad! I used a variety of accommodations including a hostel, couch surfing, hotel and Air BnB. Air BnB was my personal favorite. I definitely recommend it over a hotel! It can be cheaper and nicer than paying for a hotel room. Lastly, I found meet up groups and went to various events they held. It was a good way to meet people and experience a new place.
So now for the wisdom gained!
- Nature is where I belong! – My most memorable moments on many of my trips have been those quiet excursions into nature, where everything is still and I feel at one with myself. I forget that feeling living Philly, but experiencing the jungles of Cambodia back in 2011 and seeing nothing but bright vibrant green, and meditating under a huge ancient tree in the rainforest of Puerto Rico last fall were super special moments to me. I especially loved seeing the natural phenomena of Iceland this trip, so I plan to incorporate and plan ahead to experience more eco-tourism on my future trips.
- A balance of solitude and social activity is a must! – Since I went on this trip solo, I ended up spending a lot of time alone. I am not usually inclined to reach out to strangers and socialize in that way so I’m sure I missed opportunities to connect. That’s why finding meetup groups before traveling was beneficial for me to engage with people and not have it be awkward. So if you are shy like me but still wanna travel solo, I suggest looking for social events and meetups ahead of time, so you at least have those chances to make connections if you you arent naturally inclined to do so. .
- Protect myself as a woman! – Unfortunately most women I know have experienced unwanted and negative desire and attention from men. During my trip, not obliging to this unwanted attraction cost me a place to stay. My couchsurfing host asked me to find another place to stay to better suit each others “styles.” I ended up having to get a hotel in London (very expensive) at the last minute because of this. Ladies please please please just protect yourself physically, financially etc. Especially as a solo traveler. Although nothing happened to me, it was still very traumatizing to have to navigate that situation by myself in a foreign, expensive city. Just please be mindful of these scenarios.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help – In light of the situation mentioned above, I didn’t want to tell family back home because I didn’t want them to worry, but I did reach out to someone to let them know what happened and they offered the emotional and even financial support I needed. Don’t be afraid to reach out!
- Go w/ the flow! Trust your intuition! – You need this traveling solo! So many situations will test you and you can only rely on yourself for guidance. Trust in you. You have all the answers. And don’t panic. Know that you are divinely protected. And that your intuition will always direct you on the right path for your highest good.
Reflections via Youtube
Part 1
Part 2
My last bit of insight is actually a goal for my future traveling. Since I did accrue a bit of debt coming home, I wish to experience my future travels differently. Maybe traveling for work or some other method that allows me to travel for free. I no longer want my travels to cause financial setbacks when I come home. So that’s the goal. Manifest what we will! Do you have any insights from your travel experiences? Let me know! Comment below.
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ASHA JACKSON
Asha aims to share love, understanding, and insight through her writing. On her own spiritual journey, writing allows her to share with the world and reaffirm OUR oneness with the universe. To read more, check out her blog at http://ashestoasha.tumblr.com
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