A Single Female Traveler

chillibreeze writer — Shadan Syed

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In the world full of ‘why’, I asked myself ‘why not’? It was when all my friends refused to accompany me on the trip to Mcleodganj (a tiny quaint and mystical town near Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh, India). May be it was the irritation of hearing ‘no’ from my closest buddies that motivated me to pick up my bags and catch the first bus to my destination. I was determined for my decision, and had a plan for my trip that echoed “You are free... Live, laugh and you will love it all”. The next moment, I was on the streets of Mcleodganj, on a date with myself. Today I feel, that was the most liberating experience of my life, I am a more confident person... that solo trip has changed my life truly, I am a convert now and love being a single female traveler!

Travelling solo is all about only you, your bag and the big wide world. One can’t imagine the freedom, the independence and the adventure in stock. Why to let your travel buddies restrict you from new experiences, trust me they’ll envy you for this indelible experience! It’s time to challenge yourself and be the solo girl on a move. Choose a destination as vibrant and colorful as India where all you have to do is throw yourself into it and have the time of your life! Visualize being a celebrity on a red carpet in a sexy designer dress and an envious clutch, similar would be the confident and proud feeling within you on the Indian roads with a backpack. It is then when you will discover that travelling alone is truly rewarding and liberating. So get up, grab your bag and land in India and feel the enigma of the country and warmth of the people.

India is somewhere you can be sure of a signature experience, and being a solo traveler will add to the charm of exploring the myriad diversity and vibrant culture of this destination. Be it a day in a spa or on a beach or in the Himalayas, it will be a cocktail exclusively for you. There is no end to the experiences on the platter for you, you can learn how to wear a sari or match a bindi with your dress, attend a big fat Indian wedding, try some yoga postures, go on a shopping spree to a local market or explore the wildlife on an elephant along with making friends on every road you pass by. As a single female in India you will have plenty of choices to indulge in.

Being a ‘traveloholic’ myself, I promise the reserved fun for a single female traveler but it comes with a need of travelling safe and secure being a girl in a new land. I don’t want you to confide yourself to AC taxis and luxury hotels, this way you will not be able to experience the charisma this incredible country has to offer. Life is to live to its fullest and travelling is exploring life, so don't spoil it by worrying, but travel smart by applying a few simple measures that can make your solo trip a lot safer. It’s important to hear the alarm bell while indulging in the pleasures; you just have to believe in your instinct.

Being safe on the go is just a question of being alert and remembering the mom’s words like avoid going out alone at night and don’t talk to the strangers. These are the time tested rules and India is no exception. So for your next solo vacation other than the feminine advantages we girls have in hand, here are few travel tested tips.

Google It! - In this tech savvy world, it’s completely a must to have a mobile internet, where you can Google about any doubt or browse through Google maps anywhere and everywhere. Check out some of the hostels and budget hotels specially made for solo travelers.

Guide – A must have! – It’s important to know your destination, how about carrying a map or a small guide.

A Smart Start – Backpacking is surely fun, but we also want a hassle free holiday, so at least book your tickets and first night accommodation in advance. This will not only ease your mind but also ensures you don’t start your vacation fatigued as soon as you get off the plane in a new place.

Live local – Understand the culture and you can avoid being the centre of attention while travelling. Always trust your feminine intuition and take clues from the locals about dressing so as not to draw too much attention.

Make friends – Travelling alone doesn’t mean you can’t have a companion but actually it means you will get the best of both the worlds, so explore your arena and make your holiday even more experiential by making friends on the go. An extrovert or introvert, it’s always good to know new people, so smile and make your way. On solo trip you never know you find some fellow female traveler with similar tastes and get invited to an interesting event, activity, a family dinner or a home-stay for an authentic experience.

This is the time, let’s demand our time alone and be brave. Go out face the world, experience the new cultures, explore the new roads, make new friends and sink in the world of travel. It’s all about living your life your way, in its true sense, after all its better to be solo and follow your wishes than to wish you were solo!

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Chillibreeze's disclaimer: This is a contributed article and was published on Chillibreeze in June, 2011. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article. The relevance of the facts and figures cited (if any) could change after a period of time.

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—About our writer:

Shadan has a masters degree in Mass communication. She does content writing for blogs, press articles, SEO, websites, newsletters & brochures. She also has excellent knowledge and expertise in travel writing and blogs. She is good at making creative presentations and as partof her work, she has made presentations and authored articles for top management and travel organizations like IATO & PATA.

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