Bali: Part 2

PART 2: Solo Travel

Solo travel is weird. It's mostly exciting and adventurous, but it can be boring. It's busy and a bit stressful, but also pretty relaxing. I'd much rather travel with at least 1 or 2 friends or family members, but traveling alone has its perks. Going where you want when you want. Only being concerned about getting 1 ticket to a tour or 1 bed in a hotel. Having more flexibility to change your plans.

Meeting People

Because I did this trip alone, my strategy was to spend a couple days in each place I visited and meet people at the hostels. Most of the time, it was a pretty effortless task, due to the fact that 1) Bali is actually VERY safe for tourists and 2) there are tourists EVERYWHERE. 

I ended up making some great connections with people. 

Realistically, I'm not actually going to be best friends with any of these people that I only hung out with for 1 or 2 days. However, that time limit shouldn't decrease the value of that new friendship. I met some people who I had a feeling would have been some of my closest friends if we had met at work or in college. 

But then again, I can't really make that judgement after spending 48 hours with someone, can I?  You hang out and act like you've been friends for months or even years, and then after 1 or 2 days you all disappear and continue with your own lives.

I've friended some of them on Facebook and I'd like to keep in touch with them, but most of them I'll never see again. But, as they say, "You never know."

Even some of the people who I only talked to for a few minutes or an hour, I found to be super interesting. They had great stories and just seemed like good people in general.

That Canadian girl who's been to every continent in 7 months. That Norwegian guy who's touring the outback from Adelaide all the way to Darwin. Those 2 British guys who arrived in Bali after 3 1/2 months venturing across India. The Californian who saved up and left her job to travel Asia for 6 months before making her next move. The 3 best friends from Wales who are on an island vacation. The Finnish girl who was a nanny in Australia and has now continued her travels across Asia. The English army officer who is on vacation and doing surf school.

All of these people are proof that everybody has a story, and also proof that it is worth it to put yourself out there and get to know people, even if you might never meet again.

One of the cool things about solo travelers, or even small groups of 2 or 3 backpackers, is that they understand each other's situation. You're all trying to save a little bit of money so you book similar tours, eat at cheaper restaurants, and stay in the same accommodation. You may not have a phone SIM card and only have wifi at restaurants, so you understand how to communicate the "old-fashioned way" and to be flexible. You want to see a lot of the same tourist attractions but are also often willing to be a bit adventurous. One thing that's strange though is while you're with your new, extremely temporary group of friends, you may suddenly miss being alone and making all your own decisions. Then later, when you're alone again, you wish you had people to eat dinner with, swim with, or go on a walk with. It's a weird dynamic, but I'm glad I sort of figured it out and made it work in my favor.

"Backpacking"

This week, I had one small backpack and one over-the-shoulder purse (I know, Mom & Dad, you can get over your shock now). One pair of shoes, two bikinis, as much sunscreen as TSA allowed me, a camera, and barely enough clothes for the week.  Some days I walked up and down the beach or through the little village streets with all my stuff because I was moving on to my next place and it was easy to carry.

This is the first time I've gone on a trip this long without checking luggage. I'd like to think I handled myself very well and (for once in my life) traveled lightly. However, I have learned that I am not, and do not want to be, a "backpacker." At least, not entirely. These past 4 months I have been "traveling" and "backpacking" in some instances, like the roadtrip around New Zealand and my trip from Melbourne to Adelaide, but I've also consistently had Brisbane as a home base. Even when I travel alone, I always know I have my Westella fam in Brisbane waiting for me. And, this whole time I've been abroad, my parents, family and friends have been back in the USA. I'm so excited to go home to them, and I know exactly when that will be.  The backpackers I've met have had some really cool stories about their travels, and they've spent a lot of time away from home. Personally, this 1 week of traveling alone and being a little spontaneous was a good start; it was just enough for me.

I watched 3 sunrises in a row this week.
This was as I landed in Brisbane.

I just got back to Brisbane. I have a few days to show Sarah, Jenna, & Emmi my city (YAY!) and to say goodbye to all the people I've spent time with this semester.  I am so happy to be back, but I'm also incredibly grateful for the crazy, beautiful, adventurous tropical vacation I just had and all the cool people I met.