74 December 2013 www.womanthismonth.com Research This cannot be emphasised enough. Once you have finalised your destination and itinerary, get down to the basics — local culture, food, languages, currency, average fares, time taken to travel and so on. The last thing you want when travelling alone is to get duped or lost. Preparation is key! Stay safe Whichever part of the world you choose to Sailing Solo Don’t know what to do with all those photo frames you’ve hoarded up over the years? Here are some unique ideas that will help to dress your walls. by ANKITA MAMGAIN head to, safety is one thing that cannot be guaranteed even if it is your own country. The trick is to keep a low profile. Don’t walk around with your face buried in guidebooks, which literally equals to wearing a banner that reads “I am new and vulnerable”. Keep a check on important documents, cash, who you chat with and how much you drink. Your day kit You’ve heard it a million times — travel light! The minimum luggage for a three-month long excursion will still be impossible to carry around at all times. So make a day kit with all the essentials and reduce it to just one tote or a medium sized backpack. Refrain from carrying a separate camera bag or collecting many plastic bags during the day. Have enough space in the day kit so it can accommodate all of this. Make friends Yes, the idea is to be your own travelling companion, but sometimes you can get a really interesting perspective by talking to strangers. There’ll be faces you’ll encounter for sometime over breakfast, why not see what they have to share. They might even give you some important information or advice that the tourism board website skipped. Journal it! On paper, a microchip or, for the romantic, even a film, find your medium and capture the moments lived, sights seen, faces befriended and smiles shared. Of course the physical or the metaphysical experience will remain only yours for life, but as time goes by you will want a reminder of your adventurous and open spirit. LIFESTYLE | how to
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