Bren on The Road

Tag: solo female travel advice

  • Solo Female Travel: Musing On Travel with Kristin Addis

    Solo Female Travel: Musing On Travel with Kristin Addis

    We’re back!

    This month in the SFT series I’ll be chatting with a traveller who’s certainly covered her fair share of the globe (definitely more than me!). On the road solo since 2012, she’s no stranger to travelling alone and hopefully she’ll have a few stories and advice that you guys will find handy. Interestingly, she had a few answers that were quite different to previous interviewees, so read on to get her take on nomad’ing solo as a female.

    Psst – she also writes a great blog – one I always enjoy checking in on from time to time. Do check it out!

    Anyway, let’s get to that interview; say hello to Kristin from Be My Travel Muse.

     

    A photo posted by Kristin Addis (@bemytravelmuse) on

    Introduce yourself! Who are you?

    A girl from Southern California who likes to pretend she’s deep and complex by writing about traveling. I’ve been on the road solo since September of 2012.

    Tell us a bit about how you started a life of travel. What was your inspiration, how did you make it happen, and what were the hard things you had to leave behind?

    My inspiration was other travel bloggers who showed me, through their writing and stories, that a lifestyle like this is actually possible without being a trust fund baby. I saved up a chunk of cash, sold everything I had, and took off on a one-way ticket, effectively demolishing any bridges behind me. The things I left behind are still difficult to do without – my best friends and family, all of whom mean the world to me.

    What’s the response been like to you going nomadic and breaking the ‘traditional’ mold of job, marriage and kids?

    I still have a job. I don’t think traveling means you can’t have a marriage and kids. That’s a big misconception and a lot of people I meet are out there doing it, such as the family volunteering with me on a farm I’m staying on right now in South Africa. There is no ‘normal’ anymore and these days, thinking outside the box is much easier to execute with all of the opportunity online and for native English speakers who want to teach abroad.

    One of the biggest concerns about solo female travel is safety. What’s your experience with this, and what advice can you share for staying safe on the road as a female?

    I don’t think traveling alone as a female is THAT different than a male traveling alone. We do have different concerns but so much boils down to common sense and intution. I view it this way: You’ve stayed alive this long, keep doing what you’re doing on the road as well.

    Share one of the philosophies you live your life by. When, how, and why did it become part of your life?

    Compassion heals and helps us understand. It cultivates patience and removes the “us vs. them” mentality. It improves the mood and when you feel connections to people rather than differences, life becomes easier.

    Tell me the one book you’ve read that has inspired the biggest positive change in your life.

    It’s called What Makes You Not a Buddhist. The title is a bit misleading because it sounds like it’ll be a religious book but it’s largely not. It’s more about the four truths of Buddhism and how they can help us deal with loss, change, and other difficulties. It changed my entire perspective and it’s the book I always recommend to friends.

    People always think travel is glamorous and full of smiles all the time, but as you know that is far from the truth. Tell me the one (or two or three) things you hate most about the traveller’s life.

    The lack of stability, friends, and the comfort of understanding a place.

     

    #SCUBA diving in #Belize. Take me back A photo posted by Kristin Addis (@bemytravelmuse) on

    We always say that travel changes people. Looking back now, what is the one thing you don’t like about your old self that you managed to change through travel?

    I don’t think it changes people. I think it allows them to be who they’ve always been without the judgement and influence of people back home. Family and friends do, inevitably, have a lot of influence over how we act and behave, but without anyone who knows you from before on the road, you can be whoever you want to be in that moment.

    Where are some places you’ve had to deal with unwanted advances or harassment from men and how do you handle it?

    I got groped in the dark in Nepal by a man who foricibly grabbed me then ran away in the span of a few seconds. It left me feeling shocked and vulnerable, but I stayed for a month regardless and still think highly of the country. There are bad eggs everywhere and I’ll be more careful about walking alone at night moving forward.

    How do you afford your travels?

    I support myself from brand partnerships and advertising on my blog, freelance writing, and some freelance social media work. It took a while to get here, but now it’s a solid living and I couldn’t be happier.

    Right now you’re wandering through Africa, a continent that many would perceive as dangerous for a solo female traveller. Give us your opinion after spending some time on the ground there.

    I’ve gone to townships where some locals here won’t go, and been treated with so much kindness that it’s overwhelming. Africa is huge, there are a lot of dangerous places but that’s also true of the US.

    Are you a nomad for life? Why? Why not?

