It was Diwali holidays (2017). I was struggling with my life. I asked my friends if they had any plans for the coming long weekend, and as I hoped, no one was free. Everyone had their own plan. I felt, oh shit! Do I have friends? I realized, It was I who had parted ways when I was in a relationship. Now, I was Left to suffer.
Anyways, I planned to have my first solo Trip of my life.
Whoever heard this, swamped me with a flurry of questions. A few said that this was good for me, I should Travel alone. It would help me.
I left for Pondicherry. However, the weird questions followed me, no matter wherever I went.
People asked:
- Are you lonely? Why alone? No friends?
- Had break up? Girlfriend ne dhokha diya? (Girlfriend left or what?)
- Maal phukte ho kya? (Do you smoke weed?) lol.
- How would you enjoy the journey?
- Made any friends? (On return)
I felt is there something wrong with being alone or travelling alone?
Yes, I had a recent breakup. I was sad, still I am. But, when I was sitting on a beach called Paradise Beach, I was happy. I felt content, I accepted the situation. I had my moment alone; however not filled with laughter like they are when you're with friends or love like when you're with your girlfriend or boyfriend. At that moment, I was completely free of any hope breathing and living my life without any care.
But guess what? I was alone.
Being alone and being lonely, same thing?
Yes, I was lonely, but I was never alone. I was always surrounded by people. One old man who dropped me to a bus stand and explained how to reach Pichavaram.
He has so many things to say, I listened to them. By the way, he disliked Marathi people.
Why I was lonely? Because my girlfriend was not there to lean on when I was upset. I was not alone because I have company of people.
Traveling alone is scary, and that's a good thing
This the best thing I learnt. I had booked a resort in Auroville village. When I reached there, the resort owner said, I didn’t have any booking, as he doesn’t accept booking from Make My Trip. This angered me. But I requested him to do something. I just waited for 2 hours, then he came and said sorry he can’t do anything. I was about to go, plus I had limited money to spend. Suddenly, I girl came, introduced herself as Rita form Bangalore, she offered me her room as she could shift to her friend’s room. I was so relieved. So kind of her. She was so nice that she kept on being sorry for me, as how was I left stranded.
See, I made a friend here. Not only her, I met with an Israeli couple, one Canadian, only because I was alone, not with my friends. You get to meet all sorts of crazy characters to create unforgettable memories when you travel solo.
You travel solo and you won’t feel lonely.
One thing is sure that when you travel alone you are constantly surrounded by a group of people that is coming and going. You can hear their plans, their weird and funny stories. You don't find time to relax and think shit that what has happened in your life.
So, I can say from my first solo trip that:
- I am not scared travelling solo
- Travel and you won’t be lonely
- You can make amazing friends
- And lastly, you will have an amazing experience.
