Ramadan falls this year on April 13!

For muslims, Ramadan is the holy month of fasting, prayer and introspection, when muslims reflect on their past deeds and think of ways to improve themselves, refrain from nefarious thoughts and behavior and devote themselves to prayer and Quran (the holy book of Islam) recitations. It is celebrated on the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.

Following the Adan (call for prayer) muslims do not drink or eat from the Fajr Adan (at dawn) to Al-Maghreb Adan (at sunset). The pre-dawn meal is called Sohour, and Iftar is when all friends and all the family get together around the table to break their fast.

Ramadan is linked to one of the 5 pillars of Islam (fasting) and is divine obligation to all muslims except children who haven’t reached puberty, people with chronic illness, the elderly whose bodies can’t handle fasting and those who can’t fast due to health or physical reasons (chronic illness, pregnancy, breastfeeding, menstruating...), long distance travelers are also exempt from it. It’s interesting to note that for people who fall under the 4rth category have to fast the exact amount of days they ate after Ramadan is done.

Muslims celebrate two celebrations in Ramadan:

- Laylat al Qadr (the night of destiny) it’s considered the holiest night of the year, it is believed it falls on an odd-numbered night in the last 10 days of Ramadan, but its exact date is unknown. It corresponds with the night of the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad (the last prophet) by the angel Gabriel.
On this occasion, many muslims spend the night praying and it is believed that on this sacred night, one’s prayers are answered.

- Eid al Fitr marks the end of Ramadan when family and friends get together to celebrate the end of the holy month.

Happy International Women’s Day!

In celebration for International Women’s Day 2021, we introduce to you a very inspiring woman, Ida Pfeiffer, who is the first female solo travel writer.

In early 19C Europe, a woman traveling solo was nearly impossible. Traveling itself was a privileged opportunity. Even if you had a chance to do so, you had to be accompanied by your husband. But Ida was brave enough to pursue her lifelong dream alone.

“When I was a little child, I had already a strong desire to see the world. Whenever I met a traveling-carriage, I would stop involuntarily, and gaze after it until it had disappeared. ”

— Ida Pfeiffer

When her son stood on his own feet, she finally took courage. She went on her first adventure in 1842, when she was 45 years old. For nine months she sailed in the Black Sea, passed through Istanbul and Jerusalem, rode on a horse to cross the Egyptian desert, went back to Italy and returned to her home in Vienna.

After returning home, she again challenged herself and decided to publish the story of her adventure. Her book, Journey of a Viennese Lady to the Holy Land, was an instant success. She could even gain sponsors who wished to fund for the next trip.

She wasn’t satisfied there. A year after publishing her first book, she went on a next trip to Northern Europe. And another year later, she started her journey around the world. It took 2 years for her to tour South America and Asia. Her footsteps went though Brazil, Chile, Tahiti then led to India and China. Her second trip around the world covering Northern America and Africa again began a few years later. After each trip, she always published a travel journal.

She traveled about 32,000 kilometers by land and 240,000 kilometers by sea through all continents except Oceania. John van Wyhe, a historian who wrote a biography of Ida Pfeiffer in 2019, commented on her as follows:

“She’s not wealthy, she’s not beautiful, she’s not educated - and yet she does all of these amazing things.”

— John van Wyhe

Her adventurous life is still inspiring lots of women after many years. Now she lies in the Vienna Central Cemetery, as the first woman to be enshrined in the rows of honored dead.

An empowered woman like Ida Pfeiffer empowers other women. Share her story to your social media and make the most of your 8th of March!

NomadHer is holding an event celebrating International Women’s Day 2021! Let’s talk about “Why every woman should travel solo once in her life.”

We will organize 3 workshops in 3 different languages (English, French and Korean) covering these 3 themes.

• #FEAR that’s stopping women from taking that first step to solo travel

• #ADVICE that we could give them

• #LESSON we learned from our solo travels

For those of you who wish to participate, the floor is yours ladies! This is a quick how-to to participate as a panelist,

1. Choose a topic among these hashtags: #fear, #advice, #lesson

1. Write your story on NomadHer app

1. We will contact you and invite you as a panelist
   

During your quest to explore the world, should you feel a little daunted, a little lost, if you made a mistake here and there…That’s okay. Because that’s what living is about.

NomadHer is delighted to interview  Lydia, the creator of the travel blog Lydiascapes (https://www.lydiascapes.com/)! Lydia is Singaporean, passionate about rock climbing and decided, a few years ago, to “ditch her high heels for hiking boots”. To this day, she has been to over 58 countries! You guessed it, we had to meet her. Here are her thoughts and tips on solo female travelling.

Can you tell me a bit about yourself, when did you start travelling alone? Why? What is your current situation?

I really love travelling ever since I was young, thanks to my parents who had the travel bug. Only when I got much older, became independent and started to earn my money did I really started to go on more trips. When I was 25 years old, I started to really enjoy rock climbing and that’s when I started looking to go on adventures and trips off the beaten tracks.