    A lot of people ask me that and it’s impossible to answer. I don’t even know what I’m doing tomorrow! Most likely traveling will always be a part of my life but at some point a home base would be nice.

    And lastly, for the girls out there still on the fence about their first solo trip, what advice can you give them? 

    This is for the girls and the guys: do it because you will meet people, you won’t be alone that much, and it will be worth it. It’s scary right now and that’s okay because it is for everyone, but most things worth doing are.

    Kristin is a former investment banker from California, who left her job to travel the world in 2012. To read more about her story, check out her blog at Be My Travel Muse, or connect with her through her social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

    Enjoyed this interview? Check out the rest of the series here!

  • Solo Female Travel: Living La Pura Vida with Camille Willemain

    Solo Female Travel: Living La Pura Vida with Camille Willemain

    Yes, we are back!

    This series was a huge success last year and so I’m excited to let you know I’ll be running it one more time. Seven more female nomads, seven more interviews. I’ve got some amazing interviewees lined up for you this time and I’m sure you guys are going to love it (missed last year’s series? Check it out here).

    Today’s interviewee was one of my favourites to date. I admire her for her advocacy for pure and simple living, and the idea of living out your life without listening to all the outside noise and judgement. As many of you know, that’s a lesson I’ve tried to emphasise here in the past as well.

    After 3 years out on the road she also has a few lessons in travel to share, but, I’ll let you read those and the rest of what she has to say for yourselves.

    Say hi to Camille from This American Girl!

    Introduce yourself! Who are you?

    Ha, “who am I”, I ask myself that question every day. The answer is ever evolving. The easy answer is, my name is Camille, I’ve been living nomadically traveling the world for 3 years, I’m a full time travel blogger at This American Girl, a certified yoga teacher, a reiki practitioner, a beach bum, and apparently these days I’m also a snow bunny.

    Tell us a bit about how you started a life of travel. What was your inspiration, how did you make it happen, and what were the hard things you had to leave behind?

    I was kinda thrown into the world of travel. I didn’t exactly plan it, but I believe the best things happen that way. I was laid off from two different jobs back to back (I worked as a project manager in Internet Marketing), and kept going in and out of a relationship that had long met its expiration date. Getting laid off showed me that something clearly was not working and I needed a new direction. I decided to pursue my passion at the time, Interior Design, so my plan was to go back to school and get my Master’s. My friend, blogger from canyoustayfordinner.com, had just gotten a book deal with Random house to write her memoir, and told me she was going to Costa Rica to write the book for a few months. We ended up going together, and the rest is history. I got a taste of the travel life, and despite my mental struggle the first year, I knew there was no going back for me. At this point, my lifestyle isn’t even a choice. It’s a calling.

    What’s the response been like to you going nomadic and breaking the ‘traditional’ mold of job, marriage and kids?

    I’ve been called anything from ballsy, badass, and inspirational to selfish, spoiled, and entitled. I practice detaching myself from external judgement, be it negative or positive. It’s not easy, but if you put yourself in the spotlight, it’s essential. I feel strongly that this is the right path for me at this point in my life, and that keeps me going. My family is super supportive and proud, which makes life so much easier. When people tell me that I’ve inspired them to follow their dreams, it’s a really thick icing on the cake.

    One of the biggest concerns about solo female travel is safety. What’s your experience with this, and what advice can you share for staying safe on the road as a female?

    I think the most dangerous place in the world is the USA, haha. But seriously, everywhere has a potential for “danger” and it all depends on where you go and the energy you put out there. Most of the time I feel safe. I have lots of safety tips for women in this post.

    Share one of your life philosophies. When, how, and why did you come to believe in it?

    The difference between happiness and unhappiness is simple: gratitude. See how wonderful everything you DO have is, and you’ll be instantly happy. So often we fixate on what we wish we had, how things could be better, what’s wrong with our situation. That causes us suffering. A simple change in perspective allows us to be instantly happy. Seeing happy, generous, loving people living in poverty in Cambodia, Laos, and Nicaragua, and witnessing the effects of gratitude in my own life has instilled this belief in me.

    Bren: 100% truth right there!

     

    Bathing in the holy water at #tirtaempul #bali #indonesia #nomadlife #travel #wanderlust A photo posted by This American Girl (@thisamericangirl) on

    Tell me the one book you’ve read that has inspired you and/or your travels more than any other.

