After every solo trip, I’d usually say it’s the last time I’m doing it alone but then like a habit I can’t shake off, I repeat the action. And so I made my way to Taipei last week for a short four-day getaway that saw me exploring more of the city and eating at some nice spots. It’s not that I particularly enjoy travelling alone – although it does have its merits – but I tend to decide on trips rather late which then makes it hard for interested friends to fit in with my schedule. As one gets older, the pool of interested friends also dwindles due to their commitment to their boyfriends/husbands/children. Usually the second and third options go hand in hand.
One of the biggest disadvantages about solo travel is the cost per unit in whatever you do. This is always highest as a lone traveller and it kinda sucks. Singles are SO discriminated against. I feel like I need to hire a boyfriend or something. It can also get lonely and for someone who loves to eat, I don’t get to try as much food as compared to travelling with a companion(s). As a solo traveller you also can’t leave your belongings to someone else to mind while you rush to the washroom. Bit annoying when you have to lug everything to the washroom which can sometimes be really tiny! You’ll also inevitably end up with very few photos of yourself in them – not that that’s a problem for me since I’m not particularly photogenic anyway!
Being a solo traveller forces you to learn a lot of life skills. You’ll learn to be more resourceful in getting things done. You have to figure your way around cities, read maps, and you’ll no longer be shy in approaching strangers for help. Heck, you’ll no longer be shy in approaching strangers just to have a short, if meaningless, conversation! Having travelled alone many times, I’ve gotten used to doing so. As is the case in my daily life, it’s a situation I’ve become used to. I can survive, but I don’t particularly love it. True, one gets a lot of ‘me’ time, but I get too much of it as things stand. But I really do like the fact that I can go wherever I want without having to ask anyone if they’d like to do the same; I fix my own schedule. There’s no need to take turns to use the washroom in the room. Also, I have time to indulge in reading – something I don’t get to do much of in my everyday life.
I always take a book along with me when I travel. It’s one of the best travel companions. This time, I brought with me a food memoir called ‘Blood, Bones & Butter’ by a chef called Gabrielle Hamilton who owns and runs the restaurant Prune in New York City. Managed to finish the book while I was in Taiwan. It’s an interesting read where Hamilton writes frankly of how she came to be in the food business – it wasn’t a profession she had set out to pursue but somehow stumbled into it and stayed in it. Along the way, we learn of her struggles with her family, her ambiguous sexuality (she swings both ways), and the hard work she has put in to become the successful chef/owner of Prune she is today.
I also love writing postcards to friends and family when I travel. I still like the idea of putting something in the postbox and sending my thoughts of the moment when I wrote the postcard. Writing postcards also gives me something to do – I love writing postcards when sitting in a cafe or teahouse while watching the world go by. As you can probably guess, I like taking things slow when on holiday. I don’t like rushing through things as I think that’s stressful and completely defeats the purpose of a holiday.
Overall, the trip was still a nice break from Hong Kong and I always feel alive whenever I travel. I love that feeling! Next post – pictures!