My very first solo trip wasn’t actually fully solo initially, I tagged along a trip with my friend to go skiing in Japan. They had organised everything and I just tagged along. After these 5 days of skiing, I had 3 days on my own in Tokyo, all by myself. It was the first time I tried Couchsurfing and the first time I tried Airbnb solo and it wasn’t as bad as I thought. As much as I was worried about language issues or being lonely, I had a good time! I could see why a lot of my friends would choose to go solo travelling or choose to go to Japan for their first trip. As long as you have a phone and you dare to ask questions, as long as you take a bit of time to figure things out, it’s actually safe and everything will go well. Problems get resolved over time.

I started my blog seven years ago, first just as a hobby, to write down my adventures: it was a way to keep my memories somewhere. Then as it started to grow, I converted it into a full-time blog two years ago. I quit my job -I used to work in the hotel industry, which is a very fancy corporate environment- and became a full-time digital nomad! I work on my blog, give a lot of talks about travel and being a content creator, plus I am a digital marketing consultant. I can work from anywhere in the world! Right now, I’m in Singapore because of the coronavirus.

Among the countries you have visited, which is your favourite?

It’s a very tricky question, there are so many beautiful countries! One on the top of the list would be New Zealand because it really looks like a postcard, everything is so beautiful, the scenery is picture perfect! If you are a nature or adventure lover, you will be blown away by how stunning the lakes are, the mountains, everything! Definitely a country I’ll go back to. I think the best way to see the country is to do a camping trip.

Which country or travel experience really surprised you?

One really intimidating and eye-opening was Bangladesh, because of the lifestyle. I went in July 2019, for a week, I was coming from Bhutan with my partner. It seems very uncommon for travellers to visit the country because it’s not really a touristic destination. We were probably the only two foreign faces in the crowds, everywhere we went we felt like celebrities because people were looking at us! It was hard to blend in since we felt people watching us all the time. In consequence, my partner and I never dared to take out our phones or camera under so many stares, we didn’t know if it was allowed or safe to do so. It’s the only country where I have so few pictures, I might have only five or ten!

We didn’t live in the expected areas, so we walked a lot, or used rickshaws, in typical local markets, which is such an eye-opening experience. You can see people walking around the market, holding five live chickens upside down in each hand, people selling raw meat displayed on the ground…The lifestyle there were so different from some other less developed East Asian countries, one would expect Bangladesh to have some common points with them.

What does travelling alone bring you?

I find that when you are travelling alone, you don’t have to worry about looking out for your companion. You can be comfortable in your own skin and hence gets to immerse yourself more in your surroundings. For example, my first solo trip after Japan one was to Canada: I did a 27-hour train ride, and I was alone. So, I just looked through the window, observed people and the changing scenery outside… One thing about travelling alone is that your senses are much keener because you are able to immerse completely in the place without having anyone else to worry about. And that’s really enjoyable, I think.

Has travelling changed your perception of yourself? How?

I find that when you travel alone you tend to think a lot more and reflect more on your life. When you’re on your own, there is nobody to talk to or to distract you and so you can take those silent moments to introspect, think about your life etc and actually address your emotions and thoughts better since you’re forced to confront to it.

And it changed me because it made me more comfortable in different situations: when you go back to society, to your daily life and problems, you tend to be calmer and to be more reflective instead of being reactive and stressed. Travelling solo helps you take a step back and gives you a better perspective and approach to things.

Do you have an experience or person you met who changed your way of perceiving yourself, or the others, or even the fact of travelling alone?

During my travels, I have met so many kinds of people, some who are still my friends now. It’s really interesting because travelling helps take down boundaries between cultures and races and stereotypes and it helps make you less racist or biased, because of all this diversity of people you meet. A person who really has changed my life a lot is probably my current partner Cez, because I met him on my travels, during a travel conference in Ireland. He has been travelling for ten years, so way longer than me. He showed me so many new perspectives on how to travel, how to travel full time, on budget, how to live in a car for a long time…I really discovered a lot about travelling with him.

What would you say to people who say that travelling alone as a woman is dangerous?

Saying that travelling is a hundred per cent safe would be naïve, or to be blind to potential problems. Travelling always comes with risks, whether you’re a man or a woman, if you’re ignorant or unprepared. Travelling alone as a woman isn’t the most dangerous thing a woman could do. If you’re smart, and wise, about the destination you pick, you can have a fantastic trip without encountering any problem at all. Even if you are travelling with a partner, you can potentially encounter a problem or dangerous situation, because there will always be potential risks, from pickpockets, robbers etc. A lot of women tend to have the misconception that they shouldn’t travel alone because there are risks, but my suggestion for that is to do more research. Be smart about what you do, dress more conservatively, do not walk in areas where your instinct tells you it could be dangerous…make friends along the trip as well! There are so many women who travel around and who don’t encounter any problem at all.

How could we change this idea that women shouldn't travel alone, and should go with someone?

I think that rather than thinking and saying that women shouldn’t travel alone, we should ask ourselves why and how solo travelling can be safe and enjoyable, which practices to use to stay safe. We should show the benefits, the gain people get from travelling, share our tips and best practices. If you are ignorant, and you travel on your own, yes, you can put yourself in great risks, because you are vulnerable, not informed etc, hence naïve. And naïve and solo travel doesn’t really make a good mix. However, if you are smart and careful, and you do your research, your trip will be thoroughly enjoyable.

