Traveling SOLO doesn't stop at 50

I have known people who never travelled alone who questioned my sanity when I told them that I never travelled accompanied because it ain't travelling anymore! Sure we have very different definitions of travelling but please allow me to explain why I love travelling alone, and it doesn't stop at midlife. To some people, it is a selfish act when the only person you need to think about is yourself but there is nothing wrong with that as long as you respect others and their freedom to choose.

Getting out of Hong Kong at least once a year is a prerequisite to my wellbeing. Life gets stale and need refreshing every so often. I have never liked this city (or any other cities) due to the political situation, the tropical weather, the lack of space, the size of the population and the relentless noise, let alone an influx of mainland Chinese gathering in this city of 8 billion people, shopping in suitcases everywhere you go. I was brought up in Melbourne, migrated to Toronto for a while, took long sabbaticals regularly in the UK, Scotland, France, Iceland, and I am about to leave for Finland in a couple of weeks for a change of scenery and some fresh air. To be honest, I hate flying and the logistic parts involved but the escape is so worthy despite the discomfort sitting in a confined area for over 10 hours, , being interrogated at the custom and  jet lag from long haul flights which take me weeks to recover.

I love how exposing myself to interesting and unfamiliar sights, sounds and tastes when travelling alone make me a changed person, every time. Never much of a sightseeing person, I prefer immersing myself in another culture and live like the locals. Taking the road less travelled. So here are some of my reasons why I love travelling solo:

1. It is simple as I don't need to coordinate with another person who has a family to feed or who believe he/ she is indispensable at work to take time off to travel. I have complete freedom to make my own itinerary and all the decisions that ensue.
2. I am not going to sacrifice my dream of husky-sledding when none of my friends are interested. It is on my bucket list!
3. I am my best company when I have the means to truly listen to my own thoughts and entertain my own dreams. I get to experience the world unfiltered by anyone's chatter or perspective.
4. I get to meet people who share my hopes and fears.
5. I can do anything I want and say no to what I don't because I am not obliged to entertain / answer to anyone but myself.
6. It is an empowering experience as the trip inspire me to tackle things in life I would otherwise avoid to try.
7. I am always learning through my experiences (good and bad) when I travel alone.
8. Knowing that I am capable to survive (and thrive) on my own is confidence boosting.
9. I  play a different role by becoming who I want to be. No one knows me and they only see who I am today without my background.
10. I learn about my limitations and become more forgiving . I love myself more in the process.
11. I learn about forward thinking and the importance of flexibility when I need to come up with feasible solutions to different scenarios that crop up when things don't go the way I have wanted. 
12. I am the only person to blame and responsible for. 
13. I do enjoy listening to and speaking a different language, even just a couple of phrases.
14. My confidence soars as I prove to myself that I can take on new challenges and deal with problems. I learn to work out contingency plans when I am not getting what I want or getting what you don't want and be happy nevertheless.
15. Experiencing the unknown is mind-opening. I get to test my assumptions and challenge my beliefs when I allow myself to be vulnerable.
16. I am less reluctant to reach out for help and be more trusting. 
17. I learn to face and overcome my fears . I am aware that I can't control everything and that's part of the adventure of my choice.
18. I learn to live with less which leads me to figure out what matters most to me.
19. I can use the time alone to unwind, meditate, or pursue my passions and interests.
20. Travel as much as possible while you can still do it before our body parts disappoint us.

I see travelling alone as a way to get away from what I know. I have to say goodbye to things I am familiar with , get my ass out of the comfort zone and place myself in the middle of chaos on purpose. I choose to become a foreigner, an outsider, a refugee. New experiences are the reason we live.  I was head over heels with Scotland and even had a book written about it. And then it is a gateway to begin all over again when I refuse to resign myself to the ordinary and mediocrity. Sometimes we need a physical escape not only from whatever city we live in but also one from the familiar day-to-day interactions. Distancing myself from friends and families could be exactly what I need to appreciate their existence. I also become a better person being a global citizen with more understanding and empathy.

Have you planned your next trip yet?