*dimsumdolly* - the different morsels of the life of a foodie

The Lone Traveller

I've come to realise that I can't travel do the lone travelling thing for more than two weeks. After two weeks, I really start to feel the loneliness and seeing new places just doesn't seem that fun anymore. Moreover, me being the foodie, I like having people to enjoy food with - if you're travelling with someone, you'll get to try more food.

There are good and bad things about travelling alone and in a group. When alone, you do as you please and don't have to care about what other people feel like doing. More often than not, you learn to really toughen up as a person as you have to deal with all sorts of situations on your own. You learn to be more resourceful and daring in asking for help, finding your way around etc. Like an animal who finds itself in strange territory, your senses are heightened and you have to be more alert in your surroundings. It's good training in survival skills and independence. I also often found myself more willing to talk to strangers or fellow lone travellers just 'cos I needed some human contact. It's probably the same for other lone travellers, too, as they are usually friendly and willing to chat as well. Because of this, I've had interesting conversations with people from other countries and whose lives are very different from mine.

Overall though, I'd say I prefer having a travel companion. I don't like travelling in a big group. The maximum group size for me would be four people. Any more than that and it just becomes difficult dealing with different preferences and personalities. Friendships may even be broken! Seven years ago I backpacked on my own in Europe and told myself that I'd never do it again because of loneliness. But I got myself into the same situation again! Sometimes it's not by choice...it's just the fact that it's difficult finding someone who can travel at the same time and who wants to do the same thing.

There's something romantic about travelling by train through Europe. I love doing it as there's some amazing scenery to be seen. The journeys may be long, but I feel like I'm watching a long and beautiful film when I'm travelling by train through Europe. I just love looking out of the window and just reflecting about life as I watch the scenes unfold in front of me. While travelling from Italy to Germany, I saw the vineyards, the open green fields, snow-capped mountains, the castles sitting atop a hill with the little villages below etc...absolutely gorgeous.

There also seems to be an unspoken comradeship among fellow train companions. It's like you become friends for that short journey and you start chatting. During my journey from Bologna to Nurnberg, there was a German guy, an Austrian, a mainland Chinese woman who has been living in Italy for 15 years, an Italian lady and myself in the same cabin. It was so international and there was Italian, Chinese, English, and German spoken during those hours we were in the train. It was an interesting cultural exchange. You'll never exchange contact details, but for those few hours you're friends. At the end of the journey, you say goodbye and wish each other a good journey. Other times, people say 'ciao' and with the nod of their head, acknowledge and thank you for your company and presence.

I guess it's times like that when I feel that travelling alone isn't that bad after all.

Posted by DSD at December 9, 2007 12:00 AM