What is your worst experience? How did you handle it? Did it have an impact on you, your behaviour or your life? It’s a tough one, I wouldn’t say I have a lot of bad experiences while travelling solo. Probably when it comes to taking photos, you end up not having any footage of yourself because you don’t dare to ask people, by fear of them stealing your camera? There are also countries where I encountered nasty people. When you travel alone, you tend to be more defenceless, whereas if you travel with a companion or your family, people don’t approach you that much, they don’t dare to talk to you as much. I encountered people who throw me racist or sexist comments, or who were nasty, which is unpleasant. BUT, as a solo female travelling alone, I also get a lot of helping people, who are willing to give you a hand!

What advice and tips would you give women who hesitate to travel alone?

I would say: do not be afraid and don’t let worries and anxiety about children, finances or companionship stop you from exploring and discovering the world. Because travelling is a fantastic way to understand yourself and it makes you more confident and happier as a woman. I encourage every woman to embrace travel and discover themselves.

Your best experience while travelling?

I would say all the places where I was able to rock climb. I love outdoor climbing and nature, and outdoor rocks. I have gone to so many unique destinations to rock climb, it not only helped get stronger physically but also helped me see the world from a different viewpoint. Some of these places are so unique and special. For example, I rock climbed in Greece, on Kalymnos island, one of the most famous rock-climbing destinations. I was climbing through the rock, and then goats and sheep appeared from nowhere, watching me climb. It was awesome, just me, the rocks, a gorgeous sunset and then suddenly a bunch of random goats and sheets climbing around me. You wouldn’t experience this anywhere else! In the future, I’d love to design and create my own climbing wall, so I can teach my future children to rock climb as well and take them with me rock climbing!

Do you have a message for the women who will read you?

During your quest to explore the world, should you feel a little daunted, a little lost, if you made a mistake here and there…That’s okay. Because that’s what living is about.

To find out more about Lydia and her travel stories you can check out her blog (https://www.lydiascapes.com/) and follow her Instagram (@lydiascapes), Twitter (@lydiascapes), Facebook (@lydiascapestravelblog).

We had the pleasure to interview Audrey, the traveller behind the blog Arpenter le chemin. Audrey lives in Canada, has travelled on five continents and fifty countries, and interviews, every year on March 8th, fellow female travellers-bloggers, to celebrate Women’s day. She shared her thoughts on solo female travelling.

Can you tell me a bit about yourself, when did you start travelling alone? Why? What is your current situation?

I’m Audrey, I’m a French-Canadian translator-redactor-blogger. I grew up in France and then moved to Canada in 2014. I left alone for the first time when I was 18: I was joining an international worksite with other people (something we call woofing nowadays), but had my flight alone and spent a few days alone in Helsinki, before taking a bus to my destination which was several hundred kilometres away. It was impressing but exhilarating at the same time. The next year I did it again in Japan, then I went to study alone in New Zealand, and I wandered around…One thing leading to another, it became a habit, something obvious. I need to travel alone, even if I am now married, these are precious moments for me. I even had a van at one point, I used to travel with my dog, it was amazing! I have been travelling alone less these past years, but the flame is still there!

Among the countries you have visited, which is/are your favourite?  

Apart from Canada, where I now live, I have a lot of affection for Japan. It is where I first travelled alone, I find there a huge change of scenery and it is really, but really very easy to get around despite the language barrier. The second country that I love (because which traveller can limit herself to one country when asked this question?!) is Mexico. I only saw the Yucatán Peninsula, but I loved everything: the welcome, the Maya culture, the archaeological sites the beaches, the food…

Which country or travel experience really surprised you?

I would say Poland. Poland doesn't evoke a lot of cheerful images, I think we've all been left with the black and white pictures of the Second World War, the ruins of the communist era, we don't really imagine this country in the 21st century…I got a slap in the face when I stayed there, between Cracow and Wroclaw, everything was gorgeous, people were welcoming. It was a really beautiful surprise, a destination that doesn't have much to envy to Prague or Budapest if you want to go to Central Europe.

What does travelling alone bring you?

A lot of introspection and time for myself. It is probably paradoxical coming from someone who already works alone at home, but I need a lot of time alone, I am very introverted.

Travelling alone allows me to focus on the pleasure of the discovery and to focus better on what I’m living and seeing. So I am really far from the image of the solo traveller who meets a lot of people while travelling.

When one solo travels, one is under an injunction to say that, in fact, one is never really alone. To me, this is an issue. It's kind of like we only tolerate solo travellers if they're not really alone... But we have to get used to it: one can very well travel alone, by choice, and worse, enjoy it!

Has travelling changed your perception of yourself? How?

It allowed me to push some limits of course. There are sometimes limits that we cross by forcing ourselves: daring to go home at night alone, daring to make contact with people by couchsurfing... And then some limits are pushed back without even realizing it, as one accumulates experiences, because one gains in ease and confidence.

Do you have an experience or person you met who changed your way of perceiving yourself, or the others, or even the fact of travelling alone?

No particular experience but becoming aware of my privilege of being a white female was a big step in my experience as a traveller. As westerners, we all have the privilege of being able to travel period, and to have the freedom to travel abroad without any chaperon is a freedom that many women don’t have. Being a white female can also open doors in traditional male places abroad, and I try not to forget that: I have a huge chance to be able to travel alone.  

What would you say to people who say that traveling alone as a woman is dangerous?

