I ended up travelling for escapism, and it's nothing new; from books/movies like Eat, Pray Love, and Wild, there's that image of a woman hurt, heartbroken, and confused. So she hits the road, hikes, bikes, finds Javier Bardem, and somehow finds herself, too.
Travel Movies & Images of a Picture-Perfect Life
It's a familiar concept–that travel can fix your problems or help you to heal. Maybe a good vacation or some solo female travel after a breakup is a good distraction, or hiking is a good way to escape the office blues. But the thing is, these stories and concepts of travelling to 'find oneself' always seem to centre white protagonists–they appeal to those with money, a strong passport and from places where it's easy to quit everything and book a ticket to Bali. But in reality, for many of us, it's much more complicated than that.
My own travels have led me to end up around the world. I was definitely running from intergenerational trauma, my own bad experiences and the glass ceiling that I kept hitting - the one where I wasn't taken seriously or was simply not hired because of my ethnicity or name.
Travelling Without Posting About It
I ran around the world in circles for years; I never made a blog about it, never profited from it, and never made a viral vlog on YouTube. People (including my own family) were confused–why spend all that time and money not to make any money, to have gaps in my employment, and never have anything concrete in life like an ongoing job or relationship?
When Plane Tickets Become a Medicine
Well, because it became a sort of therapy and addiction, to wake up in new places week by week or month by month. To not really have to face a life of convention and its challenges but to see beautiful vistas and views that would help anyone forget everything. To be alone or to constantly meet new people - some of whom are still good friends today but most of whom I don't recall. The constant newness of travelling is the perfect remedy for someone who doesn't want to face their issues.
That's what they don't tell you in the movies - that you're not always going to fall in love, you may not even find any answers, and you may complete your trip with nothing more than good memories and lovely photos. It's not all bad or good; it's just the truth that travel isn't a cure, but it can feel medicinal if taken in the right doses.
Breaking Cultural Barriers
For all those women who never managed to travel without their spouse, family or friends, it's not always easy to break cultural stereotypes and push past expectations. But if you want to go somewhere, you deserve to make it happen and be the protagonist in your own adventure.
After years of travelling, mainly without purpose or intention, besides the obvious desire to see new places and do new things, I channelled my energy. After asking myself how travel will continue to fit into my life in a more fulfilling way, I concluded that I don't want to tick off every country, but I will spend my life accumulating experiences and making friends around the globe. I tried to find a way to share this with other women, which is where the idea for Indy Odyssey came from. I hope more girls and women find a way to visit the places they want and achieve their goals.
Beyond perfect polaroids and funny stories to tell, travel can be a powerful vehicle for inner change; it can increase confidence and resilience and help you figure out who you are. It can also heal; I mean, who doesn't feel calm staring at a sunset on the ocean without a soul in sight?
After years of searching, I know there's more to travel than escaping. It can give you the life you want, connect you to people you would have never met and experiences you'll never forget.
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