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Post by juju on Jun 20, 2018 22:45:41 GMT
Is something I've never done. I'm not sure how I'd feel about it - I like someone to share experiences with, but I know there seasoned single travellers here like Kye and Kelly who might vouch for solitary travels. I think my main issue would be sitting next to a stranger when I inevitability throw up...
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Post by Kye on Jun 20, 2018 23:18:19 GMT
My solo travels were rarely really solo. I either meet up with friends (as I did when going to Wales and the UK) or connect with my G Adventure group. I am not at all sociable and can't seem to connect with strangers when I travel. I remember spending a weekend on my own in Krakov where I tried to look cool and sophisticated in the main square, determined to talk with at least SOMEONE. I didn't. I have never been able to connect with people when I travel. On the plus side, I have never felt in danger. But then I've never thrown up in my travels.
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Post by whollygoats on Jun 21, 2018 3:45:42 GMT
In some senses, I prefer it. But then, I'm pretty introvert in nature.
From my view, one makes connections when one needs assistance, which is actually fairly often when one travels alone.
Outside of need, I don't tend to open conversational gambits. But I have had a couple of very positive exchanges...
I struck up a conversation with an older couple in Keswick, waiting for the bus, Maureen and David. I got along well with my fellow tour members on Orkney. I had an intriguing conversation with a pair at the bus halt in Aberystwyth. And the couple who offered me a ride back to Ayr from Culzean Castle. Other than that, I had planned moots with the denizens here, which were all quite nice.
I don't tend to upchuck, but I am susceptible to it. I took Dramamine tablets with me for the long ferry trips to Orkney and Shetlands, but never used them. My worry is when I'm cooped up on an airliner and I get overheated and queasy. Most travel personnel are familiar with passengers who are liable to motion sickness....it's fairly common. Lots of airliners still provide 'barf bags' in the pocket of the seatback in front of your seat. Consult your flight attendants for assistance; forewarned is forearmed.
By and large, I've always felt safe. The most treacherous places I went, on the Silk Road tour, I went with a guide who provided explicit advice and directions to avoid the worst. I had a blatant pickpocket attempt by a group of Roma girls in St. Petersburg.
What is it you are planning that is urging you to travel alone? Art bizness?
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Post by Mari on Jun 21, 2018 6:09:42 GMT
I travelled alone to the US and Japan and spent a week in Tokyo alone. It never bothered me: I have the freedom to go explore what I'm interested in and if I want to read all the nametags in a museum, I can. No one will urge me to move faster. If I want to go hiking, I can. And if I don't want to go swimming, I won't. In my experience, you always meet at least one person you will have an interesting conversation with: I met a poetress in Tokyo who bought me lunch, I met an Amish person on the bus to Chicago and on my first trip to Japan I met a retired professor who took me round the island several times over the year I lived there. All without any effort from my side. Sharing your experiences with someone else is nice, but you can do that over the phone or in hindsight as well. It's all in your mindset though.
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Post by whollygoats on Jun 21, 2018 16:02:58 GMT
Hmmm...I had an acquaintance, the ex-wife of a co-worker, who authored a book based upon her solo travels. I've tried posting up a pic of the cover, but the innernets are not cooperating. The author is Thalia Zepatos and the title is " A Journey of Your Own: Uncommon Advice for the Woman Traveling Alone." I've not read it myself, but having met Thalia, I would wager good money it has excellent advice. www.amazon.com/Journey-Ones-Own-3rd-Independent/dp/0933377525Heh....Looking for the info on this, I ran in to Wanderlust and Lipstick: The Essential Guide for Women Traveling Solo by Beth Whitman. I like the title.
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Post by Kye on Jun 21, 2018 16:05:30 GMT
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Post by whollygoats on Jun 21, 2018 16:15:59 GMT
My title should be "Wanderlust and Sun Screen: Travel by Lurking in the Shadows".
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Post by JoeP on Jun 21, 2018 20:00:08 GMT
I suppose I have done a fair amount of travelling by myself. Around Australia during a university holiday. Around America & Canada while I worked for IBM. Not so much since ...
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Post by whollygoats on Jun 21, 2018 21:21:07 GMT
I suppose I have done a fair amount of travelling by myself. Around Australia during a university holiday. Around America & Canada while I worked for IBM. Not so much since ... Yeah? You've traveled 'Merika and Canuckistan? Where did you get to?
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Post by raspberrybullets on Jun 22, 2018 0:52:41 GMT
I travelled alone only once. It was OK, but I found myself joining a tour of the city instead of just doing it on my own. I was a very inexperienced traveller at the time. If I were to travel on my own now, I'd stay at hostels (plenty of nice ones) which are made for meeting people. I definitely do not like being on my own. I love travelling with Ronald because we mostly want to do all the same things and travel in the same way. And then I get to share everything with him. I know when I did a two night foray with my best friend, without Ronald, I hated that he wasn't there sharing the experience with me because I knew how much he'd be loving it. It's not the same just telling a person later your experience. And now that we are both working and have limited vacation time, I would hate wasting any of those precious days on travelling without him!
