Frequently Asked Questions for "Operation Let Go"

I fulfilled my dream of traveling around the world in 2018. After returning home, I was asked the following questions by many (many) people.

Where did you go? How long did you stay in each place?

Thailand (1 month) - Chiang Mai, Pai, Bangkok, Krabi/Ao Nang

Singapore (1 week)

Malaysia (2 weeks) - Kuala Lampur

Indonesia (1 month) - Lombok, Gili Trawagan

India (1.5 month) - Delhi, Jaipur, Ft. Cochin (Kerala), Mumbai, Nashik

United Arab Emirates (UAE)  (1 week) - Dubai, Abu Dhabi

South Africa  (2.5 weeks) - Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth

Ethiopia (7 hours) - Addis Ababa (long layover)

Egypt (5 days) - Cairo, Alexandria, Memphis, Giza

Netherlands  ( 24 hours) - Amsterdam (overnight layover)

The length of time was based on visa restrictions, things to do/see, and whether I wanted to stay longer before moving to the next location.

How long were you gone?

July 2018 to December 2018

Are you back back?

For now...

Did you travel alone?

I was alone most of the time. I'm an introvert, so being alone wasn't a big deal for me.  I made an effort to connect throughout my journey by going to Toastmasters meetings and joining black expat groups in various countries.  I also met people when I took group tours. Talking to other people sometimes helped me figure out where I wanted to go next. My boyfriend came to visit me in 3 cities too. 

Did you run out of money?

No, I did really well with my budget and was still able to do everything I wanted.

Did you have a lot of luggage or did you backpack? How did you know what to take?

I took a backpack and a small carry-on bag. I also used a small day bag for my daily adventures that usually included water, poncho/umbrella, snacks, battery pack, and a sarong. I researched female packing lists on Pinterest to help me get started and made adjustments as needed. My motto when it comes to luggage is, "Don't you carry nothing that might be a load." I need to be able to handle all my luggage by myself, which could include walking up and down steps or running through the airport.  See my packing list here.

What was your favorite place?

I liked them all for different reasons and wouldn't mind revisiting a few places. I can see myself living in Chiang Mai and Johannesburg.

What was your favorite moment?

I had lots of favorites. My most fulfilling moments happened while volunteering in Indonesia and visiting Ubuntu Centre in Port Elizabeth.

Would you do it again? 

Yes!

Why did you travel around the world by yourself? 

I took the journey because I dreamed about it for years. I finally decided that there was no time like the present, and I needed to do it while I could. I did it alone because I wasn't going to wait until other people could save money, retire, get married/divorced, send the kids off to college, etc. It was a solo journey because that worked best for me. 

Were you scared?

Yes. The scariest part was buying a one-way ticket and not knowing where I would end up. Also, the Indian trains were a formidable foe.  In general, my safety plan included the following:

• Buying travel insurance (My personal belief is to always have insurance if it will cost more than $400 for me to get home. I don't leave home without it.)
• Having regular check-in calls, forwarding flights and room info. to my mom, telling my hosts about my plans for the day (someone always knew where to find me)
• State department country registration in case of evacuation
• Trying to blend in as much as possible, which was impossible everywhere, except for South Africa. Sometimes my foreignness was also protection, because everyone noticed me. Drivers stopped and stared when I crossed the street instead of flying through intersections. People were very helpful in many cases because they wanted to be good hosts to an obvious outsider.
• Using my American privilege when needed (hurting Westerners brings bad publicity to an area and can cripple tourism)
• Asking local friends and hosts to translate and/or make travel plans for me when needed
• Sharing Uber ride info., especially at night 
• Being always aware of my surroundings and knowing how to get back "home". I saved offline directions on my phone just in case there was no internet access and I also used local paper maps when available. I ducked into businesses or restrooms to reorient myself privately if I was lost.