MEH! Here is what I say. More seriously, there are dangerous places everywhere, even in France, even in Canada. People who try to dissuade women to travel alone are part of the problem. They probably think they are benevolent, but restricting women has never helped. I could probably tell them that they should devote their energy in making the world a place where women are not in danger. And then we will talk about it.

How could we change this idea that women shouldn't travel alone, and should go with someone?

By continuing to travel alone, of course! I believe a lot in showing the example. The more we will show women who solo travel, the more we make this way of travelling something normal.

What is your worst experience? How did you handle it? Did it have an impact on you, your behaviour or your life?

I am rather lucky when I travel, nothing really ever happened to me. When I travel alone, I prepare my travels a lot, because I tend to have anxiety. The worst thing that ever happened to me what waiting for four hours in a McDonald’s, somewhere lost in Copenhagen ‘suburbs, because my co-driver was very late!

What advice and tips would you give women who hesitate to travel alone?

You don’t have to cross your limits right away! Take your time, go to places you already know, and then slowly increase the dose of adventure. Start by leaving alone in your country, then into a neighbour country and so on…

Your best experience while travelling?

My solo tour of Europe, in train, for two months in the 2014 spring. It is silly, it is starting to get old, but nothing has surpassed it yet! The intense freedom of travelling by land in our beautiful Europe… I had some extraordinary encounters and saw fascinating countries.

Do you have a message for the women who will read you?

Try it, you won’t regret it!‍

To continue this series of “Solo travelling: in discussion with”, we had the pleasure to interview Gabrielle, the traveller behind the blog Vagabondeuse. Gabrielle is a nurse, as well as an avid reader, went hiking in Guatemala, got soaked in a New Year Water Festival in Myanmar, or even surfed in Mexico.
Here are her tips and thoughts on solo female travelling.

Can you tell me a bit about yourself, when did you start travelling alone? Why? What is your current situation?

My name is Gabrielle, I am a travel nurse in a travel health clinic and a blogger. I did my first solo travel when I was 18 years old, I was waiting to turn that age to be able to travel for the first time. I celebrated my birthday on May 22nd and two days later I was on the plane, much to my parents’ dismay! I left with a friend in Western Canada. The following year, I wanted to go to Europe with an old friend, who ended up cancelling a month before the departure. This is the moment where I had to choose between leaving alone or stopping myself from travelling because I had no one to go with. I didn’t hesitate for long. I think this is the moment in my life where I decided that I wouldn’t wait for anyone to travel!

Among the countries you have visited, which is/are your favourite?  

Ecuador was a big revelation. Ayampe (Ecuador), where I surf a lot, it is an amazing surfing spot! In Asia, if I only could choose one, it would be Malaysia.

Which country or travel experience really surprised you?

Malaysia, because I didn’t know what to expect at all. I had no preconceptions about this country. I arrived there during Ramadan, I didn’t know how my trip would go during this time. I was really impressed by the kindness of people and their welcoming. People are what touched me the most during my stay, the landscapes are gorgeous, but it is really their welcoming which marked me the most. India as well, but I wasn’t alone. I knew what people who go there love or hate, I knew it is a colourful, intense country, but I was still surprised, and still had cultural shock after cultural shock. Even after a month and a half, a lot of things were still surprising me. I would love to go back!

What does travelling alone bring you?

Since I have been travelling alone for a few years, there is less this “challenge” aspect, but I remember my first solo trip, when I came to the airport to go home, I thought “Wow, I really did all of that on my own?”. What a source of pride! It gave me confidence in myself, I was proud, and I still am, to have been able to manage everything by myself to this degree! Travelling solo also allows one to develop good adaptation skills, because we are on our own, so one learns to trust oneself.

Has travelling changed your perception of yourself? How?

Clearly it gave me confidence in myself, I am a lot more confident in my skills and capabilities. I think I can do (almost) everything I want!

Do you have an experience or person you met who changed your way of perceiving yourself, or the others, or even the fact of travelling alone?

I think it is a mix of all these experiences. When I left for Nepal on my own, which was three years ago now, I went solo hiking with a Nepalese guide. It is where I really saw all the wealth that travelling alone could bring me. I wasn’t staying in the popular accommodations, I was immersed in the local population. It’s not like a tour group, where the contact with locals isn’t the same at all. I had amazing discussions with locals, thanks to the guide who was translating, with women, with people who had suffered from the 2015 earthquake…This is really the trip which touched me, and it would have been very different if I hadn’t been on my own, I wouldn’t have had this privileged contact with the locals. I think that locals in general are less open to big tour groups than to solo travellers, which is understandable. I find that it brings me more benefit to have this contact with the local population, to see how they live and behave, I am more immersed. When we are alone, we need human contact, to communicate, to bond, something that we need a lot less when we travel accompanied.

What would you say to people who say that traveling alone as a woman is dangerous?

I think it depends on how one views life in general! Everything can be dangerous, according to some points of view. I can very well have an accident on the highway while I’m going to work. It’s the same thing when I travel, I can be confronted to problems, but like everywhere. There are risks, but if one prepares well, if one respects certain things, when it’s done right, meaning when one adapts, in terms of clothing or behaviour, I don’t think it is dangerous. For example, in Malaysia, there is a dress code to respect, and it was Ramadan, so I was the one that needed to adapt.

