How To Be (and Travel) Alone

My day begins at 5 in the morning: while everyone else is still in dreamland, I organize my task list for the day, have my breakfast while watching some TV, and then start working. Yup, work time for me is from 6:30 am till around noon. If I'm not done by noon, that only means that I have soooo much work on my plate. And if I can help it, I don't schedule my meetings in the morning, to try to keep my alone time sacred.

Here is a video that Em shared with me. I am sharing it with all of you because the video is so beautifully made and tells you how important being alone is for the soul.

As much as I love to travel with friends and family, I also LOVE to travel solo. To me, this is extended Alone Time. I can wake up at whatever time I want, go out and explore, or just stay in and be lazy. I went on a solo trip to the Singapore Design Festival last year, and this year, I went to NYC alone. It's always fun to meet up with old friends and make new ones in the most random places & situations--although almost everything is random anyway when you travel solo.

NYC, October 2011

Lost in Translation in Nagoya, Japan (2006) and Incheon, Korea (2008)

I enjoy sitting in restaurants, having a nice meal while drawing out my ideas. I can take all the time in one place or move as fast as I want. I like riding trains and find immense joy in efficient public transportation. When I travel alone, I weave my way around unfamiliar streets, aimlessly walking around and stopping when I see something that interests me. When I get lost in a new place, I am actually able to find myself. And that, I believe, is how travel enriches the soul.

A quick doodle while waiting at the airport in Seattle.

These are the Top 5+ things I have in my bag when I travel alone:

1. Journal, pens & watercolor set

2. A beanie, scarf and mittens (in my bag, just in case it gets chilly)

3. Water bottle & snacks

4. Maps (for when you want to find your way back)

5. Camera & Monopod

The thing is, whenever I do travel alone, I end up not having that many photos of myself. I have more photos of my feet than my face. Haha. But here's a tip: my friends and I have recently discovered the Monopod. It's light and handy for solo travels. You'll never have to worry about strangers who might run away with your camera when you ask them to take your photo!

PJ uses his Monopod to get all his friends in the shot.