Solo Female Travel, Trust and the Art of Fitting In

Cooking in Rasun, Jordan

The Frugal Traveler recently wrote a column on travel myths and revelations about travel and the gender gap. In it, he revealed that some female readers took issue with certain advice, specifically that recommendations of $4 a night places or accepting lunches with locals would not be wise counsel for women. As anyone who has read this site knows, I don’t agree. I tend to stay in cheaper hostels, and have found that the best and most lasting cross-cultural learning has resulted from an invite to a family’s house or business, or a wedding with locals. The article was subsequently posted to a travel blogger’s forum on Facebook, launching a discussion on what it means to be a woman who travels and whether tips fall on a specific side of the gender divide.

Is there such thing as a solo female travel tip?

I don’t tend to brand myself as a solo female traveler. Over the course of my travels, I’ve certainly offered up some tips and experiences, and my meta tags on this site belie the factual obviousness that I am, really, a female traveler traipsing around the world alone. A fair point made both in the Facebook thread and in other forums is that many female-specific tips aren’t specific at all. Instead, carrying a doorstop in your bag, bringing a mugger’s wallet with you or carrying a safety whistle are tips that apply to both genders. With the exception of the Diva Cup (something that cannot in any way be construed as dual-gendered), travel solo is travel solo as far as practicalities are concerned.

However, focusing on tips does a disservice to the reality that many women are afraid to travel alone. I get emails every single day from women who want to know how I do it. Am I scared? Have I been mugged? Was I ever assaulted or attacked? These are extremely personal questions, but very valid ones from people aching to travel but scared of what might happen if they go unaccompanied. Trepidation about rape and sexual harassment remains a checkmate argument as far as I’m concerned; while tips might apply across the board, rarely do men need to worry about safety the way we do. Their mental ‘worst case’ scenarios don’t usually dip into sexual assault.

Separating the tips from the experience of travel as a woman

Much of what we encounter as travelers transcends the pragmatic. So while the intricacies of gender can be debated, we can’t pretend we’re all the same. As the NYT column notes, differences exist within groups of women or men too; the way we each approach travel and the travel experience as a whole is extremely personal. Reading the article brought me back to a draft post about the ability as a Western woman to live both worlds, male and female, even when visiting traditionally conservative places.

While this can be catalyzed by some choice advice – a little research, some powers of observation – the take-away is the interaction itself. This is what I mean when I talk about the ‘solo female travel experience’. And this is what I allude to when I write these women back: yes, you might occasionally be scared. Yes, there might be a close call or two. But you’ll eventually learn to trust your gut and ultimately you will find that travel as a woman, even a woman alone, will bring you a wealth of wonderful memories.

Nomads in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia
While staying with nomads in Mongolia, I learned how to ferment mare’s milk from this grandmother

Walking the Line in Myanmar and Jordan

In Myanmar, I spent close to a week along the bustling shores of Inle Lake. With rotating markets at dawn, colourful Pa-O tribes and more Shan noodles and grilled fish than I could handle, it was a concentrated week of wonder. As I wrote in my photoessay from Inle Lake, one of the days involved a visit to my boat driver’s floating village and an invitation to his best friend’s wedding. As a woman, I was plunked into a giggling group of thanaka-covered kids as soon as I walked in, eyes bright with confusion about what I was doing in their midst. When we all walked upstairs, I was led to a sea of women, each with wide smiles and hands reaching out to me.  Soon thereafter, someone nudged me over the invisible line separating the room in two, and I was proffered cheroot cigars and whiskey, the men nodding in approval as I puffed away.

It was an incredible thing, this ability to experience both aspects of a traditional Burmese ceremony. Conversely, none of the male tourists were invited to the women’s side of the room – that would be extremely inappropriate in the local culture. But by being a strange amalgamation of male and female, feminine but independent (I was, after all, travelling alone), I was able to experience both.

Wedding in Inle Lake, Burma
Women’s side of the wedding in Inle Lake, Burma (Myanmar)
Men's side of the wedding in Inle Lake
Men’s side of the wedding in Inle Lake, Burma (Myanmar)

A similar thing happened in Jordan. I joined a family in Rasun to cook dinner, apron-clad and in the kitchen while my guide and driver sat outside with the men. The hours of chopping and washing and giggling with the family’s children were great fun (the flower you see in my hair below was foisted on me by the youngest child). It was also a chance to as some of the questions I had about being a woman in Jordan without intervention from a male figure. At one point, my guide Ali walked toward the kitchen and one of the daughters fled to the back room. As he was not family, she did not want him to see her with face and head uncovered. Once dinner was made, I went outside to the patio and ate with Ali and our driver Rami, along with the male members of the family. We stayed quite late, talking with them about their lives and work, leaving long after dark. I remember getting into the car and feeling very lucky that I could see both sides of this world I barely knew.

solo female travel in jordan
Cooking in Rasun, Jordan with the women of the house.
And eating the meal a little later, with our driver, guide and the men of the house.
And eating the meal a little later, with our driver, guide and the men of the house.