    Honestly my fave travel book has got to be The Beach, I love the writing style and he so perfectly depicts the Southeast Asia backpacking culture. However, I wouldn’t say it’s inspired my travels. The book that has inspired me most in life is Ishmael by Daniel Quinn. A disillusioned intellectual meets a gorilla in a warehouse who teaches him about the story (and destructive myth) of human culture through mental telepathy. Sounds out there, but it’s the realest thing I’ve ever read. It proposes a brilliant solution for healing the destruction we’ve caused ourselves and the earth: live and let live. It’s basically my bible and I recommend it to everyone I meet.

    How do you address your fears about certain locations or countries? Do you avoid certain places based on being a woman and how do you deal with blatant sexism on the road?

    I’ve never avoided anywhere as a woman, but cat calling and sexism is a real problem especially in Latin America. I’ve tried ignoring, responding with anger, responding with sass, responding with sarcasm, and honestly none of it seems to stop them. So, my advice is to hold your head up high, not feel any shame for someone elses’ behavior, and respond in whatever way makes you feel most empowered.

    People always think travel is glamorous and full of smiles all the time, but that is far from the truth. Tell me the one (or two or three) things you hate most about the traveller’s life (or miss about a traditional life).

    Haha, ok, honestly I love it all in its own way. You’ve GOT to have a sense of humor or you’ll go crazy that’s for sure. The worst by far is food poisoning. It depletes my energy, breaks my spirit, and leaves me crying for my mom. This is why I travel with my own water kefir, and I never get food poisoning anymore. More about that here!

     

    Crazy #saigon at night #vietnam #adventure #travel #nomadlife #backpacking #southeastasia

    A photo posted by This American Girl (@thisamericangirl) on

    We always say that travel changes people. Looking back now, what is the one thing you don’t like about your old self that you managed to change through travel?

    For a long time I rejected who I was before travel. I saw myself as an improved version of my former self. Though my yoga practice is all about accepting the interconnectedness of everything, and embracing myself at every stage of life. I’ve grown tremendously through travel, and I suppose the thing I’m most proud of is the way that I’ve learned to take responsibility for my own happiness. I, and only I, decide that. It doesn’t depend on how nice my boyfriend is, or how available my friends are, or how good my job is. It’s my own choice. A very empowering discovery indeed! 🙂

    You seem to have a love affair going on with Costa Rica, and recently wrote a book about the country! Tell us a bit about that and what it is about the country you love so much.

    Costa Rica is the best place in the world to simply be. It has such unbelievable nature, a really easy lifestyle, and it’s so active and healthy. You’ll have to read my book, which has an entire chapter entitled “What Makes Costa Rica So Special” to find out more 😉 You can read more about my book here.

     

      Ooommmmmm #pavonesyogacenter #meditation #yoga #yogateachertraining #pavones #costarica   A photo posted by This American Girl (@thisamericangirl) on

    Ok, some fun questions. Who’s your celebrity crush? 

    I’m sooooo out of the loop with who celebrities even are these days that it’s tough to answer that. Do bloggers count? hahaha

    And which country, in your opinion, has the most handsome men?

    Portugal. Easy.

    If you could choose one musician to serenade you for an hour, who would it be?

    Matt Corby. Ok, maybe he’s my crush.

    Imagine a Hollywood studio wants to make a movie of your life. Who plays you and why?

    I play myself, because I’m an original 😉 And I’m actually a trained theater actress since age 5. True story.

    When’s the last time you cried?

    The other day on the bus. The moment I put my headphones in and look out the window, the waterworks come, haha. I love it. It feels really good. They’re usually tears of gratitude and happiness for my life.

    You’re allowed to ask the universe one question and it will be answered 100% honestly. What would it be? (Bren: I’d ask who killed 2pac).

    I ask the universe questions all of the time, and when I turn off my mind for long enough, sometimes I even get the answers 🙂
    But I still don’t know who killed Tupac… assuming he’s actually dead….

    Complete this sentence: If I was granted three wishes today, I would have lunch with ________, I would spend the day in ___________, and I would go to bed at night with ____________ (just to cuddle, of course).

    I would have lunch with my best friend from college who I last saw a year ago in Bali, I would spend the day in the El Nido Palawan, and the last one I’m keeping as my secret 🙂

    Ok, let’s get serious again. Are you a nomad for life? Why? Why not?

    I never say never, so who knows, maybe one day I’ll settle down. But I do know that I’m a lifelong explorer. Travel has been my outlet for discovering myself, and I don’t see that ever changing. At this point I envision myself having a home in Costa Rica that I can always come back to, leading travel/yoga retreats all over the world, and continuing to travel to and blog about my adventures all over the world.

