The turning point in my solo travels
It’s okay to change plans. It’s okay to concede that long term travel isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. It’s okay to stay put for awhile to recover and regroup.
When I realised in Mancora, Peru that I was exactly halfway through my travels I wasn’t excited as you may expect. I was upset of how much more I had to get through before reaching my homeland of New Zealand.
Many of you may read that and think I’m silly, heck I have the opportunity of a lifetime to travel, while I’m unemployed and making the most of the time I have before I have to get back into working and reality. The truth is long term solo travel isn’t for everyone. I give it to the people that travel for a year or more in one stint, it isn’t easy and I’m impressed that so many people achieve that.
Me at Guayaquil, Ecuador
For me, solo travel in South America hasn’t been easy. There are always those moments when you wish you had someone to help put your 19kg backpack on your back, or help out with a language issue, or even someone to talk to about your day. Yes, you meet people along the way in hostels and on buses, but it is difficult to make long term, good friendships. You always start with the typical hello, where are you from, where have you been, what are you doing next and rarely get past those conversations before it’s time to move on.
I’m not a big drinker, I’ve basically given up alcohol on this trip, so that puts me in a smaller group of people that socialise sober. So, I have a lot of quiet nights. That doesn’t really bother me so much, as I like to make the most of my days. However, heading into Ecuador I didn’t feel my heart was in it anymore. I couldn’t appreciate the places I was visiting.
Granted this same feeling struck me just after Christmas and I got past it, but this time around it actually started to upset me. I wasn’t crying or anything, but I was sad. I needed to change things.
I looked at my itinerary and kept hearing how Costa Rica was expensive and too touristy, I had previously planned to spend up to 5 weeks there. Instead I decided I’d cut that part short and I’d spend more time in the Galapagos (to try get a cheap cruise) and Colombia (since everyone I meet is raving about that country). So I moved my flights 3-4 weeks early and gave myself a few extra days in San Francisco too.
Inside the Church of San Francisco, Quito
Granted the next day I ended up in hospital (nothing serious) and then decided to stay put in Quito for a week before my volunteering. So, I have wasted a bit of time in a city in Ecuador. But I needed to. Being on the go all the time is hard, having a base in a good hostel that cooks incredible dinners is a great thing to help me regroup and prepare for the next part of my trip. I can now see what the next few months hold for me and it excites me.
What excites me even more is the thought that by the end of May (instead of June) I’ll be able to hug my family, see how big my nephews have grown, congratulate a few good friends on their recent marriage and eat fish n’ chips on the beach with long time friends again. Oh, and eat a mince and cheese pie, that is on the list for the day I arrive back.
So, it’s with this post that I finish on a happy note. I’ve made changes and I know in future I’ll never travel for more than 3 months in one go, but now the next 3 are all downhill and exciting!
Mt. Maunganui, New Zealand – one of my favourite spots
Sad to hear you’ve been a bit low Ngaire, and I hope your realisation has helped you to feel more positive about the rest of your trip. It sounds like it towards the end of your post.
You took on something amazing with your itinerary and you are extremely brave to do it all on your own. I’ve never done solo travelling to anything like the extent you have, but I can relate to your comments about being on your own, without people you really know. I’ve experienced that in a pub in Dorset on one of my little trips.
I’m not sure how many people follow your blog, but I just love to hear of your adventures. And Emily especially likes them when there are pictures of animals. You share a lot about yourself within the posts.
Your name comes up at WPLDN meetings, and Dan, Keith, James, Scott and I had a social recently and it would’ve been great to have had you there. So you are thought of.
If you want to share more and have some friendly interaction, then feel free to email me.
Thanks Graham, those are such kind words. Glad Emily likes the animal photos, plenty more to come! I really miss all the WPLDN crew and socialising with you guys. I’ll be sure to get in touch in the coming months!
I really commend you for giving it a go. While it’s exciting to see things, I’m the kind of person that needs some downtime and friend and family time too, so I don’t think I could travel for more than a month or so on my own. You’ve experienced so many things though, and I’d be excited to see my family too!
Thanks! I really cant wait to get to the states and NZ!
I can’t imagine how you’d feel, I was travelling as a couple and I found it hard at times. I think your right when you say long term traveling is not for everyone and I found that out about myself. I think that’s the most important thing, the finding out about your self and what you enjoy and what you can tolerate.
But this is true wisdom – knowing when you’ve had enough! You’ve taken on a trip many people couldn’t even conceive of doing, let alone solo!
I’ve been teaching internationally for five years now and it definitely has its ups and downs. That first year I was in Mexico and I went home for Christmas. The second year one of my best friends came to visit me in China (thank goodness or I might have gone home and never returned!). The third year I did a solo trip in Argentina around Christmas and met an amazing family who adopted into their family for the Christmas Week. This past year I was doing a solo trip through Peru and Bolivia over the Christmas break and it was tough. I feel like the people around you can make or break your solo trip- especially when it comes to the holidays!
Thanks for sharing such an honest post!
Yes I think the people around you (or not around you) can make or break a solo trip. I love travelling alone, but I’m learning I can’t do it for too long, it wears on you. Thanks for your comments!