How could we change this idea that women shouldn't travel alone, and should go with someone?

I think we must talk about it! We need to spread the word, to show that others do it! This is what I try to do with my blog, and what you guys at NomadHer are trying to do with your app. I find it awful that some women still tell me that I am brave to travel solo, that they would never dare to do so. But why? You don’t want to travel because you’re on your own? Why wait for someone? To sum it up, I think we must talk about it as much as possible.

What is your worst experience? How did you handle it? Did it have an impact on you, your behaviour or your life?

My trip in Panama. I wouldn’t be able to explain what happened, but it wasn’t working! I had one problem and stroke of bad luck after the other, nothing was going well! I kept missing buses; I had a severe allergic reaction when I got stung by a spider; when I arrived I learnt that two tourists had gone missing and that the entire country was in turmoil, which was very stressing; I arrived in a street where I saw armed men fighting…Misadventures, every day! In the end I became anxious and didn’t enjoy the trip. It didn't change my way of travelling but after that I went to Costa Rica, where I had already been several times, and which I know well, because I needed a trip that would go well.

What advice and tips would you give women who hesitate to travel alone?

First thing, adapt. I travel to discover a new place, to experience and see new things and to immerse myself in a new culture. To me, this is the very essence of travelling, and I don’t really understand those who don’t try to fit their destination when they are abroad. Henceforth, a logical following is to adapt one’s clothes, don’t wear a mini skirt because it’s 35°C (95 °F) if you are in a country that would see it as provocative. When I hesitate about what is appropriate to wear or not to wear, I observe the local women. Then, preparation. I don’t really prepare my itineraries, but I prepare a lot the cultural aspects, I know in broad outlines what I want to see and do. I take the time to read and inform myself, and I’m a travel nurse, so I stay alert on what is happening in other countries. Even governments’ recommendations, which can be alarmist, give a peep of what is happening or what can be complicated to deal with in other countries.

Also, look confident, even when you're not! Having a map of the city wide open and a lost look can make you look vulnerable. When walking around, look like you know where you're going, even if you don't!

Finally, you must be able to listen to yourself and to say no. It sometimes happened to me to have an entire program planned for a day and to think, waking up in the morning, “I’m not feeling it, I don’t want to” and to do something else entirely. You must follow your rhythm and your instinct and must listen to yourself. Travelling must be enjoyable!

Your best experience while travelling?

I can’t choose one! Maybe Malaysia, because I met a lot of locals very curious to see me travelling alone, which allowed me to have a lot of contact with other women.  

Do you have a message for the women who will read you?

Don’t hesitate to go! If you want to do it, if the desire is there, you must listen to yourself and go! At least try, and don’t limit yourself because you’re on your own!

We had the pleasure to interview Pamela “Pam”, the creator of the travel blog Voyager sa vie. Pam lives in Montreal, has a passion for Asia and is one of the founders of Voyageuses du Québec, the first web-magazine on female travelling in Québec! This website aims to demystify female travels and to encourage female French-Canadians to travel.  Here are her thoughts and tips on solo female travelling.

Can you tell me a bit about yourself, when did you start travelling alone? Why? What is your current situation?

I am Pamela, 32 years old, and I’ve been living in Montreal for 14 years. I am a mental health worker in Montreal, my blog and web-magazine Voyageuses du Québec are the other parts of my job. I have created my ideal job!

I started to travel young with my mother (a lot with all-inclusive formulas, as it is done a lot in Quebec), then at 19 years old I travelled with my girlfriend in Mexico. The next year I went to Asia, which became a passion, I travel multiple times a year in Asia ever since. My mother’s death a few years later is what pushed me to travel alone for the first time, it gave me the last push I needed. I became aware that life can stop at any time. Why, then, wait to do what I really wanted to do? At that time, I had a few destinations in time, and, pulling a paper randomly to choose, it came down to Switzerland, one of the safest countries on the planet (which reassured my grandmother). This first travel wasn’t easy, one idealizes solo travelling a lot, but the loneliness can become heavy to bear. And seven years ago, people weren’t as connected as today, so I sometimes found myself completely isolated. But this travel also allowed a great introspection and I realized I was capable of doing it. It was the starting point.

Among the countries you have visited, which is/are your favourite?  

This is a really hard question! My answer will probably change tomorrow, but right now I would say China, for the countryside; The Philippines, for the landscapes’ beauty; and Indonesia, with Sumatra island, which I fell in love with.

Which country or travel experience really surprised you?

India, where I was unsettled, my reactions surprised me, my way of reacting to some looks. I went there with a friend. I knew it was likely to happen, but I wasn’t expecting to be so surprised. Despite my respect for traditions and clothing habits (trousers, shirt), the look in men's eyes completely froze me. One event in particular stood out for me: my friend and I were in a temple, somewhere in the countryside of Pushkar. There were many men around, and as soon as my friend’s eyes were leaving me, as soon as he was looking somewhere else, the men’ stare would change completely, I could feel the difference with how they stared at us before. I am deeply feminist, and this is where I realized the radically different way in which women can be treated.

