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First Time Traveling Alone in Asia - Colombo, Sri Lanka
For some unconscious reason, I keep on postponing this post. I don’t know why either. All I can say is that I was ignorant of what to really expect in Sri Lanka and ignorance is still bliss. I mean, yes I know the place, yes I did some basic research, yes I was almost prepared, but still, truth be told, at that state that I was in, I know I was being completely ignorant of what’s to come. Sri Lanka was completely foreign to me and I guess that’s the best thing about it.
As you may be randomly following my wanderings, you’ll know that I just went to one of the most inconspicuous places on anyone’s travel list: Sri Lanka. Well at least that’s how I perceived it, since I didn’t know anyone who’s been there, going there, or wants to go there. Why this place? Well, I was ignorant and arrogant. Ignorant to want to experience unexpected things, and arrogant to yearn to have the most unique experience one can have. I wanted to be adventurous and creative on my next travel, so I just went - backpacked my way to the teardrop of India. Best decision, yes.
I’ve been traveling alone for quite some time, but this is the very first time that I’ve travelled to a place with zero friends, zero extensive background, zero everything else. All I had were guts, gusto, and a whole lot of bucket list juice. I was pumped. I got this on the bag… or so I thought. I wanted to experience traveling on a different vantage point; thankfully, Sri Lanka, this time, is the best place to do it.
Sri Lanka surprised me with so many firsts. Yes, being ignorant of things makes you blissful once you understand the value of discovery and experience, be it good or bad. Discovering how it feels like to be in a completely different world, where every food is spicier than the first, where every person stares at you even longer than the first, where culture meets quality, faith meets expression, and where imaginary danger makes its presence felt everywhere you look – Sri Lanka is truly special.
Traveling alone to a completely foreign place - with risks, reveries, and realities – is more than adventuresome. Now I understand why it is written in bucket lists and all those must-do things; it’s life-changing to say the least. Difficult to put into words; better felt than said. You learn, feel, and understand even more. You unearth a different side of you, either an aspect or a whole new person out of the experience. There’s always a time for everything, and you should be aware that traveling alone should have be part of your life time. It takes a whole lot of life out of you, but at the same time, it brings more of life to you. It’s hugely about discovery, but it’s about fearlessness even more.
It’s time to be ignorant in fear and chase that travel bliss.
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