I had this longing to travel alone the entire time I was in Singapore. I didn’t know exactly why while I was there, but looking back at it now, I do. For the past few years, I’ve been trying to understand my weird thoughts, feelings, habits and overall myself. I found that being alone and feeling completely comfortable with it was important, because then I could be more aware of what was happening within and without me. I remember putting myself in some uncomfortable situations and just sitting back and soaking up the awkwardness. Little things that would reeeeally take up my headspace before, slowly started to vanish and I felt a little more at peace.

And so I decided I wanted to explore Vietnam alone! 🙂 The trip started with three other friends up North, in Sapa…

Was surprised my giraffe legs could fit in the sleeper bus

Me and my sista from another mista

No electricity…everything felt so simple

And no wifi…just some plastic chairs, pretty views of the rice paddies and a dog that kept trying to bite us

After getting fresh produce from the market (there was no fridge to store food) and wood to start the fire

Dinna time!

The rice paddies!

Then, we split up. The fact that my trip started with friends made that first moment I was alone feel so distinct. All the chatting, laughing and making up of rap lyrics through the mountains came to a stop. It was now just me, my thoughts and the sounds of the city of Hanoi.

Helping two Vietnamese girls to practice their English

Vietnamese girl studying along Hoan Kiem Lake (I stalked so many locals the entire trip)

Uber moto

Waiting for green

Train tracks running right outside people’s front door

Next stop was Ninh Binh, for some well needed nature. I had my most meaningful encounters with people there. A super hippie guy from America who was fasting for 3 days, and two other guys from Denmark who decided to join him for 24 hours (I was still stuffing my face for breakfast, lunch and dinner). It wasn’t until I was in the taxi that I realised we didn’t take a single picture together or exchange contacts.

Good morning

Cycling through rice paddy fields

I can’t count how many times I took a detour, to find some of the most beautiful spots. And I was almost always completely alone.

Can you make the peace sign while rowing a boat

Where the other tourists at?

This little piggy went to market, this little piggy stayed at home

Smiling was such a powerful way to communicate. A Vietnamese couple ended up giving me some of their bread for breakfast on the night train.

Then, I spontaneously agreed to go on a motorbike tour with a man I met outside the train station in Da Nang. I got a really good vibe from Vietnamese people most of the time and rarely felt unsafe or threatened.

Brought me back home to Jamaica

Picnic and karaoke by the riverside

Outfit on point

Me and My (pronounced ‘me’)

Praying to Lady Buddha

Whole thing toppled over when I sat down

Travelling alone was one of the most liberating feelings. It’s no better than travelling with others. They’re both completely different. There were times I wanted to tell someone what I was thinking or feeling and hear what they thought or felt. Maybe I wanted to laugh at something I saw or have some company while I ate lunch. But I met incredible people, especially locals, that I probably would not have met otherwise. I wasn’t distracted by conversations in moments that I really wanted to soak up everything around me. I experienced intense feelings of happiness, peace, awe and fear. Whether it was sitting on top of a hill at 6 am, with a 360 degree view of beautiful limestone karsts or cycling 9 km back to my hostel in absolute pitch black, praying that I wouldn’t get kidnapped.