    And lastly, for those still on the fence about their first solo trip, what advice can you give them?

    Ask yourself this question: What would you do if fear did not exist? What would you do if you could not fail? What would you do if you knew that the universe was always there to support you?

    Then go and do that. Whenever you get scared, ask yourself those questions again, and remember that when you trust, you have nothing to fear.

     

    I’m going to miss this place #anbang #hoian #vietnam #beachlife #beachbum #nomadlife #wanderlust

    A photo posted by This American Girl (@thisamericangirl) on

    Want to read more about Camille’s story? Be sure to head over to her blog at This American Girl and connect with her through her social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Also, if you have any more questions for her, leave them in the comments section below!

    Enjoyed this interview? Check out the previous interviews in the series here.

  • Solo Female Travel: Talking India (and everywhere else) with Rachel Jones

    Solo Female Travel: Talking India (and everywhere else) with Rachel Jones

    Travel in India has been a hot topic recently, particularly when it comes to the safety of women travelling solo through the country.

    As such, I was thrilled to find an interviewee this week who has travelled extensively through India solo and is now living in the Indian beach town of Goa.

    In this week’s interview we’ll talk India, solo female travel advice, grabbing butts, and Clinique moisture surge lotion (surging lotion what?)

    Excited? Me too. Introducing you today to Rachel Jones from the blog Hippie in Heels!

    Solo female travel tips, Hippie in heels, India backpacking tips for females

    Introduce yourself! Who are you?

    Hi! I’m Rachel and I run the blog Hippie in Heels. I’ve traveled for years, but have been living in Goa, India for the last 1.5 years.

    What was the first trip you took abroad by yourself? What was your inspiration?

    I went to Western Europe with a friend I met in college. I was already planning to go, but was hesitant to go alone. She could come for only 3 weeks, so I lied to my parents and stayed a couple weeks longer. They found out eventually! The two weeks I did alone were so much fun and that’s when I really caught the travel bug.

    What’s the response been like to you going nomadic and breaking the ‘traditional’ mold of job, marriage and kids?

    I think people see it as a “pause” in my life. I recently went home for the first time in a year and the main questions were, “When will you move back”, “When are you and Ben getting married?”, and “When are you having kids?” People think what I’m doing is cool but I don’t think they see it as long term. It’s SO different than life in the Midwest back home, that I don’t know if people could understand.

    Solo female travel tips, rajasthan, hippie in heels
    Camel riding in Thar Desert, Rajasthan

    Many people are reluctant to travel solo because they feel like they’ll be alone and won’t meet anyone. What’s your experience?

    I can totally relate to that. After budget, my second biggest fear while traveling is being alone for too long. Solo travel is great as long as you meet people. In Europe, I had no problem. Hostels are great for meeting people and you shouldn’t worry at all. In Uganda, I met no one therefore re-read all the Harry Potter books… twice. In India, I always tell people, it can be hard, but keep your chin up! There are far less backpackers. There are no hostels, only single room guesthouses. You HAVE to be an extrovert. When you are out shopping and see other travelers, talk to them. It’s that simple! While eating dinner alone, if you see another group, go up and ask to eat with them. It’s truly the best way – or you’re going to get lonely. I actually met a girl through a Couchsurfing forum and traveled with her for 3 weeks in the Himalayas!

    The biggest concern for travelling solo as a female is safety. How do you get over that fear? What steps do you take to make sure you stay safe while on the road?

    Ok, honestly I’m just either oblivious or dumb because I never think about safety! It’s dumb I guess. I suppose I have been lucky- I couchsurf with dudes (even in India) and know I can leave if I want, in Paris I did exactly what those girls from “Taken” did and left the airport with a stranger in a taxi – but ended up staying in a little palace in a spare home! When I first came to India, safety wasn’t a concern (really budget is always my biggest concern) – but I can totally see why it is to people who at least use half their brain 😉

    India currently has a terrible reputation in the media for female travellers. You’ve been on the ground there for over a year; what tips can you offer to other solo female travellers heading to India?