The art of fitting in

I’ve lived countless experiences like these, and reader emails from women often ask how it is that I’ve managed to find myself interacting with locals. My advice is the same as I would offer to anyone (male or female) who was looking to get under the skin of a new place: dress the part, watch everything and ask questions.

I recently shared some stories about Myanmar, some involving my decision to procure a longyiand then wear it for most of my travels.  This wasn’t a matter of kitsch or mimicry for the sake of tourism, but rather a genuine attempt to blend in a little more. Given the sensitivity to sexuality in many countries I’ve travelled, getting invited into someone’s home or becoming a part of a street cart’s daily routine is a lot more likely when you’re cognizant of the benchmarks for conservative dress and act accordingly. Wearing a bikini while wandering around a Muslim village in the Gili Islands isn’t the best idea (oh, but people do). Don’t go to the Middle East with a crotch-dusting dress, or wear hot pants to a Buddhist temple. When in Indonesia, I covered my arms and legs and when I was invited to a Balinese wedding, I went to the local market to get a kebaya out of respect for the bride and groom. Dressing the part isn’t obligatory but I’ve found it goes a long way toward breaking the ice with locals, and the local women were particularly pleased with my efforts.

Attending a wedding in Bali
Attending a wedding in Bali

Trust, travel and a leap of faith

Occasionally I have judged wrongly, or my gut said to leave but I convinced myself otherwise and regretted my choice. However, the worst situation I was ever in stemmed from a completely innocuous walk along a bustling street in downtown Marseille in 2001. It was the middle of the day in October and I was wearing a jacket and jeans. I was simply walking to the train station. Other than being elsewhere, there was nothing I could have done differently. I was harassed with increasing intensity by a group of men, who then followed up the street. Among other things, their taunts culminated with my head being cracked against a brick wall. Fortunately, two large Australians stopped – though I’d like to note that no one else did – just as I was being told I wouldn’t actually be heading home. Thus I’ve never dealt with any severe consequences, unlike some other brave women I’ve met. But that moment has most certainly stayed with me, replaying itself during the years. It was a lesson in the fragility of paths but also in a strength I didn’t realize I had: the next day I forced myself back to the same exact road to mirror my steps. If I didn’t go back then, I felt like they won.

I’m not telling this story for pity points- if that was my style I’d have written it long ago. Other women have shared much more horrifying stories and I’m certainly aware that I was extremely lucky. I’m writing it here to make a point: that despite the fears and very real potential issues, I took a leap of faith on this trip and traveled alone. And I’ve been rewarded for that choice, with all the crazy stories of karaoke with captains and being told I was brave in the Philippines and then getting told off by a cab driver for the same reason. In the shadow of a moment, I can now decide exactly what I’m going to do in a given situation.

Comparing feet with a nun in Burma (Myanmar)
Comparing feet with a nun in Burma (Myanmar)

Don’t forget the bottom line

We travel to experience the world, and I do so in the body I’ve been given. Semantics are irrelevant when you look at the macro picture, and the singular most satisfying aspect of my travels has been intense glimpses of what it’s like to live life in a wholly foreign place. (The food hasn’t been bad either.) The weddings, the weeks with street stalls, the times living in Palawan and fishing for breakfast with locals – each of these situations took a small leap of faith to trust that despite being a mini-sized solo female traveler, I would nonetheless reap great rewards from trying something new. With each experience, I’ve gained confidence to keep trying. The positives of traveling alone have far exceeded the negatives (among them: someone to watch my bag while I pee), and my curiosity has only grown. As the comments to the NYT article show, I’m not alone.


Jodi

109 thoughts on “Solo Female Travel, Trust and the Art of Fitting In”

  1. I’m so glad you wrote this wonderful post and shared your experiences. Solo travel is a great thing, and I hate to think of anyone being scared off from giving it a try because of the media. I’m loving all the positive, encouraging posts that are pouring out of this tragic situation.

  2. Oops, I had two of your posts open and commented on the wrong one! That last comment was supposed to be on your current post, Revisiting the solo female travel experience! I’m doing too many things at once.

    Still, I’m always happy to see people encouraging solo travel. I wouldn’t be the same person if I had never gone out there and tried it for myself.

  3. Wow, I can’t believe you experienced all that whilst simply walking down the street.

    Sometimes I feel like I am too young and naive for going travelling alone for 6 months, but I really think this solo trip will strengthen me. I just need to be on my guard and have common sense, and remember that I won’t be in Sweden anymore.

  4. Pingback: Revisiting the Solo Female Travel Experience

  5. What a great post that truly shares the amazing experience of traveling alone as a female. I travel internationally in the developing world for work and just got back from three weeks in Asia, including a stop in Myanmar. I was a bit nervous to visit by myself but found the people, food, and landscape amazing. I am inspired to continue to strive to visit Asia personally by your posts, and thanks for being such a great resource for the solo female travelers out there!

  6. Intelligent & well said! We have to know how to differentiate psychological fears (unfamiliarity, etc) versus the real fears. I live in the NY metro area, and those new to the area always ask if it’s safe to walk in NYC at night, and I’m thinking NYC? hell ya! But, that’s because I’m familiar with the city, but to someone who’s not, then NYC can be a scary place.

