The perils of solo travel.

Last year I travelled alone from Australia via Los Angeles, and London to Dublin, and with my rental car drove around for three weeks.

I knew that I would have to do the trip alone, and fortunately I did manage to make arrangements to meet up with people (friends and family in Ireland, and in the UK), but most of the time I was on my own.

It was quite daunting - and I had mild panic attacks before I left! In the end, I had to choose - either stay home or be brave and I chose the latter. Quite amazingly it did wonders for my self esteem - by the time I had safely arrived home in Oz, I felt that I could do ANYTHING.

Obviously the first drawback is having no-one to speak with. Sure on the planes I would converse with my travelling "companions" - it is pretty hard to sit squashed next to someone fore 12+ hours at a time without making even small talk. I did meet some lovely people.

Spending hours on end in an airport terminal was another thing. I found Los Angeles Airport terminal unfriendly and confusing. I also found that even going to the ladies room presented some challenges. Thank goodness that they had facilities for the disabled - as I had to struggle everywhere carting my luggage. I even felt uncomfortable about dozing off - and I did have an 8 hour wait! I wondered if some unsavoury soul would help themselves to my luggage, or my bag with my money and other valuables, or my laptop if I dozed off. It is not easy to secure these items while sleeping.

I found not having a "co-navigator" a challenge. Even getting of at a busy airport for the first time in one's life very intimidating. Having to find myself to taxi's, buses, or trains can be difficult - still dragging my bags! It is easy to miss directional signs when you are on your own - having a travelling companion doubles the number of eyes!

Finding my way to my hotel where there was no airconditioning and having to sleep with the window open (the window opened up over a noisy bar area!) - and being afraid to sleep lest some idiot try to climb in the open window. Fortunately no one did - but it didn't make for a restful night!

Going out at night alone in totally unfamiliar territory was very scary. I did manage on some occasions, and my heart pounded in my chest as I warily wandered down dark streets to my accomodation.

Driving around Ireland - alone, without a much needed navigator also presented its fair share of terrifying moments, especially when I seemed to meet a lot of crazy drivers on the roads.

In the end I had few moments that really terrified me - and I'll leave them for another post. I know many folk do travel alone, and many women seem to have overcome their fears to do just that. But you do hear scary stories, and I'd have to think twice about going on a cruise ship alone after recent developments in Australia and the West Indies.

As I said, to have survived it all, gave me an overwhelming feeling of satisfaction.

And I'd even be game enough to do it again.