HOW TO TRAVEL SOLO

SAY YES
be open to new experiences and sudden alternatives; accept every offer. sailboat rides. random weddings. strange new friends. the best adventures are always spontaneous, and they all begin with one little word.

TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS
you can’t say yes to everything. if there’s an alarm going off your in your head, say no. learn to watch your own back.

TRAVEL LIGHT
clothes are chaep. books are tradeable. and most necessities are unnecessary. go light on ererything but put the glass jobs on your boards.

TALK TO STRANGERS
ask for help. ask for someone to take your picture. ask to join a game. as owl chapman once said: ”give a wave, make a friend, maybe they have a cute sister.”

JOIN OTHER GROUPS
odd-nummbered group works best. share a cab. split a room. buy a round. half the fun of travelling alone is how easy it makes meeting new people. and if you’re over ‘em, move on. that’s easy, too.

HELP OTHERS
focusing on yourself is the best way to feel lonely. focusing on others is the best way to feel fulfilled. karma is everything on the road. everything !

PADLOCKS
use ‘em. buy equipment that secure itself easily and lock it religiously. also: wear a moneybelt. photocopy all your documents and emergency info. and keep your money diversified. (some cash, some traveller’ checks, some credit).

COME HOME
the best way to realize what you have is to take it away. after travelling alone, coming home to friends and family will have a whole new meaning.

surfing magazine / travel issue / august 07 / vol 43