Travelling to places where the traditions and customs that we’re used to don’t apply is refreshing, but if you’re a solo female traveller, some of these experiences can be daunting. For example, in countries with unfamiliar dominant religions, it can be difficult to know exactly how to behave or dress. And in some countries issues of personal space and unwanted male attention can sometimes arise and leave one feeling rather wary. It’s easy to let these things overshadow the rest of your trip, or even your perception of the country at large – sometimes before you’ve even arrived!
It’s all about knowing about what to expect, being cautious, and knowing how to deal with these issues if you need to. Most problems can be avoided with a little bit of common sense. But although things are done slightly differently in other parts of the world, that’s no reason not to immerse yourself in these amazing places, see some incredible sights and learn a little bit more – not only about the country itself and the culture – but perhaps about yourself too.
Do your research on the places you’ll be visiting on your holiday and find out about what to look out for. And if issues of personal space, appropriate attire or unwanted attention arise, you’ll know how to deal with them. One way of avoiding a lot of these sorts of problems is by doing a group tour, allowing you to see the highlights of a country, to learn about it’s customs and traditions, to experience the culture and have a lot of fun while travelling with a group.
Here’s an interesting piece on A Female Traveller’s Guide to Surviving India.