  7. This is an extraordinary article! I love your philosophy and your style. I admire your audacity. This is exceptional and I congratulate you for doing what so many others want to do but they hold back. We’re so conditioned to second guess our impulses when, I believe, we should be listening to them and following them. Cheers to you!

  8. Thank you so much for your insightful posts…in 1991 at age 21 I sold everything and took off with my then 3-year-old son to travel with the Renaissance Festival circuit…my friends and family were horrified…those years of travel(in the requisite VW van) eventually led me to a skill-set and education that allow me to make a living today as a full-time musician and arts educator…I’ve taken my children out of school on several occasions to travel (Cuba, Brazil’s Amazon, etc.), but last March, at age 42, I traveled totally solo for the first time EVER to walk an 80-mile stretch of the Camino de Santiago in Galicia, Spain (followed by a trip to Morocco). I certainly experienced moments of fear, loneliness, and self-doubt…but I had far greater moments of awe, joy, and fearlessness…I was invited into stranger’s homes with my filthy backpack for a hot coffee after hiking in the freezing rain for an eternity, had my tired bloody feet worked on by a local healer who refused payment of any sort, and literally learned the meaning of one step at a time…and as I sit here writing this, I’m contemplating long-term travel with the last bird in the nest: my fearless 8-year-old daughter, Carmen…thank you for the inspiration!

  9. Thank you! I so appreciate the fact that you not only share your perspective on solo travel / female solo travel but also discuss your own very bold and intrepid travel experiences. I am both inspired and empowered by the artice and grateful to read something on this topic that is written from a very different perspective that in no way originates in fear.

  10. Pingback: Northern India: The Good, the Great and The Ugly | Legal Nomads

  11. Hi, Jodi!
    My name is Leticia, I’m a 26 year old girl from Brazil.
    This year I decided to take a gap year, and work and travel around the world. I’ve been living in India, in Jaipur, for the past 4 months (loved your post about India, by the way), and recently decided to turn my gap year into a gap life. haha I just love traveling too much, can’t think of myself going back to my old home, job, whatever. So I decided to make a blog of my own, and show people the wonders of this world.
    I love your blog, I love the fact that you are a solo female traveler as well, and I loved this post.
    I too know many women who would love to travel but are afraid to do so, and through my experiences I would love to show them that the world isn’t as scary as they think.
    India is a great experience, I’ll be here until May, if you come back, let me know, we can hang out. :)
    Best of luck!
    Leticia

  12. You have many wonderful experiences in your travels. I commend you for your guts. And I’m glad you were basically unharmed in Marseille in France. I hope you get to have more safe adventures.

  13. Hi Jodi, I’ve only come across this post now – nearly three years after it was originally published – and ironically it was written just days after I first set off on my first solo travels over to South America. I would have devoured this insight then! Now an absolute convert to the benefits and empowerment that solo travel can bring to life, I really appreciate what you have to say about trust, gut instinct and attempting to fit in, wherever you are. I hope you keep enjoying your adventuring :-)

  14. Beautifully written article. I re-read so many great quotes – like “their mental ‘worst case’ scenarios don’t usually dip into sexual assault” – you capture my feeling of solo travel to a tee and it’s hard for any man to understand the innate fear of sexual assault. I wish self defense classes were incorporated into our daily lives, so that we could be safe in our own skin. Thanks again!

  15. Loved this post. I actually linked to it within my Petra post as I was looking for some perspectives on traveling solo in Jordan. I think you make a lot of great points about solo travel, but also being aware of the culture where you are. Your point about being very acutely aware of your surroundings is so true and I am the same way. I’m often given flack by my partner for doing this, but honestly, I’ve been able to get out of some potentially scary situations just by trusting my gut-instinct. I wish this wasn’t true, but it helps a lot when you travel alone.

    Admittedly, I’ve also had some truly terrible experiences being harassed in Italy and in my hometown of New York, so I mean, the reality is that although it’s important to be aware of where you are, sometimes you will be harassed for no reason whatsoever. Some of my worst experiences was walking to work living in NYC wearing winter/work clothes near a major road.

    (Oops, fixed the name)

  16. To be honest I started reading your blog because there aren’t many other people out there called Jodi, especially people who spell it right!
    I like reading your stories. They’re more than accounts of your travels or advice or how-tos.
    I’m inspired by your interactions with locals and your photography.
    I’ve recently started writing and I don’t know if it’ll amount to much but I’m enjoying it. Reading your writing is,I think, helping me improve my own. So thanks!

  17. Samantha Hernández

    I really appreciate your blog, because before my mom´s generation, they was always waiting in their houses, doing housework, etc. On the other hand sometimes it is difficult to travel alone, and now more women dare to travel alone, that´s amazing, but I remember a girl, “sirena mermaid” who lost her live traveling to Costa Rica. She didn´t have an incredible trip :(. And I just hope that more women can enjoy like you did.

    1. Thank you Samantha. It is a privilege to be able to travel, solo or otherwise, but I hoped that this article would encourage those who could but were told not to do so alone. It’s true that there are tragedies, and again those happen to women at home and abroad. It is not the travel itself that is inherently dangerous as a rule, but yes sadly caution is important both at home and abroad.

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