The intensity of traveling amazes me.

Before I left for my trip everyone had words of wisdom for me. Most people were concerned for my safety as a solo female traveler (I have yet to feel unsafe), or the potential for loneliness (see below), but I was not prepared for the amount of activity and stimulation the act of traveling brings. Every day seems to bring something new with very little down time, and even when I do get down time I find myself bored very quickly. In part my level of activity is a choice; I don’t know when or if I will ever have this opportunity so I want to experience as much as I can while I have a chance. However, I think the larger influence is simply the act of traveling. To me the very definition of traveling is the art of moving, doing, and seeing.

Before embarking on my trip I was nervous for the most part about the solo aspect of my journey. Over the years I’ve really come to recognize the huge influence and dominance of extraverion on my personality and happiness. In the past I have gotten stuck in a negative downward cycle of unhappiness caused when I don’t have much true personal interaction (true being more than a simple hello/how are you conversation); I was scared this was going to happen during my trip.During all my worry and trepidation I had forgotten how much alone time I had in college.

In my senior year of college I found myself living in a very disfunctional and unhappy household. As a result I spent more alone time then almost ever before (second only to the winter quarter of my freshman year). It was during this alone time in which I was forced to learn how to enjoy simply spending time with me. Now I know this sounds a bit silly and maybe even a bit over the top, but for those of you who know me I often like to fill my life to the very brim, and it wasn’t until my senior year, that I began truly figuring out the art of happiness while alone.

The alone time in college has so far adequately prepared me for traveling alone. Even though I haven’t met as many people as I thought I would, in a long term sense, I don’t feel like I’m missing out on much. As a solo traveler, I can do what I want, when I want to do it. If I want to go to the spa I can. Spur of the moment tattoo, I’m in. Solo traveling adds a whole other level to the notion of freedom while traveling.

I have been in Thailand for almost three weeks now. I have been to four different cities (bangkok, nakhon sawan, chiang Mai, and one I don’t know the name of), I have played with elephants and tigers, gotten a spur of the moment tattoo, worked on a farm, gone white water rafting, and seen many temples. Thailand is an amazing country with beautiful cities, landscapes, and nice people. I feel so blessed to have this experience.

My upcoming adventures:
Today I leave for two days in Pai before going to chiang rai and then Laos. In Laos I am going to do a zip lining/ forest trekking before taking a two day bus to Luang Prabang. After that I’m unsure of my plans.

Have any questions, comments, or concerns? Want me to edit and send a picture to you? Shoot me a comment!

Thanks for all the love and support!