I am writing this post to demystify the danger of traveling solo as a female and to highlight the importance of intuition. My wish is to encourage young people, especially young women, to follow their inner voice and spread their wings to discover new worlds!
I have never experienced anything “bad” while traveling or living in India. In fact, most of the situations I encountered and the people I met were very supportive, and I am truly grateful for that. I am not saying there were no challenges or struggles, but what I observed is that Indian and Nepali cultures are very much help-oriented, and it is very important for them to assist someone in need.
For example, I once got lost in Kathmandu—I took the wrong bus and ended up on the opposite side of the city. As soon as I got off, someone immediately appeared to offer a helping hand, and then another—a boy on a cute blue motorbike—said he could drop me off at the right location. I was a little cautious, analyzed the situation, and felt that his intentions were good, so I agreed and hopped on his bike. It was a lovely experience, and I thanked him by giving him some money.
In fact, my intuition became sharper while I was there—it was impossible not to listen to it. I simply didn’t entertain situations that felt “off,” often showing that through my expression. I had to trust myself. And this trust allowed me to travel without fear, staying open to new adventures while remaining sober and aware.
There is something about this topic that honestly pisses me off. I believe I am not alone in feeling this way, so I would like to explore these emotions and understand where they come from.
Being a solo female traveler, there is always an unspoken fear and sense of danger surrounding the topic—fear of being sexually assaulted, raped, manipulated, kidnapped, and so on… let’s face that.
There was one situation I vividly remember. It was at the beginning of my stay in Dharamsala. I was told a story about a truly horrific case, which activated a lot of fear in me. And at that time actually, I was still amazed that I feel much safer in India than in Europe. I was angry that this story was told by another woman because I believe that as women, we should empower each other on the path to actualizing wisdom within and base our fearlessness on that. Instead, I was left only with fear. But I also believe this didn’t happen without reason— so, I sat with it for quite a while.
It was a direct confrontation with the status of women in the world—the belief that we are weak, voiceless, powerless, possessed by a man or a family. This is what pisses me off. Because it is simply not true! I feel deeply for my sisters who are in such complicated situations, unable to raise their voices, dream, or even receive a proper education. Still, in this day and age. But I believe change is ahead.
I wish for them to encounter magical circumstances, to meet the right person on their way to the veggie shop or school or wherever—someone who will give them hope, a possibility to heal, to come back to themselves, and to find joy in being a woman in this crazy world.
These limiting beliefs still shatter our collective memory. And whether you like it or not, you will still hear: “Be careful, there are freaks out there.” I can’t even count how many times I have heard that.
But is society educating men enough?
Are we developing a true sense of healthy equality?
Are we fostering mutual respect and fairness so that each gender has the same opportunities?
Are we learning about the feminine qualities in men and the masculine qualities in women?
Do we even understand each other?
There are so many questions…
Anyway, young people! Sometimes I wonder—what would the world look like if young adults traveled after school instead of going straight to university? What if that became the new normal?
I encourage you—if traveling is something you truly wish for, it is possible, even without money. There are ways to do it.
Fear makes the wolf bigger than he is. That doesn’t mean fear is bad—it is part of the full range of human experience. But what helps is understanding where fear comes from and what it is trying to tell us. We can manage. We can discover who we really are and build our confidence on that foundation.
Our nature is open, truthful, raw—imagine a human heart beating, pumping blood. It’s wild, free, sustaining life and totally kind. We are not society’s concepts! Let’s never forget that.
We can adjust our expression to different situations to maintain safety. It is possible, and our intuition is a very, very important tool—in fact, it is more than that.
Recently, a friend of mine sent me this beautiful quote:
“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.”
— Albert Einstein (sic! One of the greatest minds in history! That says a lot.)
Thank you so much, Pema.
And with this, I would like to end this blog post and wish all of you wind in your sails! Have a safe journey.
Marta Pema Yudrön