Also, Taiwan, which pleasantly surprised me, it was a short stay before going to Japan. One doesn’t hear a lot about this country, but it clicked, within twenty minutes I knew I would love the place, I really want to go back there! It is a country which gather all the good aspects of China and Japan, without any of the negative aspects!

What does travelling alone bring you?

I am rather introverted, I can be sociable of course, but I always need time for myself, to recharge my batteries. I think that travelling on my own is the best way to do so, it’s a moment where I can be alone with myself. It really soothes me to be on my own, to be alone with my thoughts. I know it scares a lot of people, this solitude, to face oneself and one’s thoughts, but on the contrary, I always use this time to reflect on myself, to see where I am at, what I want to work on…This is what travelling alone brings me the most. I travel alone to be alone. It’s like a meditation. Of course, I enjoy having coffee with someone from my hostel, I am not a savage either, but travelling alone is really taking the time to be with myself, to listen to myself.  

Has travelling changed your perception of yourself? How?

I was always introverted, and when I was younger, I used to see that very negatively. I was always surrounded (friends, family, girlfriends and boyfriends) by extroverts. In consequence, I used to see this side of me negatively, but ever since I travel solo, it’s the opposite, I’ve learned to understand and love it, and to see that actually this isn’t a flaw. In the same way, my trust in myself. When you’re struggling on the other side of the planet, in a Chinese countryside where no one understands you, and still, you manage to find your way and the bus you need, this kind of experience makes you proud of yourself every time, it really boosts your self-esteem!

Do you have an experience or person you met who changed your way of perceiving yourself, or the others, or even the fact of travelling alone?

During one of my trips in China, I went in Guizhou, an area rarely visited by Westerners, and I realised after a whole week there that I hadn’t seen crossed path with a single one of them, I was the only one! Maybe it was also due to the time of the year I was there, but this is where I realised “Well, I can go anywhere, I am managing fine here where no one understands me, it has been a week since I have spoken English with someone”.

What would you say to people who say that traveling alone as a woman is dangerous?

I would say that -and this is applicable for every subject- as soon as one doesn’t know something or isn’t informed on the subject, one is wary or scared. Often, the people who hold this idea are people who haven’t travelled a lot or who haven't strayed from the beaten path. Of course, one must always be careful, as one would be back at home, but one must try! The best way to fight against this idea is to do it.

I am often told « But aren’t The Philippines dangerous?” because medias have reported an incident or a terrorist attack in some place, henceforth people generalize. One must take a step back from everything that is said and must inform oneself and open oneself to the others.

How could we change this idea that women shouldn't travel alone, and should go with someone?

Personally, I co-founded Voyageuses du Québec, a web-magazine to democratize solo female travelling. To change mindsets, we must talk about it, but not necessarily abroad, it is already an everyday work at home. As soon as we hear a sexist remark or comment, we must try to deconstruct it, with information and the sharing of experience. The more we will talk about it, the more people will see that there are girls and women who do it, and thus, the less likely the woman will be seen as needing companionship when traveling.

What is your worst experience? How did you handle it? Did it have an impact on you, your behaviour or your life?

I don’t have any direct bad experience but in Medan (an Indonesian province of North Sumatra), with my girlfriend, we had a flight for Banda Aceh, a province under the sharia’s authority, where there is a lot of Muslim extremism. At the time, there were a lot of protests in Medan because of the ongoing presidential elections. When we arrived at the airport, we were told that 75% of the flights had been cancelled, and, by asking around, that several terrorist organizations had been dismantled by the government, and that these organizations were suspected of having hidden bombs in the demonstrations. We didn’t know what to expect at Banda Aceh, and our flight was taking off two hours later…We needed to take a decision quickly, which was really difficult. In the end we slept in the airport that night and we took a flight for Kuala Lumpur the next day. I just listened to my inner little voice.

What advice and tips would you give women who hesitate to travel alone?

Three tips. The first one: to talk about travelling alone to the good persons. Talking about it with office colleagues who have never travelled, during a break, isn’t always a good idea, their reactions can be discouraging. My first solo travel, clearly, my grandmother wasn’t the one who encouraged me to do it! So it is a really good idea to talk about it with other women who went there, who have done it, for example to groups of travellers on social medias, so they can share their experience and tips.

Second tip: to choose a reassuring destination, that makes you comfortable, even a close one. If you live in Montreal for example, the Gaspésie is a good destination.  A first solo trip doesn’t mean leaving at the other side of the planet! Obviously, if going to India is as reassuring for you, then go for it!

Third tip: to know the difference between fears and intuition. Before I leave for a solo trip, even after so many solo trips, I still have fears. But this isn’t my instinct telling me “I have a bad feeling”, it is just fear. One must learn to tame them. Instinct and intuition are something else. I think a lot of people stops themselves from solo travelling because they think “I don’t feel it, I have a bad feeling”, but it is just the fear talking. Because if you have this urge to leave, you must listen to yourself.  

Your best experience while travelling?

A four-month trip to South East Asia, where I visited the Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand and a bit of Malaysia. I travel often, four or five times a year, but rarely for long periods of time. And for that travel, I left for four months, and it turned out to be an experience superior to every other. Leaving for so long allowed me not to stress about the time passing, I didn’t think “I only have two days left, one day left …”. Forgetting about the time passing made it a perfect trip!

Do you have a message for the women who will read you?

