Inspiring Others: The Transformative Power of Solo Travel
Coming/Breaking out of my comfort zone, hopping between metros full of people so many that you can hear them breathing, travelling from one end of a city to another with a fear of missing my flight, communicating without language – figuring out lodging on the go, not to mention with 8kgs backpack on my shoulders; I became Pakistani Backpacker!
Studying Architecture intrigued the spatial sense and society compositions which left me with the curiosity of knowing more than what surrounds me; the inquisitiveness to reach further away.
As an earned leaves traveller, I try to make the most of my time by booking all my flights, trains, bus rides and other logistics pre-hand along with keeping a check on weather updates and additional information, so that before flying I know exactly what to do and how will it be (thanks to my Project management skills); nonetheless ‘on the go’ I also realized that it comes with a sudden change in weather resulting in flight cancellations, -3o temperature with flurries; and the only option you are left with is to be patient and relish life as it comes.
made me realize that people everywhere are beautiful,
we just need to connect with them with a little love and compassion.
While sitting alone, in front of the magnificent Sultan Ahmet Mosque, walking on the street in Izmir with the relentless downpour, circling in snowfall at Baku, staring unceasingly at all white houses of Geoffery Bawa, signing continually while swinging on Koh Sumai Beach, I found peace… I found myself.
I have always been an extrovert, however travelling to a new place all by myself, opened my doors to making new friends – global friends… this, also made me realize that people everywhere are beautiful, we just need to connect with them with a little love and compassion.
Kel, Azad Kashmir
The first time when I planned for a tour of Srilanka, I tried to squeeze every nook and corner into my plan believing that I might not be able to revisit. But my perspective changed as I started to plan regularly, I learned to let go of something or other of my itinerary, to keep my curiosity alive! The zillions times I have been to Lahore, I always have a new thing to explore every single time!
Once, as I was settling back into my hotel room in Istanbul, my cellphone flashed with news from my niece informing me about the birth of a sweet little sunshine, it made me miss home…While I was enjoying the Full Moon Party with my friends in Koh Phagan, Bangkok, I missed a small office event back in my hometown…. Or while I was spending my vacations at??? I missed the usual Eid Day at home; life is all about loved ones and no matter where we are; they are the ones who matter the most thereafter, I learned the significance, value and meaning of relationships!
Another time I ran out of Cash in Srilanka and I still had one more day to go; I called back home and it just took a few seconds to recognise how much I was loved. Both my sister and my boss were struggling to transfer the cash while Karachi was having a crazy downpour and everything was shut, I realized how blessed I am that Allah has surrounded me with such love and care; I learned to be grateful, come what may!
Having studied at a convent school and being an Ismaili (a Shia sect) I have always been surrounded by and taught to accept different people and cultures. I had believed that I knew it all, little had I the inkling that there stood a whole wide sea of diversity out there in the world for me to know. Though my learning from school and faith helped me in accepting it; it was travelling that taught me to take a bit from everywhere and make it mine forever… to accept diversity, pluralism and a life-enhancing perspective; it’s like you go alone but come back with so much more.
With the great amount of freedom that it gives, comes issues and errors; getting to deal with such unforeseen conditions and yet coming out of the situation gives me a sense of self-assurance, confidence, and reliance.
Spring Festival, Kalaash Valley, Pakistan
The paramount ability that comes with travelling alone is the ability to inspire. We all are born to help each other in one way or another, inspiration is the most valuable of them all. I also believe it has given me the magic of a storyteller, the skill to pay attention to detail, a flare of the World that only one acquires when one travels and remains with them always.
Travelling alone not only tested me time and again, but also gave me insight into my inner strength, it unfolded myself to me and let me know things about myself that I would have never understood otherwise.
Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
Pakistan Pavilion, Expo 2020, UAE
youtube video downloader
Thank you for sharing this insightful article! I found the information really useful and thought-provoking. Your writing style is engaging, and it made the topic much easier to understand. Looking forward to reading more of your posts!