Tags
checklist, Do's and Don'ts, fear, funny, Here I Go Again on My Own, inspire, Inspired traveler, life, list, pre travel jitters, rulebook, rules, solo female traveler, solo traveling, travel, wanderlust, Whitesnake
(The One With the List)
I have started the year 2016 by venturing out on my own. I’m taking my three weeks of vacation from teaching to go to places that have only been in my dreams; I now get to make my dreams a reality. With every new place I travel to I still get, what I call, the “pre-travel jitters.” Most of the time it’s just running a checklist in my mind to make sure I haven’t forgotten anything important and only once, on my way to Thailand, was it, “Holy Shit! What did I just do?” but everything worked out quite great on that one.
There are always those fears that creep in while planning for a new trip: Fear of the unknown, fear of the What-if’s, fear of your coconut oil spilling out all over your backpack. Especially traveling solo as a female, those pesky anxieties seem to float around in my head sometimes. No, it’s not the first time I’ve ventured out on my own and thank God everything has always been okay, but being on the road I’ve met various travelers with horror stories of their own to share. From lost or stolen possessions, to various accidents and health hazards, to being chased down by men with machetes demanding money. (Seriously though, shit’s crazy!) Luckily everyone was alive and well to tell that story.
Going to a new country or into anything new for that matter is always scary in its own way. For me though, the excitement always outweighs the fear. The idea of being able to explore more of this magnificent world drives those fears back more and more. Unexpected things will come up, they always do, however it does help to be prepared as much as you can.
There are some basic rules to keep handy that will set your mind at ease when venturing out as a solo traveler. I have put together a fool-proof list of “Do’s and Don’ts” that have helped me on my journeys that are sure to be helpful for anyone.
My go-to list for solo traveling (in no particular order):
1.) Don’t get too close to wildlife.
2.) Don’t climb dangerous rocks
3.) Never eat with your hands
4.) Stay away from roads that may not lead anywhere.
5.) Don’t stand close to any edges or cliffs
6.) Don’t play with knives
7.) Don’t waste water