The first time that I travelled overseas 8yrs ago, I did it on my own. I boarded a plane, for a destination that I had previously only ever dreamed of on my own. I navigated foreign airports and managed to maintain my panic when I was delayed by over 5hrs. I got to London and spent my first few days alone wandering the city in awe. That was the hardest few days of my trip. From there I met up with fellow travellers and spent the next 2wks travelling Europe with a group. I had such a blast. It was AMAZING!
Some people said that it must have been scary travelling on my own, but it really wasn't. Most of the time I was too busy having fun to care. I met some wonderful people and I never really was alone. Even on the flight home it was easy. I had conquered any fear I had of travelling alone..... or at least I thought that I had.
It took me another 5yrs before I travelled overseas again. This time I went back to Europe and again I spent time on my own for the first few days before I met up with another tour group. This time it was for a reason, it was my 30th birthday. I spent it with a group of strangers having drinks in a bar and while I was slightly homesick, it was an amazing night and holiday. By time my birthday hit, I wasn't surrounded by strangers, I was surrounded by people that I had become friends with. I was sad to be going home.
Last year it was New Zealand and earlier this year it was Japan. Each time I travel, if I travel alone, I am never alone for often. I always pick up a tour and throw caution to the wind and have fun. People still think that it takes a certain amount of confidence to travel on your own and I guess in a way it does.
This year I can't get away for my birthday and I was thinking about travelling down to the South West of the state for a weekend away. Part of it was to celebrate my birthday and the other part of it was to take some photos and see a few new things, (the caves, the forest and different beaches). I picked a location, got the leave I needed and I was ready to go, but it was only once I started to look at things in the big picture that I started to worry and wonder if I was dreaming.
First of all, I am realised that it is expense to travel in your own state and even more expensive to travel on your own. For example I could go away and it would cost me $500 for 2 nights just for me, or if I was travelling with friends I would pay the same plus just an extra $30 a night for them. When I travelled overseas I didn't notice how much I had to supplement my costs because I was riding solo. You notice it when you are planning your own weekend away. I am paying for two people even though it is only me. Why would I want to spend so much money to be on my own. I can do that at home.
Then I started thinking about visiting the caves on my own, bush walking or walking along the beach, going out for dinner on my own and all of a sudden travelling on my own in my own state didn't seem that attractive, in fact it seemed downright depressing. People are not kind when you are on your own. They look at you funny if you go to a restaurant by yourself. They may not say anything, but they judge you. Instead of feeling confident, you end up feeling desperate and dateless.
It is easy to put yourself out there and push yourself out of your comfort zone when you are already out of your normal surroundings, but it is a lot harder to force yourself out and about when you are just driving somewhere and need to plan your time away so that you don't waste it. Remember when I said that I had conquered my fear of travelling alone.....? Well I guess I was wrong. Maybe I have just conquered my fear of travelling overseas on my own. I still have a long way to go when it comes to riding solo in my own backyard.
Not sure what I am going to do now. I have a weekend set aside and I am not sure what I should do with it. Can I handle spending that much money to be on my own or do I say bugger it and stay home?
