With an upward trend in per capita income, the last couple of decades have shown dynamic changes in the way Indians travel. A greater number travel for pleasure, and travel more often. Their travel destinations include far-flung national and international places of tourist interest, beyond the earlier family visits to the odd relative in Shimla or an army friend posted in Pune. Another interesting development is that the expected scenario of a man leading his saree-clad wife, firmly holding on to two restless brats at airports and railway stations, is no longer the norm. Women have shown an upward mobility in terms of education and income, giving themselves a taste of newfound freedom and self-confidence. So, we’ ve a new brigade of intrepid women travellers who are out to seek new experiences and adventures without looking to be chaperoned by male family members. In fact, given that single women roughly constitute 21% of India’ s female population, they are not the only girls on the go. Solo women travellers include a large number of married women and stay-at-home moms too.
Reasons for married women wanting to travel solo shouldn’t be hard to guess. A welcome break from picking up wet towels and empty tea cups, from listening in to stale jokes and soul-stirring snores, from losing absurd arguments out of sheer exhaustion and, most of all, navigating one’ s own way for a change. If you are a woman teetering on the edge of taking a plunge to travel solo, be inspired by sister trailblazers and go for it. Hark to some helpful tips from veteran vagabonds for safe and mindful travel.
Travel tipsFor international travel, do read up and educate yourself about the destination you are visiting in terms of weather, currency, availability of ATMs and the languages spoken.
- Pack weather suited clothing, preferably drip dry types. It has been said before and be said again that it’ s best to travel light; carry comfortable, walk worthy footwear.
- Check conversion rates and availability of ATMs. Get an idea of expected daily expenditure for meals and transport.
- If English is not locally spoken, do write and learn a few essential phrases in the local language to help you get around.
- It’ s strongly advised that you carry the telephone number of the Indian Embassy and local emergency help numbers with you at all times.
- It’ s also a safe practice to store shots of your passport, visa, tickets, medical prescription and hotel bookings in your mobile besides carrying hard copies.
- Plan to land at your destination at a decent hour so that you can locate your hotel before dark. Avoid choosing hotels in secluded, out of the city areas even if they are cheaper. Hostels or home stays should be a good choice if you are on a budget. Carry your hotel’ s card on your day outings.
- Spend some time choosing your places of stay and read travellers’ reviews. If you are travelling to a metro, it makes sense to pick a place close to a train or bus station
- Carry a journal. Write a brief ready reckoner of your itinerary in it and also use it to record a daily summary of your visits, which will soon dissolve into a blur otherwise.
- Trying out the local cuisine is an important part of the travel experience. But if you are a vegetarian and travelling to a majorly meat eating country, it might make sense to carry some ready to eat foods.
- Carry your medicines along with the doctor’ s prescription.
- Understand and respect the local culture and customs. Know the dress norms.
- Avoid sharing too much information with strangers.
In spite of all pre-arrangements, there will be things beyond your control; travel plans can and will go awry many a time. Remember that travel is meant to be an adventure and adventures are never all predictable. The moment you take that first step out of your house, you are opening yourself to myriad possibilities of wondrous revelations, scenarios of bewitching natural beauty and awesome live knowledge about history and unknown cultures. On the flip side, there may also be some slip-ups like delayed flights, lost luggage, bouts of diarrhoea, disappointing lodgings and annoying male attention. Be mentally prepared to tackle such eventualities confidently and without being rattled. It is small price to pay for the exhilarating feel of flying out to reach out and touch new horizons.
Sources: The Sunday Tribune Spectrum written by Ranjit Powar