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Post by tangent on Jun 22, 2018 0:54:13 GMT
My last trip on my own was a business trip to the South of France (Chambéry, near Grenoble). I flew to Geneva and took the train across the border to Chambéry. I enjoyed the trip but the business turned out to be not very successful.
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Post by whollygoats on Jun 22, 2018 1:27:12 GMT
I travelled alone only once. It was OK, but I found myself joining a tour of the city instead of just doing it on my own. I was a very inexperienced traveller at the time. If I were to travel on my own now, I'd stay at hostels (plenty of nice ones) which are made for meeting people. I definitely do not like being on my own. I love travelling with Ronald because we mostly want to do all the same things and travel in the same way. And then I get to share everything with him. I know when I did a two night foray with my best friend, without Ronald, I hated that he wasn't there sharing the experience with me because I knew how much he'd be loving it. It's not the same just telling a person later your experience. And now that we are both working and have limited vacation time, I would hate wasting any of those precious days on travelling without him! That you have somebody you are comfortable traveling with is most excellent. That doesn't always happen with couples. My dear wife used to counsel her younger friends who were considering long-term relationships by suggesting they travel overseas with their beloved before they moved in with them. She strongly asserted that it would be a most telling and educational experience for both of them. At least two weeks, a month or longer even better. It would, according to her, make it clear whether the relationship should continue or not. That said, we had somewhat different travel styles. She wanted to go somewhere and stay there for the duration. I tend to want to go somewhere and move around to cover as much territory as possible. The term 'forced march' was her typification of my travel style. I believe 'vegetative' was the term I used for her 'style' of travel.....but Hawaii, which we did in her style, would have been fun had she not been exhibiting (then unknown) symptoms of her cancer. If you can travel together without undue conflict, you are a quantum couple.
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Post by raspberrybullets on Jun 22, 2018 2:44:08 GMT
I'm sorry your wife didn't get more time to lure you to her style of travel. I lean more towards her style I guess. I prefer to stay in a place and explore it well, but I don't mind moving a few times if the trip is longer. Preferably a minimum of 4 or 5 nights in one place and more if there is a lot to explore.
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Post by whollygoats on Jun 22, 2018 4:05:09 GMT
Sometimes her style worked better, like Israel and Hawaii.
Other times, my style was more in tune with what our objectives were, like the UK and the Laurentine tour.
Our recent trip to eastern Europe was an excellent synthesis: Two weeks on the Danube river, moving every day, followed by two weeks in Budapest, taking in what was within reach.
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Post by raspberrybullets on Jun 22, 2018 7:44:17 GMT
The nice thing about a river cruise is you're not really moving in the sense of having to relocate your luggage all the time. Campervans are quite good for that style of travel.
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Post by JoeP on Jun 22, 2018 16:39:51 GMT
I suppose I have done a fair amount of travelling by myself. Around Australia during a university holiday. Around America & Canada while I worked for IBM. Not so much since ... Yeah? You've traveled 'Merika and Canuckistan? Where did you get to? I was based in Raleigh NC for about 8 weeks and took some weekend trips in the Carolinas and to NY and N'Awlins, but most of my travels were Saskatoon (yes really), the Canadian Rockies, Vancouver, Yosemite, Sequoia, Joshua Tree and other Californian parky places.
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Post by whollygoats on Jun 22, 2018 16:55:15 GMT
Yeah? You've traveled 'Merika and Canuckistan? Where did you get to? I was based in Raleigh NC for about 8 weeks and took some weekend trips in the Carolinas and to NY and N'Awlins, but most of my travels were Saskatoon (yes really), the Canadian Rockies, Vancouver, Yosemite, Sequoia, Joshua Tree and other Californian parky places. Ah, so you cherry-picked some decent destinations. Good. Sorry about Saskatoon....I've never been, actually. How did you like it? You've seen the Canadian Rockies (Banff to Jasper, or just Banff and Lake Louise?), that's a top one for me. You got further south on the California parky places than I have. I've done a lot of wandering in the Redwoods, up north. What time of year were you in N'Awlins?
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Post by JoeP on Jun 22, 2018 18:40:53 GMT
Saskatchewan is completely flat, except for grain elevators. I went to meet friends, not for the sights!
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Post by Kye on Jun 22, 2018 18:56:19 GMT
I spent a miserable couple of hours in Saskatoon on my way to elsewhere.
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Post by whollygoats on Jun 22, 2018 23:37:30 GMT
Am I allowed to ask why it was 'a miserable couple of hours'? Or, was it just because it was Saskatoon? It could have been Moose Jaw, y'know?
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Post by Kye on Jun 23, 2018 1:03:27 GMT
I was in a train and super constipated. We had a layover and I was hoping for something to distract me, but it was completely uninspiring.
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Post by whollygoats on Jun 23, 2018 2:26:14 GMT
Well, yeah....It was Saskatoon.
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