Note: this is actually a throwback blog entry dated last July 2013. I found this in my drafts and decided to post it.
Here you go...
Here you go...
I have technically done a solo travel. Not as hardcore as the usual ones i've heard nor read online. For a vain, budgeted, paranoid traveler like me, what i have accomplished is already a milestone in terms of my traveling capabilities.
Like what i have mentioned from my solo travel entry, every travel experience is a revelation. Emphasizing on this line: Traveling is a self discovery tool. So what i'm about to share are the lessons, realizations and tips on to that different style of my traveling. Going SOLO.
1. Decide WHERE
It was originally a toss up between bangkok and hongkong in one of my planned solo travels. Both cities i love so dearly. I asked my friends which place to go. One of my closest friend told me to go to HK as she feels i will be more safe in that city especially i'm traveling alone. So upon further contemplation, i have decided to make HK my destination.
I realized that it was a good idea that my solo trip is a place i frequently go to. For the past 5 years i have been going to HK every year, it feels familiar now. It lessened the paranoia in me.
I would suggest when deciding for your first solo travel, in terms of security, is 1. go to a place wherein you know someone you can either stay with or simply can contact when you arrive. Or 2. Go some place alone to a very familiar place. It will give you a sense of belongingness and security and at the same time, experiencing it just with yourself.
2. Research! Research! Research!
This is very important. You have to figure out how you will survive and at the same time enjoy your trip.
Start with the basics: flight, accommodation and transportation. For flight, example, you have to decide if it's worth taking the red eye flight which is cheap but you'll arrive at not so convenient time to your destination or splurge a bit for a better airline with a better flight time. For me, i splurged a bit for my flight coz it was a reward for myself for actually pushing through with this trip and the flight time was convenient to my arrival in HK.
For Accommodation, decide if you're keen to stay in a hostel or hotel. I stayed in hostel in HK before, it was safe and clean. But for my solo trip, i decided to stay in a boutique hotel with convenient location and not so steep rate. Why? Because my trip didn't include a jam packed itinerary, no tour sight seeing. So i figured i can fully enjoy my stay in a hotel.
Going to, from and around your destination requires a good deal of research. It's easy to hail a cab to your destination but it will cost you more. It's better if you take public transportation. One thing i continually preach when traveling is to commute. It's cheaper and it's a learning experience.
3. Make an itinerary
I'm OC when it comes to making itineraries. Fortunately, i'm improving myself more not to be too hard on myself in planning my itineraries. For this trip, i have decided to make this a shopping and food trip. Hence, i have researched good places to dine and feedbacks on shopping experiences.
Normally, i do excel sheet of travel itinerary. Yes, i'm that OC. This time, though, i only listed in my phone the detailed transportations (bus stops, mtr exits, etc) and addresses of the restaurants.
It won't kill you to make yourself an itinerary BUT you also have to expect that it might not be followed thoroughly. And if that happens, don't beat yourself about it. It's part of the adventure.
4. Plan outifts and pack accordingly
I'm a vain traveler. This is what i do. I call it "dress rehearsal". It lessen the chance of overpacking if you already have an idea what you will wear. Besides, it's hongkong. It's perfectly normal to be overdressed so pack accordingly.
5. Stay connected
Despite the familiarity of the place, i still feel paranoid so i decided to buy a local sim to stay connected to people.
As soon as i arrive in hongkong, i bought a local sim in 7-11. I asked about the 3g service. The store clerk said i can use that sim to activate 3g service. Long story short, apparently, i still need to tap my sim with credits to activate the 3g. Everything is in chinese, even customer service has no english service. Lesson learned, better to go to a mobile network store to buy sim and have it activated appropriately.
6. Embrace the adventure
I am proud of myself for pushing through with this trip. This is something not all people can do and not only did i survive but i immensely enjoyed the experience. I experienced bumps along the trip but then again, it's all part of the great adventure.
