Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

The magic of traveling alone

yuvalaizenman.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

41–49 of 49 posts

Re: The magic of traveling alone

#41

Post by aizyuval »

DiscourseFan wrote: post #21

I've backpacked all over the world by myself, but last time I flew out I just kind of got idk, bored of it? There's only so much to do if you're by yourself in a place where you don't know anyone or speak the language very well (if at all). You take walks, you go to museums, you eat the local foods and go out clubbing at night, see if you can't get laid, maybe go to the beach if there is one. And then you can do some…

Very impressive! but I guess at that point it's time to make some friends for the long term isn't it?

Re: The magic of traveling alone

#42

Post by aizyuval »

dietr1ch wrote: post #3

> At the start, I had some doubts. A sense of loneliness emerged. I was a bit confused. Though, this turned out for the best, serving as a tool for freedom. Around at which point does it start getting good?

to be honest, within the second day. It was simply a matter of time and a bit of boldness.

Re: The magic of traveling alone

#43

Post by shostack »

Traveling alone through Europe during college as an American was one of the most amazing and life changing experiences of my life.

It was what yanked me firmly out of my US-centric world view and I realized how profound it was on my return trip back seeing all the people in line and being able to so easily spot "obvious Americans" (or at least that's what my brain at that age thought).

I also surprised myself with how confident it made me in myself and socially with some of the random connections I made that led to once in a lifetime adventures like meeting a woman on a bus in Italy, dining with her and her brother+wife at the oldest restaurant in Rome ordering all off menu+house wine, then getting a personal insider tour of Rome by night in their convertible.

Or getting lost in the Vatican, missing a museum tour, then realizing the crowd I was watching was listening to the Pope on his balcony.

Or wandering through the Lanes in Brighton at night with a pint on the street while visiting my college roommate who was doing a semester abroad there.

Or visiting our other roommate who was from Vienna and at home who gave me a guided tour of the mountains and then made me terrified for my life driving down them in a torrential downpour in his tiny smart car.

Or happening to be in Siena during the Palio horse race, completely unplanned.

It wasn't quite as extreme as The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, but about as close as I've come. It has the potential to change you in ways you cannot expect.

Re: The magic of traveling alone

#44

Post by aizyuval »

Aachen wrote: post #6
racked wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you ask me, it's when you start talking with the people in the area you're staying in. It's very freeing to have a fresh start in a new place.

About what? In what circumstances? Walk up to people tending their front yard and strike up a conversation? At bus stops? I've tried at least the latter but people generally aren't up for it in western Europe at least This advice article could be a whole lot more concrete

When It wasn't intuitive to me or for the other side, I used some sneaky ways/tricks: Asking them if they're from here? if yes - ask a favor. and then ask some other questions about related stuff... if no - "then where are you from?" "and what are you fucking doing here?"

complementing them - on anything.

Don't care. you'll never meet them again (if something goes wrong) so if you want something, ask for it. if you have something stupid to say, say it, it's better than nothing.

I did it at the train, bus, street, hostel.

it seems that everyone in their headphones and doesn't want to talk, but people actually like to discover, to learn, to joke. It's just a mask.

Re: The magic of traveling alone

#46

Post by thaw13579 »

blowski wrote: post #8

The “magic” seems little more than not having to compromise, allowing you to be selfish without the guilt of hurting others. With friends, the magic comes when the holiday has finished and you start saying “remember that thing on that holiday!”. The worst form of loneliness is only having memories nobody else shares.

This resonances with me as well. Telling people about travel abroad is sort of like telling people about your dreams, rarely ever welcome.

Re: The magic of traveling alone

#47

Post by aizyuval »

Aachen wrote: post #36
satvikpendem wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where would you normally talk to people in your home city or area? Would you talk to strangers tending their yard? Or would you try more sociable places like cafés and bars? So too with solo travel and conversing, people are generally the same everywhere. They'll be on their guard if a stranger comes up to them at a bus stop or in front of their lawn, but they'll be much more approachable in social areas.

> Where would you normally talk to people in your home city or area? Wanna know why I don't speak German after four years of living here? ;) Without going out of your way for a language course, the interaction with German in Germany is limited to "by card please", "have a good evening/weekend", "a ticket to Aachen please", and forms/contracts like municipal registration, tax returns, and rental contract. Which are wa…

Maybe I'll be in Germany soon for a travel. I'd love to meet: yuvalaizenman@gmail.com

Re: The magic of traveling alone

#48

Post by postsantum »

nprateem wrote: post #29
Aachen wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

About what? In what circumstances? Walk up to people tending their front yard and strike up a conversation? At bus stops? I've tried at least the latter but people generally aren't up for it in western Europe at least This advice article could be a whole lot more concrete

Stay in hostels and chat to other travellers. Depends on your time of life though. There's totally a gap for high-end hostels for mid-life people with some money who still want a common area to hang out in, but without staying in a crappy dorm. Hotels just don't have the same vibe.

Many hostels have private rooms exactly for this purpose

Re: The magic of traveling alone

#49

Post by nprateem »

postsantum wrote: post #48
nprateem wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Stay in hostels and chat to other travellers. Depends on your time of life though. There's totally a gap for high-end hostels for mid-life people with some money who still want a common area to hang out in, but without staying in a crappy dorm. Hotels just don't have the same vibe.

Many hostels have private rooms exactly for this purpose

Yes but also many hostels are rank. The last one I booked into in South America I just had to assume the bedding had been changed. And it was a good job I was waking up early because the piece of paper for a curtain was about as useful as a chocolate teapot.
Post reply on HN