Trust yourself and go for it! To me, travelling solo is one of the most positive things in my life. If you are reading this interview, it’s because, somewhere, you have this urge to go. So go! Stop analysing everything, stop trying to control and plan everything, and just buy this ticket!

We had the opportunity to exchange with Marie, the creator of the travel blog A day in the World. Marie has visited more than fifty countries on five continents and share her adventures, itineraries, and tips on her blog since 2011. We discovered her thoughts on solo female travelling.

Can you tell me a bit about yourself, when did you start travelling alone? Why? What is your current situation?

I started to travel when I was younger, around ten, with my parents, and I have never stopped! I made my first solo trip when I was 17, and I found myself in the middle of Tennessee. The first three days, whenever someone offered me water, I could not understand a single word because of the accent!

Today I am 36 and I live in Montpellier (France), my birth city, to which I went back after a couple years of travelling around the world, a time during which I also created my blog A day in the world. Nowadays, I balance my life between my communication agency Agence Babouche and my travels and missions abroad. Whenever I travel, I need to find a meaning, a goal.

Among the countries you have visited, which one is your favourite?  

So far, I have travelled in 50+ countries on five continents. It is hard for me to give me only one favourite! I really loved Iran, which is probably among the greatest travels of my life. The Iranians’ conviviality, and their kindness, are unique. Also, Colombia, because this country is a daily party! To me, it gathers the best of South America.

Which country or travel experience really surprised you?

Benin. I was there for a humanitarian project in collaboration with a women’ shelter in the suburbs of Cotonou. It is an adventure that really moved me and about which I think a lot. The religious side really surprised me, because no one has a single religion, but multiple ones! Voodoo is for example widely spread. I went to some really impressive ceremonies.

What does travelling alone bring you?

Travelling, to me, is a bit like meditating, it is a return to one’s self. One must know that when one travels alone, one is actually never really alone - at least we are only when we want! A trip is made of encounters, of exchanges and sharing, so it is easy to meet some road buddies.

Has travelling changed your perception of yourself? How?

It is hard to answer for me because I have travelled ever since I was a little. To travel did not change me, but I would say that it helped me to build myself.

Do you have an experience or person you met who changed your way of perceiving yourself, or the others, or even the fact of travelling alone?

I have travelled in a lot of developing countries and I have carried out several humanitarian projects, like in Middle Atlas in Morocco for a school, in Tunisia with Berber women, in Benin with a shelter of women between 15 and 25 years old. These experiences cannot let anyone indifferent.  

What would you say to people who say that traveling alone as a woman is dangerous?

That it is entirely false! One is in no more danger at night in the streets of Rio as in the Parisian subway! The most important thing is to know and listen to one’ self, and to be aware of the potential dangers. But this applies anywhere in the world and in every situation! It is what one teaches to a five-year-old kid about to cross the street for example. I think that solo travelling in general is not for everyone. Depending on someone’s personality, it will not be a pleasure, but rather a challenge, so one cannot be forced. To me, it was the best experience of my life! For someone who would like to start travelling solo, Asia is an “easy” continent, one feels safer.

What is your worst experience? How did you handle it? Did it have an impact on you, your behaviour or your life?

I think there are different categories and levels, in the “worst experiences” department. On my side, I’ve never had any bad experience. I’ve experienced the hacking of my credit card in Brazil, or a shitty guide in Jordan, a klutzy American woman while hiking, a flat tire in Mongolia, a quick trip to the hospital in Chile because I couldn’t put my foot on the ground anymore…But none of that was serious enough to make me go back home or impact my life!

What advice and tips would you give women who hesitate to travel alone?

To inform oneself about the place one is about to visit, to adapt one’s clothing accordingly (in cult places but also in general, depending on the place’s religion). To use hostels or couchsurfing platforms, which are the best way to meet people, especially if one is scared of getting lonely. Everyone is in the same state of mind: travelling and meeting new people. Regarding safety, one should avoid arriving by night and should try to have booked an accommodation for the first night: it will avoid the struggle of looking for a place to stay when one has just arrived. Also, always have a padlock (with a code is better) and an anti-theft -I invested in a flexible one for my backpack.

Your best experience while travelling?

I went to Mongolia, for a three-week journey on horseback to travel through different regions and live among the nomads. It was fantastic! Also, Bolivia, because it is where I have seen the most beautiful landscapes in the world. The panoramas were breath-taking, especially the region of Sud-Lípez.

Do you have a message to women who will read/watch you?

Free yourselves, live, laugh, and travel! This is the only way to be happy and to thrive! If I could, I would leave tomorrow…

Hello books lovers and other travel junkies. Today we're back with our little improvised "Bookclub for people who can't travel due to a godamn global pandemic that will probably have a second wave and leave us wondering if the New Year's Eve joke See you next year will actually come true". All cynicism and dark humor aside, here are five other books on solo female travelling, written by some mind-blowing women, and entirely greenlighted by the Goodreads community. Another title for this article could have been "What is left of my to-read-list after seeing the comments and feedback of the Goodreads community". Anyway. These are gems apparently.

