I opt for independent travel because the sense of freedom and the ongoing encounters with both locals and fellow travelers is incomparable. I may not see all one might on a tour, but sitting at a cafe, wandering the streets, shopping in a local market, even getting lost in a maze of metros provide me with invaluable moments that rival the best monuments. And my interaction with people is markedly different.

When taking a local bus, boat, or train my companions are likely to be those who live in the land I have chosen to visit. To share a seat with a woman holding a live chicken in her lap, or a man transporting tiers and tiers of homemade dessert to market, or a man adroitly maneuvering his scooter onto a ferry over laden with huge sacks of goods, or watching children transport large containers of water they have just filled at the river remind me that “a daily routine” is defined differently throughout the world.

I am offered such glimpses with a bit more uncertainty and effort,  but it is well worth it.

Thank you for taking the time to read my post! Welcome to the tales of a woman solo traveler and thoughts to make today the start of something new. I hope you find information and inspiration in the text and images and join me in my quest for growth, wonderment and self-improvement.