I’m Craving To Travel Alone
It’s been a while since I traveled really alone, and I’m missing that (terribly). Though I did a bit of solo travel in Rajasthan this year – Pushkar and Ajmer, I haven’t been able to travel independently for the past one year. My travels have been largely impromptu in the last eight to ten months. They have either been invites from tourism boards and hotels, or my personal holidays with my husband and family.
I really need to travel alone.
After traveling alone for quite a few years, I have come to a conclusion that I can barely travel with anyone but myself. I love being alone. There’s something about solo travel. The experiences are richer, the connection with places is deeper and the memories are more soulful.
On the other hand, I’d say it’s hard to be alone once you have a companion. No matter how hard I try, I can’t be just with myself. A part of me is always with my husband. I really wonder if I would ever be able to feel the way I used to when I was single.
Thankfully, I have a partner who understands my love for travel. He has a curiosity for different cultures, way of lives and unexplored places quite like mine, which gives me a lot of comfort. He appreciates and has a fairly good sense for the art of photography, too. So, when my husband and I travel together, it’s a joy! Though he loves museums and churches, he’s not really touristy. He also has the ability to appreciate the little nuances of a place. Perhaps that’s where we find a common ground.
But, travelling with a companion and travelling alone are two different things. I believe you can never discover with a companion what you can when you are alone. It is good to be alone sometimes. Being alone doesn’t mean being lonely.
Also read Solo Travel vs. Family Travel
So, what am I missing?
I’m missing the freedom of slow travel. Yes, you get the privilege of travelling at your own pace when you are alone. You don’t have to tick off anything. No itineraries. No plans. Just you and freedom. You literally follow your heart wherever it leads you!
So yes, my travel style is solo and slow. I don’t like to rush. I don’t make it my agenda to have an action-packed day. In fact, I like doing nothing. I like conversations. I like morning walks, the lull of the afternoons and sunsets. I love bakeries and cafes, old battered pathways and indefinite photo rambles.
I’m craving to go back to my own way of travelling. Be it my natters with houseboat owners in Kashmir, hiking with an old German lady in Sikkim or sipping tea at a villager’s home in Kutch, my solo travel experiences have been remarkable.
I’m curious to know how it feels to travel alone when you have a companion. I’m sure it feels different. As I mentioned earlier, a part of me is always with my husband. But, I guess it’s amazing because ‘being in love’ and ‘travel’ are the two exclusive joys of life. At least, I believe so.
Have you traveled alone? What’s your favorite part about solo travel?
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