Nostalgia crept on me while re-reading this old draft of mine. I am actually pondering why i never posted this before. This entry is seemingly incomplete (maybe it's just me), hence, i am thinking of updating my travel thoughts before 2014 ends. We'll see. Heehee.
Like what i have mentioned from my solo travel entry, every travel experience is a revelation. Emphasizing on this line: Traveling is a self discovery tool. So what i'm about to share are the lessons, realizations and tips on to that different style of my traveling. Going SOLO.
1. Decide WHERE
It was originally a toss up between bangkok and hongkong in one of my planned solo travels. Both cities i love so dearly. I asked my friends which place to go. One of my closest friend told me to go to HK as she feels i will be more safe in that city especially i'm traveling alone. So upon further contemplation, i have decided to make HK my destination.
I realized that it was a good idea that my solo trip is a place i frequently go to. For the past 5 years i have been going to HK every year, it feels familiar now. It lessened the paranoia in me.
I would suggest when deciding for your first solo travel, in terms of security, is 1. go to a place wherein you know someone you can either stay with or simply can contact when you arrive. Or 2. Go some place alone to a very familiar place. It will give you a sense of belongingness and security and at the same time, experiencing it just with yourself.
2. Research! Research! Research!
This is very important. You have to figure out how you will survive and at the same time enjoy your trip.
Start with the basics: flight, accommodation and transportation. For flight, example, you have to decide if it's worth taking the red eye flight which is cheap but you'll arrive at not so convenient time to your destination or splurge a bit for a better airline with a better flight time. For me, i splurged a bit for my flight coz it was a reward for myself for actually pushing through with this trip and the flight time was convenient to my arrival in HK.
For Accommodation, decide if you're keen to stay in a hostel or hotel. I stayed in hostel in HK before, it was safe and clean. But for my solo trip, i decided to stay in a boutique hotel with convenient location and not so steep rate. Why? Because my trip didn't include a jam packed itinerary, no tour sight seeing. So i figured i can fully enjoy my stay in a hotel.
Going to, from and around your destination requires a good deal of research. It's easy to hail a cab to your destination but it will cost you more. It's better if you take public transportation. One thing i continually preach when traveling is to commute. It's cheaper and it's a learning experience.
3. Make an itinerary
I'm OC when it comes to making itineraries. Fortunately, i'm improving myself more not to be too hard on myself in planning my itineraries. For this trip, i have decided to make this a shopping and food trip. Hence, i have researched good places to dine and feedbacks on shopping experiences.
Normally, i do excel sheet of travel itinerary. Yes, i'm that OC. This time, though, i only listed in my phone the detailed transportations (bus stops, mtr exits, etc) and addresses of the restaurants.
It won't kill you to make yourself an itinerary BUT you also have to expect that it might not be followed thoroughly. And if that happens, don't beat yourself about it. It's part of the adventure.
4. Plan outifts and pack accordingly
I'm a vain traveler. This is what i do. I call it "dress rehearsal". It lessen the chance of overpacking if you already have an idea what you will wear. Besides, it's hongkong. It's perfectly normal to be overdressed so pack accordingly.
5. Stay connected
Despite the familiarity of the place, i still feel paranoid so i decided to buy a local sim to stay connected to people.
As soon as i arrive in hongkong, i bought a local sim in 7-11. I asked about the 3g service. The store clerk said i can use that sim to activate 3g service. Long story short, apparently, i still need to tap my sim with credits to activate the 3g. Everything is in chinese, even customer service has no english service. Lesson learned, better to go to a mobile network store to buy sim and have it activated appropriately.
6. Embrace the adventure
I am proud of myself for pushing through with this trip. This is something not all people can do and not only did i survive but i immensely enjoyed the experience. I experienced bumps along the trip but then again, it's all part of the great adventure.
Nostalgia crept on me while re-reading this old draft of mine. I am actually pondering why i never posted this before. This entry is seemingly incomplete (maybe it's just me), hence, i am thinking of updating my travel thoughts before 2014 ends. We'll see. Heehee.