• Ireland to India with a Bicycle, by Dervla Murphy

This book is Dervla Murphy’s account of her ride, in 1963, through Europe to India, during one of the worst winters in memory. At age 31, she set out to bike from Ireland to India, inspired by memories of corresponding with a Sikh pen pal as a teenager, on a bicycle she named Rocinante (after Don Quixote’s horse) and with only a small revolver for protection. This incredible quest took her through through Europe, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan or even Tibet. She never stayed in hotels, preferring instead to accept the hospitality of locals.

• Eat, pray, love : one woman's search for everything across Italy, India and Indonesia, by Elizabeth Gilbert

An absolute classic, that could NOT not figure on this list. At 34 years old, Elizabeth Gilbert was educated and married, and had a home and a successful career as a writer. After finalizing her difficult divorce, she spent the next year traveling the world. She spent four months in Italy, eating and enjoying life ("Eat"), three months in India finding her spirituality ("Pray") and ended the year in Bali, Indonesia, looking for balance of the two and fell in love with a Brazilian businessman ("Love"). The book was such a huge success that it appeared on the New York Times Best Seller List of nonfiction in the spring of 2006, and was still #2 on the list 88 weeks later, in October 2008.

• In Search of Mary, by Bee Rowlatt

As a university student at Glasgow, Bee Rowlatt first encountered the proto-feminist Mary Wollstonecraft through her Letters from Norway (an epistolary travel narrative). Bee Rowlatt embarked in 2011 with her son on an journey in search of the life and legacy of this first celebrity feminist, going from the wild coasts of Norway to a naked re-birthing in California, via the blood-soaked streets of revolutionary Paris. On this biographical treasure hunt she encountered a witch, a porn star, a quiet Norwegian archivist and the tenants of a blighted council estate in Leedsgetting. From Norway to Paris and then San Francisco, Rowlatt follows in Wollstonecraft's footsteps and asks everyone she meets how modern feminism and motherhood can coincide.

• A Girls’ Guide to Travelling Alone: Inspiring true tales from solo women travellers, by Gemma Thompson

On her website, Gemma explains that to keep her company during her first solo trip, she had brought along the works of travel writers Michael Palin and Bill Bryson, and although she had enjoyed them, what she really wanted were more travel narratives written by women. For that reason, she asked on social media for submissions for her book. This is what you'll find in this book: witty, inspiring, challenging and sometimes uncomfortable travel stories, written by women of all ages, nationalities, backgrounds and experiences, each with a compelling tale to tell.

• Travel Junkie: A Badass Guide to Solo Female Travel, by Julia Dimon

This book is based on the experiences of travel journalist Julia Dimon, who has travelled to over 80 countries, in all seven continents. She defines herself as a family travel expert, on-camera travel TV host for National Geographic Adventure and Travel Channel International, travel blogger and hard-core travel junkie. Her work led her to experience hiking with mountain gorillas in Uganda, trekking in Chernobyl, or even polar kayaking among icebergs in Antarctica. This book offers 101 tips, such as how to pack and navigate an airport like a pro, how to get off the beaten track and connect with locals, how to volunteer abroad, or how to stay safe on the road.

Since 2016, I have been trekking in the mountains of Korea. Sometimes, I climbed twice a week, Saturday and Sunday, all weekend. When I say this, most people ask me, “Why?” “Isn’t it better to stay home and rest or hang out with friends?” I know why they say this. But I was going through a really tough time in my life. I was exhausted because of work and because I was in a meaningless relationship. I found out I had no passion left to work. I wanted to be away from all the noise that stressed me. I hoped to have a "Me time". Living in a city like Seoul, it is hard to find a calm place. Wherever you go, you are surrounded by lots of people, buildings, and cars. I had to search for other types of solo trip and it had to include the following things :

1. Only bring a small backpack
2. Only on weekends
3. Only a few people around

I could not go on a long vacation or go abroad at that time. I was wondering what type of a solo trip would fit these conditions?

Then, I looked out of the window and a small mountain grabbed my attention. Frankly speaking, I had never thought that hiking was my thing. I’d rather say, I hated it. I still remembered the days I was sweaty and complained when I was a kid. Hiking is something that I wanted to avoid as much as possible.

But, when I became an adult, I learn the truth to learn. Nothing lasts forever. Everything can be changed. For the first time in my life, something came up in my mind and that was, “Ok, Let's try one more time”

Fortunately, I have lived in a country full of mountains. You would be surprised If I say you could reach the mountains with public transportation. There are subway stations named after mountains. In the center of Seoul, the capital city of Korea, there are many mountains and hiking guides. I only had to pick one.

I walked into the entrance of the mountain, and then a whole new world appeared. I was surrounded by all green things. On the way to the peak, there was no one on the road. Slowly, I focused on my environment. I could hear the sound of the wind. I didn’t know it had a sound before. Whenever I took a step forward, I felt the soil under my shoes. It was pretty soft, a totally different feeling compared to the streets with asphalt. The sound of birds' singing was quite loud here. No need to turn on a portable Bluetooth speaker to listen to music. Trees provide sweet and fresh air constantly. I have forgotten all those feelings for a long time. It was like I’m in wonderland.

By now, when I can’t go on a trip abroad, I hit the road for my own little trip which I can do right now. For a few hours, I completely enjoy the perfect "me time". I care for my mind by talking to myself.  A solo trip is not far away, It is closer than you would think. Just look around, it's already with you.