My thoughts on Solo Traveling




Yes I did it. I just did solo traveling! For the very first time I did a solo travel (read: solo/alone/me, myself and moi). From planning to executing, I did everything - ALONE.

Solo traveling is not my cup of tea. It's not that I don't want to do it, it's just that I never had the chance to do it. But technically, I did a "solo travel" before. It was nine years ago, fresh out from almost 15 years of primary, secondary and university education. A college friend, whose roots are from Palawan, invited me to visit her hometown in Puerto Princesa. The thing is, she was already there and I need to go there alone - via Super Ferry. And so I did. I went there alone and succumbed the 22-hour boat ride - alone. A nineteen year-old chick was alone for the first time. I dunno how I made my parents approved of it but they allowed me and even financially sustained the whole 2-week trip. 

That was it. The longest time I was alone with myself. 

Yes I did it. I just did solo traveling! For the very first time I did a solo travel (read: solo/alone/me, myself and moi).  From planning to executing , I did everything - ALONE.

Others may see it as a very casual thing. Nothing serious. And did it more than a hundred times in their lives. But lemme tell you this - you were once a solo travel-virgin right?

One big problem I have with solo traveling is having to deal with myself for the duration of the trip. I dunno if it's weird but I have this battle with myself. And I am afraid that if something bad happened during the trip, I would be mad at me. If you know what I mean.

One more thing is that I love to talk. If you pretty much know me (personally), I am the most talkative person and the loudest. I have an inborn hearing-defect. I can't hear very well and as a result, I speak louder than "normal" people would do. I can't even whisper because other people would definitely hear it. And as I grow up, I was usually a "talker" and not a "listener" (because honestly I can't hear you if you have the softest voice on earth). To make my point, I am an extrovert not an introvert. I love to talk and talk and talk some more (that people oftenly mistaken it for being pabida - I am the most misjudged person - paawa effect). Who would listen to me if I am alone?

And lastly, I find it more expensive to travel alone than in a group where you can divide the costs making it cheaper.

Yes I did it. I just did solo traveling! For the very first time I did a solo travel (read: solo/alone/me, myself and moi).  From planning to executing , I did everything - ALONE.

It was not my intention nor did I make a conscious effort to travel solo. It just happened and I am glad I just did.

It was the 4-day long weekend/vacation and the perfect time to go out on a holiday (also the most perfect weather). A week before that, I started to research about some possible places to go to. I can only do a land trip so I trimmed my list down to three possible destinations that I've never been to; somewhere in the C.A.R. (Cordillera Autonomous Region), MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) and the Bicol/Albay Region. So I texted some of my friends about the plan and they were either sick or busy. And so I texted other friends (I really don't have that much). And lastly, the boyfriend. But none of them replied the way I wanted them to. They were just so busy. And then it just hit me that hey, I can do this on my own. And then I realized that it's easier said than done.

So a day before the trip, I researched and planned for some info about the place I was eyeing. It was really difficult - emotionally. One minute I was too excited and the next I was worried if this would turn out well. 


Friday. The "planned" day for me to leave. I leave work everyday at 12 noon. When I went home, I opened my closet and just stood there figuring out if I should carry on with the plan. Should I do this? And then a heavy sigh. Bahala na si Batman at si Buddha.

So there I was, at the bus terminal. It was 6:00 p.m. and all I could think of was going home and quit instead. But my inner self was shouting and cursing me at the same time. It was like a battle and a debate in one's self. It's not an easy thing. Trying to convince myself that it will be fine was harder than actually experiencing "it".

Yes I did it. I just did solo traveling! For the very first time I did a solo travel (read: solo/alone/me, myself and moi).  From planning to executing , I did everything - ALONE.

I came out alive and perfectly fine. I can still feel the excitement from what I've experienced. It was a sweet 4-day retreat. I survived being alone (not necessarily lonely), spent time with the locals, almost finished a book, stayed at three different resorts/inns, and experienced everything in a new perspective. It was really fun. I didn't expect this thing to have a big impact in me. 

Bottom line: Fear of the unknown. I never knew what to expect. I've never been in that situation so I wouldn't know how to deal with it. No one to talk to. No one to bully. Nobody to look after my stuff when I need to do number 1 or 2. Just me. 

But then again, we learn from our experiences. Bad or good, we still choose what to learn, unlearn and re-learn. And that's how we pick out what is relevant and what we should leave behind. 

