August 7th 2023.
'Travelling alone made me feel liberated':
When I first decided to take a solo trip abroad, I was met with a common reaction: 'Wow, I can’t believe you’re going alone.' For a long time, travelling solo was seen as a risky and daunting experience, especially for Black women.
Fortunately, in recent years, solo travelling has become more popular and popularised through online travel influencers. The term 'solo travelling' itself has gained an incredible amount of traction, with over 400 million views on TikTok alone.
The Black Travel movement has also emerged in the past decade. It provides a platform for Black travellers to connect with each other, share their experiences, and inspire others to explore the world. Black travellers have to take extra precautions when travelling abroad, as they can be more vulnerable to discrimination and even harm.
I was 24 when I decided to take my first international solo trip, and I was filled with a mix of pride and fear. I had grown tired of waiting on others to plan holidays with me, and I knew that if I wanted to do the things I had always wanted, I might have to do them alone.
When I finally took the plunge, I felt liberated. I could make my own decisions, plan my own itinerary, and sleep in if I wanted to. I tried different foods, met new people, and most importantly, I learned to enjoy my own company.
The journey wasn't without its challenges. My suitcase fell apart on my way to the airport, and I had to scramble to buy a new one before my flight. Despite this, I returned from my trip feeling empowered, knowing I had the capability to make things happen for myself.
I was comforted by the fact that I wasn't the only one feeling apprehensive about a solo trip, and I found solace in forums where women shared their experiences. By doing so, I realised I don't need others to have a good time and have gained the confidence to try new things alone.
'Wow, I can’t believe you’re going alone.' This was the common response I faced when I told people I was planning to travel solo. For years, going abroad alone was seen as a daunting task, especially for Black women. But, in recent years, solo travel has gained traction due to the rise of online travel influencers and the Black Travel movement.
The Black Travel movement has emerged over the last decade to provide a space for Black adventurers to share their experiences and inspire others to explore the world. For Black women in particular, travelling unaccompanied to countries where we may be hypervisible and hypersexualised puts us at risk of harm. These concerns weighed heavily on me before my first international solo trip.
At 24, I finally took the plunge and travelled alone to Asia. I convinced myself it was a ‘journey of self-discovery,’ but in reality, I had grown tired of waiting for others to make travel plans with me. I had to learn to enjoy my own company.
The experience was liberating. I was able to make my own decisions, plan my own itinerary, and sleep in if I wanted to. I tried different foods, met new people, and most importantly, learned to enjoy my own company. Although the trip brought me euphoric joy, it also presented its own set of challenges. One of them was when my suitcase fell apart on my way to the airport. But, I eventually returned feeling empowered by my ability to make things happen for myself.
Prior to my trip, I found comfort in forums where women candidly shared their experiences of travelling across the world by themselves. It was reassuring to know that there were others who had successfully done it before me. Now, I'm encouraging more Black women to take the leap and travel solo.
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