I have been travelling short distances (2-4hrs) and staying on accomodations since my mid 20s for simple visit or meetup with family and friends in the city. I always hear my colleagues say that I am bold and brave enough to go to places I never been, given the danger of being alone when there are reports of missing women all over. I am lucky enough and even if I don't look like it, I am being extra careful when I am in the city because I know how it could be.

If there are simple ways to get there like public transport, landmarks, even traditional maps, I can get there. I also draw the directions as a guide so I can't get lost when I was a teen from internet maps (I am not sure what site was that). At some point, I even learned how to read military maps due to my work (RIP to the website I go to) but cannot anymore. 🥲 Thank God for Google Maps because they even show traffic situations.

With all my experiences I am now going a different country alone and was told as to why I limit myself in that area, granted that my passport is weak (as of date the Philippines is on no. 73 who can go visa free) and tour nearby countries so I can get stamps and have higher chances of having US or Canadian visa (both of which I am not aiming for). And also the fact that I let myself travel alone and why not have a companion of some sort (either a family or a friend) kind of irks me a bit. Not that they know but I already planned this and paid for everything. And if I asked someone else, I will have to pay for it as well (for the inconveniences), which is something I CANNOT DO. Yes, it may be more practical to travel with someone but as long as that someone PLANNED WITH YOU.

It did put me off a bit because, even if it's out of concern, it's hard for them to explain that I probably am wired differently than most people they know and I preferred doing the activities alone. The more I get older, the more I cannot appreciate crowds and tourists spots have tons of those. And not being selfish but thinking of someone else's welfare in a trip I want to relax is the last thing I want to do. I have already put in my mind that I will be going to places alone for this particular time.

I tried to understand their point but seem to fail to get the logic behind it. Bottomline, the idea of it was not comfortable for me when I have set everything already.