I just did a solo travel. And this would definitely not be the last one. 


27 comments :

  1. ako parang di ko pa kaya mag solo sa pagtravel kasi mahiyain ako pgdating sa pagtanong ng mga directions hahahaha

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    1. ako naman ang problema ko eh wala akong matinong itinerary so di ko alam ag itatanong ko sakanila. hehe

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  2. you finally did it! i can totally relate to your emotional battle. i guess lahat ng mga nagbabalak mg solo travel for the first time pinagdadaanan yan. nwy, congrats carla!

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    1. thanks kim! matutuwa ka sa next post ko **winks**

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  3. Isn't solo travel very liberating? Now that you have done it, you'll probably do it again and again. Just keep your guards up and don't easily trust strangers. Good luck in your future solo travels.

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    1. yes bert. very liberating. nakakapagpalaya sa lahat ng aspeto ng buhay :)thanks!

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  4. there's a different thrill when you're traveling alone.... :) every year i make it a point to travel to a place alone. I'm on my third year. I did Bulusan Sorsogon, El Nido Palawan and Sagada.

    You go girl!!!

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    1. hi ann! im looking forward na agad sa next solo travel ko. kaya ko naman pala. sus yun lang! (biglang ang yabang na.) haha

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  5. Go go go... Masaya minsan ang magisa mag travel... There are times na masaya ang group pero sometimes you have to be alone to ponder things out...

    God bless on your travels =)

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    1. yes tama ka diyan jherson and magugulat ka na lang sa kaya mong magawa bilang mag-isa ka lang dahil wala kang ibang aasahan. ang galing lang talaga :)

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  6. hi manong. parang nakakatakot nga pag bundok noh? haha. pero apir tayo sa hawak mo ang oras. iba talaga pag mag-isa :and trip na trip mo yung lugar na pupuntahan mo :)

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  7. Never tried solo traveling....shakot ako and one thing I'm lazy with my things but I should try this one!

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    1. hi sunny! and yes you should. ngapala. i think i saw you sa boracay last february? haha. ang tagal na ba?

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  8. mam, may hearing defect din ako at alam ko kung san ko yung nakuha,. excessive drugs katol, etc. haha! apir!

    so proud of you, well i have always been. chikka mo samin yan! lapit na housewarming namin! overnight tayo dun!

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  9. Bet ko din sana lumakwatsa nung long weekend kaso wala din ako kasama. :( E di pa super tapang para sa solo travel. Kaya sa bahay na lang. Hehe. Pero dream ko din magsolo travel. Hehe.

    Congrats Atech! Bongga! :DD

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    1. dadating din ang time na magso-solo ka chingky:) minsan kasi ang hirap talaga humanap ng kasama eh di ba?

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  10. Solo travel is really one of the major items that I have yet to cross in my travel bucket list. I love it when you said, "So there I was, at the bus terminal. It was 6:00 p.m. and all I could think of was going home and quit instead." As for me, perhaps I'm still more afraid than adventurous enough. Perhaps in 2013, will make this one of my goals. Thanks for inspiring me :)

    And thanks also for following :)
    xo

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    1. hi there goddess! you are adventurous it's just the fear of the unknown that sucks... at first. once you got your groove back then it's fine.

      balitaan mo kami sa first solo travel mo! :)

      thanks din...

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  11. tumo-thoughts thoughts pa. ayiii! May ganyan din ako dati. hahah! mga emoterang bullfrog lang. Pero iba talaga nagagawa ng solo trip. ♫you did it! you did it! you did it Whoa!♫ kakantahan ka na ni Dora niyan. hihihi!

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    1. woohoo! feeling ko maaadik na ko. pero feeling lang. ang gastos ng solo teh! haha

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  12. Hey, I'm curious - where did you go for your first solo travel? :-)

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  13. Di ko ata kaya mag-travel ng mag-isa... baka maligaw ako eh! hahaha pero sure i'll try it, sa Boracay ako pupunta! :) Ang pinaka-problem lang talaga kapag solo is yung budget! :D

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    1. hi kit! yan din ang akala ko dati.. na di ko kaya pero i did! di pa nga lang nauulit pero nakayanan ko naman. with the budget naman eh try to set a fixed budget talaga para di ka mag-over. and more more research din talaga :)

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