TravSolo aims to inspire people to solo travel more through authentic storytelling, by sharing real travel experiences
Tell me a little bit about yourself: What do you do for a living?
For someone whose mission in life is to travel the world solo full-time, I want to quickly introduce you to the girl writing behind the computer.
I’m Clarisse and I have been obsessed with freedom and solo travel since I had a taste of it back in 2018. This was the year that my life changed.
What inspired you to take your first solo trip?
A solo travel adventure in Australia during a gap year allowed me to be independent and reinvent myself in a way I didn’t think possible.
Australia was an incredible leap for me.
When people would ask what I would do there, or if I had a job lined up, I would tell them that I had no plans. I am simply packing up my entire belongings in one suitcase, selling almost everything I owned, and heading there on a plane on April 17th. That was the extent of it.
They then asked, are you on your own, aren’t you scared? I would then tell them that I am going solo and that something inside me felt that it was the right thing to do that even though I was scared, I needed to get past it because I wanted to grow as a person.
We all know that it’s very hard to grow in a comfort zone if it’s at all possible.
It was crazy to think that it was almost 3 years ago that I left home.
But to be honest, life in a cubicle and the everyday monotony was the reason I took the leap. I couldn’t imagine the same life every day for the next 40 years.
I have experienced many wonderful things since, including eating the best pasta, pizza, and ice cream you can find in Italy. I honestly ate as much as I could when I was in Europe as the food there is nothing short of amazing.
What is the most memorable moment you had with a traveler or local?
The most memorable time of my life came when I met locals that would invite me for a home-cooked meal. We bonded over stories and I learned so much about their culture and history at that moment that it further opened my eyes to the beauty and vastness of the world.
“But to be honest, life in a cubicle and the everyday monotony was the reason I took the leap. I couldn’t imagine the same life every day for the next 40 years.“
What is biggest risk you have ever taken on a trip?
Let me tell you this, the biggest risk that any traveler can take is to book a one-way ticket halfway across the world, with all of your belongings in one suitcase and absolutely no plan, except to have trust in yourself. The trust that you made the correct choice and that you will be alright on your own. Remember, you will only have yourself to rely on, but this is not a bad thing.
What inspires you to travel more alone?
Traveling solo teaches you so much about independence, decision-making, and courage. The freedom and experiences that I felt during my solo travels have allowed me to learn so much not only about the world but also about myself.
That is one of the main reasons why I will keep traveling for as long as I can into the foreseeable future.
There are the thrills that come along with solo travel, as well as the travel bug that really guides you to keep going.
Seeing the world, through your eyes, with only you in the driver’s seat, allows you to view everything from your own perspective.
What advice might you give people afraid of being on their own or thinking of taking their first solo trip?
So for those of you thinking about solo travel, I say take the leap! Don’t let your fear hold you back from exploring the world. It really isn’t all that scary and I’ve always felt safe when I’m out on my own.
The world is at your fingertips and traveling solo is one of the best things you can do for yourself in this lifetime.
Live by this awesome mantra (could also be a cool book title):
Solo Mission: Travel
Make it your mission in life to travel the world on your own at least once. I promise you it will all be worth it!
Thanks for reading!
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By Chizoba Anyaoha
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