solo travel

You've got somewhere to go, but no one to go with; solo travel is the nexus of independence and opportunity.

Campsite #7, Rebun Island: A Dr. Seuss Wonderland
Rebun Island was definitely one of the highlights of my trip. I'd rank it as my second favourite place visited in Hokkaido, the only place to beat it being Shiretoko.
By Eli Sooker7 years ago in Wander
Old Things of Fukushima
When I arrived in Japan the summer was turning late again. My Daihatsu Move was still waiting in a parking lot with its bright white finish as though I had never left. The ride from Osaka Airport was smooth. It occurred to me that the last time I had flown into Osaka Airport I had been in middle school and it had been the start of my first glimpse into Japan. I had become aware at that moment in 2011 that some giant wheel in a far off room had clicked left one notch to signal a new beginning when I again found myself landing in the peculiar yet familiar Osaka Airport. For anyone who has never flown into this airport before it is sure to be a surprise as the airport is completely surrounded by the sea. As the plane approaches one may have the exhilarating and perhaps uneasy sensation that the plane will be landing on water as at the last minute a small landing strip appears out of nowhere and in an instant the plane touches down on a solid tarmac. I was able to take a train to the residence where my car had been parked. It was sitting in the same place where I had left it as though it had known that I was coming back. I started up the engine and headed north. I don't think Daniel was in the area. He was the teacher that had opened his residence to me and many other teachers months before. I wanted to thank him and express my gratefulness for his hospitality. Sometimes moments cannot be fulfilled all at one time. With this thought and wonderment I pulled out of the parking lot and prepared for the next leap.
By Sound And The Messenger7 years ago in Wander
How to Travel Alone Without Feeling Lonely
I like to think I've reached a point in my life where I can discern between alone-ness and loneliness, but the lines sometimes blur.
By Theresa Christine7 years ago in Wander
Campsite #6: Wakkanai, Forest Hill Camping in the North
Of all the campsites I went to, this one was probably my favourite. Before leaving Asahikawa, I searched Google Maps for campgrounds in Wakkanai, Hokkaido's northernmost city, and "Wakkanai Forest Park Camping Ground" popped up. Judging by its name and location, it was probably a city park or "kouen" of the kind common in cities and towns in Japan.
By Eli Sooker7 years ago in Wander
Countries
There are multiple places I would like to visit. Ireland I would like to visit here because I have some Irish in me. My birthday is on March 17, so I am a lucky Irish baby. I want to go visit here to go see the old castles, as well as the stone building thing. I have no idea what it is called. Ireland seems so beautiful. I would love to go and take pictures of the scenery. I want to go see the history. I have always been interested in learning about the past. Supposedly they have a storytelling tradition. It seems very interesting to me.
By Jasmin Eddy7 years ago in Wander
Jebi Typhoon Day
It was decided that all schools are canceled due to a “life-threatening typhoon.” However, regardless of whether students are at school, it is expected that teachers be at school, typhoon or shine. This rule also applies for summer, winter, and spring breaks; teachers have to be at school whether they have work to do or not and whether there are students or not. Luckily, on my way to work in the morning, the typhoon was not at full potential. However, there were significantly less workers going to work because the typhoon had already damaged the trains. Thus, I rode a practically empty bus 45 minutes to work. My mentor messaged me on the bus, and she said, “I think it would be best if you took a holiday and leave in the afternoon.” I was confused by this statement because I would prefer not to take a vacation day when I didn’t need to, so I messaged a few returning teachers asking them to interpret/decipher her message for me. Basically, rather than sending me home because the buses would be canceled in the afternoon and because there is nothing for me to do, I needed to take a half vacation day to leave school, hoping to catch the last running bus. I was slightly annoyed by this situation and culture the same way one would be slightly irritated by someone who eats a KitKat bar by biting into the whole thing instead of breaking it off into the smaller bars. Each school is different, but generally, teachers go to school when school gets canceled, they get asked to take a half day vacation day or they get sent home without needing to use vacation days. I would’ve preferred the latter but I wasn’t too bothered because the half day suggestion was for my safety and so I wouldn’t be stranded in the countryside in the middle of a catastrophic typhoon.
By An Tran7 years ago in Wander
Campsite #4, Asahikawa: Michi-no-eki, Camping in a Typhoon, and Why Camping Beats Hostels
If you're wondering why the campsite dates for Asahikawa start a couple days later than my last campsite ended, here's why:
By Eli Sooker7 years ago in Wander
Leaving
The Art of Running Away Do you ever feel it in your bones? The feeling of being able to drift away with the slightest wind. An empty pang deep inside of you, longing for something, longing for anything. Then you get this idea, this idea of 'away.' It is a magical idea that captures you, it holds you steady. Suddenly you feel something real, the feeling of hope, of absolute certainty that this is what you need to do.
By courtney dainard7 years ago in Wander
Campsite #3, Noboribetsu Onsen
Prepare your mind to be blown by the best view from my tent yet (yeah, I know it's only the third entry, shush) in three, two, one!
By Eli Sooker7 years ago in Wander
Lazy Travels? Why Go in the First Place?
One of the big things we have to ask ourselves is what is the purpose of the vacation we're going on? There's no right or wrong answer to that but I find it's sometimes hard to define other than to see and experience new things. Although there are times when it's just nice to relax and get away from everything. I found that I was being lazy when it came to traveling to other countries. These countries often know that tourists are coming, so they make it easy to be lazy.
By Brian Anonymous7 years ago in Wander
Moving Across the Country
I grew up in a small town where everyone knew each other and the most fun one could have was going to the movie theater in the basically abandoned building that we called a mall. I have always wanted to experience new and exciting places, but have never had the chance, so when I found out that my older sister and her husband were moving across the country I couldn't wait to visit. Before I had the opportunity to visit, she called and informed us that they were expecting a bouncing baby boy towards the end new year. Once those words left her mouth and travel through the phone, I instantly knew what I wanted. I not only wanted, but felt like I needed, to move there and provide them with child-care, all while gaining the experiences of a new place.
By Hannah Taylor7 years ago in Wander
Travel – The Only Thing That Made Me Richer
They say that home is the place you want to return to, but I don’t think I will ever be completely at home again. Part of my heart will always be elsewhere. However, this “elsewhere” in my life just serves as a filler-word to describe the eight-hour, 4,000 mile flight separating myself between my hometown Michigan and my host country Germany.
By Travel Enthusiast7 years ago in Wander