I think 2021 blogposts have a pattern on The PS Blog, this year is all about making use of terms like “solo”, ‘independent”, “alone”, “self” and the likes but I am not complaining. I like the sound of these words. My travel bug has been dormant for a year now but the symptoms are getting worse by the day. I started reading regularly again and bought four books in the span of two months. Three out of those are about Jaipur, my last travel destination. Now that all the state borders have opened their gates for travel, I can’t seem to decide the place I want to visit next.
I remember back in 2019 when I went on my first solo trip to a rather familiar place-Delhi, where I knew some people but for the most part of the day I was wandering alone and at my pace. Now I was not an enthusiastic solo traveller, it was out of necessity, the necessity being wanderlust. It’s safe to say that solo traveller life chose me and not the other way around. What I have learnt so far about solo travelling is that it always makes me nervous before I board my flight or catch my train. The fear of the unknown and unexpected takes over my body until I finally don my explorer hat and find myself in the middle of the street of a new city. The love of the newness is far greater than the fear of the unknown, after all love conquers, doesn’t it!
I am not an expert traveller so I have made my share of blunders and I like to turn back to those pages every now and then just to smile. I have lost track of time and taken auto ride alone at night in the middle of nowhere. I stayed with a giant suitcase at a hostel which only provided small backpack worthy lockers. I have cried in the check-in line because I misplaced my cards, what can I say? Travel makes you a mess but solo travel makes you a hot mess. Who doesn’t like a hot mess! Pun intended ;) I would be lying if I said I didn’t miss company at times during my travel. My biggest blah moments during solo travel are when I don’t have anybody to take my pictures and I am not big on selfies so you will find a lot of scenic shots on my camera roll.
Let me tell you one thing though, I have never regretted one trip in my life because I have created so many memories which makes me who I am. Going on a solo trip is the most liberating thing one can do for themselves. If you want to learn about life there is no better place than the world offered to you. I didn’t want to sit around waiting for memories to happen, so I decided to book tickets to my solo adventures. I had seen the Bollywood heroines running to catch the train and I have had my Bollywood train moments with porter annoying me while I rushed with my luggage at dawn over the foot bridge. I have wandered around tombs mid-afternoon in the company of peacocks and squirrels. I didn’t have to rush from one place to another so I have spent hours at one place watching the sunset behind the bridge while faces around me changed every fifteen minutes. I have struggled my way through the local markets smiling ear to ear just looking at the lights and colours around me. I have followed Google maps to reach city palace but I found myself in the middle of the morning temple rush which lead me to the temple courtyard.
Travel warms your heart, feeds your soul, teaches you gratitude and makes you humble because you realize you are just a miniscule fraction of this beautiful world filled with different cultures, communities, people and rich history. I never have trouble sleeping during my travels because I am very content and happy when the day ends. The nights in a new city are peaceful and mornings are exciting.
“It is better to travel well than to arrive” - Buddha
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