Solitude of the Solo Traveller

While solo travelling has its benefits such as making all the decisions, not relying on others, no arguments, you decide on how long you travel, and so on. One for me personally, was getting the chance to stand in the background and watch how other people go about their lives. Only talking to others as and when I had to. I decide how long I stay and rest at a place – just for the feeling of being normal.

There is a downside of course – loneliness. No one to talk to. The best I can hope for were the odd text messages from friends or comments on social media. With my family I could talk to them through WhatsApp. It was a good way of finding out how things were at home.

Yes, solo travelling can be lonely especially when dealing with problems with trains, buses or trying to talk to hotel staff. It seems the further south I go the less people spoke English. The younger ones can however, those around my age could not or would not.