You are currently browsing the monthly archive for October, 2007.
General note
It seems to me that I have actually had quite a lot of power and opportunities as a person travelling alone. Others are usually quicker to help and will try harder to make sure that that help works. People are more likely to offer opportunities or make exceptions for one person than for several, or even a pair. It’s because you’re not threatening when it’s clear you don’t have backup; and because people do like to feel generous and unorthodox from time to time - letting one person slip through the web of rules and formalities is a way of fulfilling this without serious repercussions. It’s an obvious point, but what I find interesting is that the lack of a threat a single person poses is important even in non-combative situations. I believe that this is true for men as well, that as long as they are relaxed and friendly a solo male traveller will receive busloads of hospitality as well. But I also think that this desire to help is intensified when they see that you are not just alone but female and young.
A lot of people would assume that travelling alone is more risky for women than for men, because they imagine predation and women on their own being stuck for options in handling this predation. My personal opinion is that with all the dangers that there are, most people want to help and protect you. They will even go out of their way to do it. I’d say this constitutes about 75% of people. 20% are simply selfish without being deliberately malicious, and 5% are malicious and could never care about you. Naturally these are my own percentages arrived at by globbing together anecdotes and broad and specific travel memories, and then intuitively putting them into those divisions. No data was actually recorded and no calculations were carried out. I am pretty satisfied with them, but I think if there is something that would skew this representation it is that variable of people who might be momentarily under the influence of drugs or alcohol…
I have once again changed the plan and this interpersonal section itself will be divided in two: persistent men and making friends.
Persistent men
The rest of this post will present several strategies for dealing with persistent men when you do not wish to take them up on their offers. They are the bane of many women’s existence, and often seem to pop up with even greater frequency when you are travelling alone. Again, I state that this is about how to respond to the advances that you categorically do not welcome - it has nothing to do with whether or not it’s a good idea to date or get it on with guys while you’re travelling. This is about safety and retaining independence; it is in no way dating advice.
Why is the topic of persistent men in the preparation section? Because I think that trouble is most likely to occur when women act vague about their real wishes and passively let themselves be led into their pursuer’s plans. If you know you don’t want it, stop it early. Read the rest of this entry »
Pictures now here.
Highly recommended for anyone who likes all things animate, furry and choc-full of lovin’-feelings.
You’ll have to call me a liar because I have realised that there is no way that I am going to cover this topic in just 2 more sections, if you thought that 1 section = 1 post as I had originally planned it. I can honestly say that I’m not sure how many “sections” there are to come, so I guess we’ll all be surprised.
Getting around
Seek out and look closely at transport timetables, and know exactly where to catch your bus/train/metro from, and what time these services start and stop. Take the trouble to read through these thoroughly because there are always little notes about the exceptions for a certain service, like: “this only applies to the summer schedule, in winter we only operate three days a week”; and “this bus terminates at –stop about 20km earlier than the one you want to get off at– for the 13:15 and the 18:30 services”. Of course in general they won’t spell it out in full sentences like that for you, they provide instead a set of keys to decipher, which it is worth your while to undertake rather than go “Ehh? SO? PCC?” and assume that they can’t be that important. If they don’t have an English translation and you can’t work it out to your satisfaction, go to a counter at the station, an information centre or the company’s agency and get it clarified.
I’m concerned now that this all sounds very basic and that I’m being patronising, so I’d like to explain why I am making a point of this. It’s not about being a perfect little traveller, being able to check off all the “how-tos” on a checklist. It’s that… you want to limit the amount of time you spend hanging around bus stops or stations alone, especially if you are looking bewildered because you don’t understand why your ride hasn’t arrived. Also, the transport system should be your ally in letting you explore and feel secure in travelling through the city. If you don’t take time to understand it and work it effectively, then it could leave you in places you don’t want to be in at times you don’t want to be in them in. If you are not in an urban environment, or if you’re in one really really late at night in winter, missing the last ride means that’s it. You literally won’t have any options other than a long walk home, alone and down deserted streets. I also personally believe really strongly in using public transport over accepting lifts from people. Now I have accepted lifts before, but only from those who I know without a doubt are reliable friends. Meaning: people I have spent quite a lot of time with and have talked to on numerous occasions through real conversations. Faith in yourself and your ability to use the services provided is a better bet than faith in the good intentions of a stranger offering a ride. Read the rest of this entry »
Photos from my walk from Fort William to Glen Nevis (in the west of Scotland) are up now 
And I swear I’m working on my next few posts.
I have been wanting to write on this topic for a very long time now. If there is one of my skills that I feel entirely confident about, it is my know-how in travel. I tend to only get anxious if I have a fixed arrangement to meet another person by a certain time, otherwise I am good at all the waiting involved; at apportioning time to be able to get through the various stages of leaving a country without hassle; and at making sure I have the necessary documents and don’t have the unnecessary items (whether there be logic behind customs’ requirements or not). I have few troubles with maps, timetables, and the use of public transport. When I need them I can locate sources of information, and if these prove unhelpful, have no problems approaching people to ask for help.
As a seasoned traveller I can say that even if you are well-prepared and alert, things can get tangly simply because people see that you are female and alone. Perhaps I’ll report back in some 20 years time to give you an update but for now I should probably also add “young” to that list.
There are two main sections to this piece. Firstly, I will cover preparation; then comes what I think of to myself as “the place of no return”. HooOooo, I know, spooky-sounding eh? Read the rest of this entry »
