Travel Won’t Save You
I used to think I could outrun my problems. That if I just kept moving—new countries, new people, new versions of myself—then eventually, I’d stumble upon the person I was supposed to be. But here’s the thing about running: the only thing that you never really get better at is avoiding yourself. No matter how far I went, my reflection followed. It sat next to me on overnight buses, stared at me in hostel mirrors, crept into my thoughts when the noise died down. If you’re here looking for a way to escape, you won’t find it. But if you’re looking for a way to make peace with the fact that some things can’t be outrun, you’re in the right place.
After having spent almost four months in Southeast Asia, my Vietnamese visa was about to expire, and the recommended way to take care of this issue was to fly to Bangkok, renew the visa, and once it had been renewed, fly back to Vietnam. Easy as that. After flying into Bangkok, I realized that my visa wasn’t getting approved as fast as I’d hoped it would, and my bank account was running dangerously low. Long story short, I slept on a very uncomfortable bench in Bangkok Airport. You’d think that my problems ended there. Remember when I said my bank account was running dangerously low? Well, getting back to Vietnam required some funds I didn’t have. I spent a good hour trying to come up with a solution, and after panicking for a while, I realized that the only thing I could do was to call my dad to ask for help, someone I hadn’t spoken to for a couple of years at best. After a long and somewhat awkward phone call, I was rescued by my dad, and I was able to continue my trip a little longer.
I think we all have a certain idea of what it means to be a nomad, to travel long-term. Exploring, seeing the world, meeting amazing people, and simply being the best versions of ourselves. Those aspects of travel are all true, but what we often overlook are the reality checks we might be hit with along the way.
It’s easy for any of us to fall into a state of negativity. Fair enough, you’re in a foreign country, alone, and things might’ve gone horribly wrong. I think you’ve earned the right to complain, no? Nobody will blame you for feeling down. But, it’s important to remember that just because something went wrong now, it doesn’t mean it’ll only go wrong from now on.
The truth is, shit happens all the time. You might miss a flight, get Bali Belly, break up with your partner in the middle of your epic trip, or just break down in complete and utter despair. At the end of the day, it’s not the obstacle that defines us; it’s how we overcome it. As someone who still struggles with overcoming obstacles properly, I can tell you that practice makes perfect.
The little things—a sunset you didn’t think you’d catch, the smile of a stranger, or a familiar voice over the phone—can be lifelines when things get overwhelming. A good cup of coffee, a sunset you didn’t think you’d catch in time, a smile of a stranger, or simply hearing the voices of your parents over the phone when you call them. I know it sounds a bit too easy when you read it like this, but once you get in the habit of taking those moments and using them to recharge yourself, you’ll notice that the obstacles seem far less intimidating.
It’s okay to spend some days doing absolutely nothing. I know that this might seem a bit like a waste of your trip, but trust me when I say that I wish I did it more often. I can’t tell you how many times I was worried I wasn’t doing enough to make my trip worth it, so I would fill every single moment of my day with something. However, this made me feel overwhelmed, and most importantly, I wasn’t feeling as excited about exploring as I did before. Sights didn’t have the same impact, new food didn’t taste as good, and meeting new people felt like a strain. My point is, it’s okay to be an introvert sometimes. To lie in your hostel bed for a couple of hours and watch Netflix or take a nap. To spend some time doing absolutely nothing.