    Take the news reports with a grain of salt – better yet, don’t listen at all. I can say with certainty that India is not any more dangerous than any other country I’ve been to. I have no problems here. If someone does get a little too close for comfort, I tell it like it is to them and they back off. They get startled and out of shock, they back away. Actually, in more rural areas, people are excited to see you. The stories of foreigners dying here in Goa involve drugs. In the cities recently one big story involved a girl dating (sleeping with) multiple Indian men. My point is there’s always more to the story than the news provides. A couple travelers were killed in a rural town while hitchhiking. I suppose a line needs drawn everywhere and I’d say hitchhiking in India at night through a village in middle of nowhere, India, is that line. I have written 14 safety tips on solo female travel in India that I recommend checking out. Don’t go to India with fear or you won’t enjoy it. India is a peaceful nation; just use your best judgement.

    Solo female travel tips, hippie in heels
    Learning how to paint in Pushkar, India

    Where are some places you’ve had to deal with unwanted advances or harassment from men and how do you do it?

    As I said, India is safe and when men do get too close, I take care of it. One example was a man who grabbed my butt on the bus. It was crowded with both men and women; a local bus in Delhi. I made a complete scene and he was shamed into exiting the bus by other travelers. I talked about this in a post and an Indian man commented that he grabs girls butts on buses and knows it’s wrong and that my post about it made him want to try and stop. Obviously, I was speechless, as I’m sure you are reading this. Some uneducated men in India can do dumb things, just tell them to back off and be loud about it if you have to. As I said, India is safe and this happened once in almost 2 years. Men here are not used to women having a voice; use that to your advantage. Speak up!

    How do you afford your travels?

    I don’t like to pretend like I can live in this fancy villa in Goa all on my own. My boyfriend already lived here when I moved in with him which saves me hugely on my bills. His company puts him up here. I worked by bum off as a travel nurse and saved; I still use that money. I also make a small amount on my blog and I am a Thai yoga masseuse. I got certified in Thai massage while in India and started practicing here in Goa to help makes ends meet. It’s a great way to make money abroad and there is a demand for it here in Goa, as people are pretty much only here for vacation! All together I don’t make as much money as I did with nursing- not even close- but it’s enough for India, as this country has a low cost of living.

    What are some of the ways you think travelling has changed you or your view of the world?

    I have learned more traveling abroad than I did in school. I love learning history, and the tours in Europe were my some of my favorite times from all my travels. In India and Africa, I’ve learned so much about the way the world works and how self-centered it can be in America. I think travel has made me more patient and more understanding of the troubles other people face. I think everyone can benefit from travel. The world is a big beautiful place!

    What are some things every female traveller should have (and shouldn’t have) on her packing list?

    Well, I’m a little girly when I travel. I might be a budget traveler who stays in a two dollar room with no heat in freezing weather, but I still pack my Clinique moisture surge lotion. It’s my most important item! I also take a sleeping bag liner. It’s tiny and perfect for train travel. It will keep you cleaner and your belongings safer.

    Solo female travel tips, hippie in heels
    Rachel in Mykonos, Greece

    OK, a couple of fun questions – who’s your celebrity crush?

    I like Emile Hirsch! He’s so cute and always plays cool roles.

    And, which country have you been to that, in your opinion, has the most handsome men? 

    Well my boyfriend is English so I suppose England should win…. but they don’t. He’s the exception! It’s probably Greece. Is it bad I thought the most about the answer to this question?!

    Imagine a Hollywood studio wanted to make a movie of your life. Who would play you and why?

    Leslie Mann in my dreams! She is hysterical.

    Are you a nomad for life? Why? Why not?

    I think I’ll always be a nomad, but not the same type I am now. I am a contradiction in more ways that being a Hippie in Heels. I’m a homebody who wants a handful of kids and a cute little bohemian decorated house straight out of an Anthropologie advertisement. At the same time, I want to see the whole world! Sometimes I struggle with that. I left a stable career as a nurse, to be a struggling masseuse and travel writer (who got an F on her senior paper). This last year has been a huge change but one that I needed and has brought me tons of happiness. I don’t see myself going back to my old life ever. I do need to find a balance… some day. For now, I’m just fine!

    Lastly, for those planning or considering their very first trip alone, what advice do you have for them? And where would you recommend they go?

    It’s easy for us travel bloggers who left our jobs to tell you to just “go for it”. But I can remember how it felt. It’s not easy, and I had a boyfriend to move in with abroad! You’ll need to seriously consider your options. You won’t enjoy travel if you run out of money. Plan wisely, then make your move. I’ve never heard of someone regretting traveling more!

    rachel jones, hippie in heels, india travel, solo female travel

    Rachel Jones is a former nurse who left her career to travel the world. She currently lives in Goa, India. You can follow her adventures on her blog Hippie In Heels or connect with her on Twitter at @hippie_inheels.