As a solo traveller life is quite fantastic. You and you alone decide what you want to do today, where you want to go tommorow, whether or not you catch a flight out of the country on a whim or whether you just decide to lie in a hammock all day with a bar or two of chocolate and caipirinhas.
I sometimes like to consider myself an independant 20 year old. Just so that I can pretend to be an adult sometimes. Full time job, living on my own, bills paid on time, the full adulthood responsibility package. Been there, done that. Now I'm travelling for 4 months and I'm still somewhat healthy, still mostly alive, still on track with my budget. I'd say I'm doing ok so far.
I even like to doing "fearless" adventurous adrenaline junkiesque activities. Cliff jumping in my secret hidey hole in the sticks, skydiving back home, bungee jumping in Cusco, volcano climbing in Pucon, sewing my first button ever onto my shirt by myself in Rio.
Now you might be thinking, if you're not scared of sewing a button back onto your shirt then what are you scared of?
Could you believe it's as simple as not wanting to be lonely?
That might seen a little ridiculous seeing as how I left Vancouver with a 6 month itinerary for South America all alone. But there's quite a difference in the two words. Lonely involves feeling alone, even though you might be amongst friends. While being alone is simply being by yourself although you might be perfectly fine.
Let me give you an example of what I mean.
I arrived in Rio de Janerio in the middle of the World Cup all alone. I had one friend in the city who was letting me couchsurf for two weeks yet we rarely saw each other because of her schedule. I explored the city, played football on the beach, hiked up Christo & Sugarloaf among quite a few other things. Mostly alone, yet never did I feel lonely. Probably because I didn't know what I was missing out on yet.
Fast forward 4 months and I've just finished the Inca Trail and now I'm on my way to Huacachina. I've just spend the last four full days with one of the greatest group of travellers out there doing one of the most revered treks on the planet. Together we spent four days worrying over the rain, eating a mountain of chocolate between us, laughing over games of Shithead and simply just enjoying our time glamping with each other. With my new friends from all over I was lucky enough to finish and witness Machu Picchu in all of its tourist infested glory. Afterwards, again I was lucky enough to spend time with them at the hot springs at Aguas Caliente before enjoying the BEST Pisco Sour I've ever had before half the group took off. Then as my 445am alarm clock went off the following day I was fortunate enough to climb Huayna Picchu and have breakfast with the last half of the group before my own train back to Cusco.
Several hours later and here I am, on a crap sleeper bus on the way to Huacachina. Unfortunately alone, and quite lonely as I'm now missing everybody from the trek. As well as the good times from the group in La Paz. And the group in San Pedro. And the EPIC times from Buenos Aires. And well, really most of my friends from this trip so far. Not to mention my friends and family back home.
Quite literally I'm facing my own personal Boogeyman right now. Even though travelling alone rarely means I'm actually by myself and lonely, the times where I am are definitely the worst. But I've seen this monster several times now in this trip and I know exactly how to deal with it now. Time to turn my attention back to the present and carry on with having new adventures with new friends in new places. Hopefully one day that'll include the old friends as well.
Cheers to the future, to the unknown and to a sense of adventure. Love and miss you all.
Channy
Instagram - itsnathanchan
October 28, Huacachina, Peru