Travelling Solo: Finding Courage and Joy

Introduction

Heard a lot about solo travel? Find it intriguing but struggle to take the first step? Many admire solo travelers, but it can feel overwhelming to venture out alone, especially when coordinating trips with friends and family so often falls through.

Breaking Free from the Wait

Waiting for everyone’s schedules to align can put your travel dreams on pause. For the longest time, this held me back—until my passion for exploring new places finally outweighed my hesitation. One day, I decided to stop waiting and travel on my own.

My First Adventure

My solo journey began with a visit to Disney World in Orlando—an experience that changed everything. There was no looking back. If you’re considering solo travel, here are some tips to help you begin with confidence and enthusiasm.

Tips for Starting Your Solo Travel Journey

1. Start Small and Build Confidence

Taking the first step is the hardest part. Begin with a destination close to home or familiar to you—a place where the language, food, and environment feel comfortable. Starting small reduces anxiety and helps you build the self-assurance to explore further afield.

2. Travel for Yourself

Research activities and experiences that truly excite you. It’s impossible to do everything a destination offers, so prioritize what makes you happiest, regardless of what’s trending online. Choosing activities that spark joy will boost your confidence, making every trip more fulfilling.

3. Create Your Dream Bucket List

Whether inspired by a friend’s adventure or a scene in a movie, jot down those dream destinations. Research the best times to visit and the experiences you want to have. Slowly, start checking these places off your list, letting your own interests guide your travels.

4. Plan Your Budget Thoughtfully

Accommodation, transport, and activities can vary greatly in cost, especially when travelling solo. Decide what you’re willing to splurge on and where you can compromise—maybe trade weekly shopping for travel savings or opt for hostels over hotels if it fits your comfort level.

5. Explore “Solo-ish” Group Travel

If traveling completely alone feels intimidating, consider travel companies like Exodus, Expedia, or G Adventures. These offer solo-friendly group trips where you get the best of both worlds—a group for some activities and free time for personal exploration.

Final Motivation: Believe in Yourself

Believing in yourself is the most important step. Embrace your own company, trust your instincts, and remember that the first journey is the hardest—after that, your world opens up. Muster your courage and start ticking off your bucket list. Yes, you can do this!

When it’s imperfect, it’s life

With perfection comes pride

When it’s imperfect, it’s life

We need to be human first

To conquer the wandering thirst.

Why all relations with rules and restrictions

They bring no love, just destruction

Why is it always required

I think more forced than desired

Why is the goal money and a home

Why not just earn, share and roam

Life is short definitely not easy

When you have a small cup, why not focus on coffee

Love so much to set us free

With so much to explore, so much to see

It is easier said than done

But it’s not a game to score a hundred run

Every human is unique, 

in their thoughts and physique

 it’s about imperfections, there is no perfect match

For a perfect world, this is the only catch

Like a beautiful sea shore, 

Reject less, accept more

The world is yours, there is no fear

Without a doubt or a tear

Spread your wings, and begin to fly

Like an eagle, up in the sky 

Sarbjit Chhina

Chasing Sunsets

If you are a nature lover, I am sure golden hour is your favorite time of the day. Whether it is after a hectic day at work or after you have spent the day traveling and exploring a new location, we all love to spend our evenings unwinding as the sun goes down. 

Being on the coast Vancouver has numerous beaches, mountains and dykes to spend your evenings. Here are my favorite places to watch the sunset in Vancouver. 

Terra Nova

The west dyke in this area has multiple viewpoints to watch the sunset while you are biking, walking or just sitting to relax. There are small parking areas where you can enjoy the view from your car and if you do not find a spot, then there is a bigger parking lot for you to leave your car behind and walk on the dyke trail. The colors in the sky on this location are truly amazing and make it my personal favorite in the Vancouver area. Doesn’t it look surreal?

South Dyke

The South Dyke between No. 2 and No. 3 roads also has multiple places where you can watch the sun go down. It has great views especially in winters. This is a much quieter area if you are like me and like to be away from the hustle. You can drive this whole stretch alongside the dyke as this is a very low traffic area and views are amazing!! 

English Bay and Sunset beach

If you are in the downtown area, this is the best place to spend your evening. The beach, parks and the sea wall have unobstructed views of the water and the mountains. You could also have your dinner at the cactus club cafe which is right on the English Bay beach. It is usually very crowded in summers, so make sure you get a reservation!

Crescent beach

Located in South Surrey, close to the white rock area, this is another quiet and beautiful place to spend your evening. Pack some snacks and head to this beach to have a relaxing time with family or friends or someone special. There are some small restaurants and an ice cream parlor near the beach. The pier is very small and is near the public parking. 

White Rock Pier 

Canada’s longest Pier, how can we leave this place out of our list? The entire Marine drive area is full of restaurants with patios that can give you amazing views of the sunset. You can walk on the pier or on the trail alongside the railway track to watch the sunset or moon rise ! 

And do not miss out on the gelato and the fresh mini donuts here, super yum!!

That was my list of top 5 places to watch sunset near Vancouver. What are your favorites? Let me know in the comments. .

Banff – A mesmerizing experience

Why is the goal money and a home, Why not just earn, share and roam?

— Sarbjit Chhina

“This is what heaven must feel like”, that’s what I thought as my airport shuttle entered the Canmore/Banff area and I looked at the rockies!! It was peaceful as meditation. Whatever you have heard about the beauty of Banff, believe me, it is not overrated!! 

It was a much awaited trip and I had been waiting to go there since I moved to Canada but covid came in the way. 

So when my first post covid summer arrived in Canada, I made sure I planned for Banff with a friend of mine. Here are some snippets of my short but amazing trip! 

We left Thursday night and reached Banff late in the evening. We were so damn hungry and both of us being Indians, when we are “starving”, we need our comfort food. Luckily, most places in Canada have Indian food options and more importantly vegetarian food options. By the time we reached most Indian restaurants were about to close though, so we just called up Indian Curry House, since it was nearest to our hotel and asked for a pickup. The owner was nice enough to invite us over as his last guests for the night and we could not be more excited to have yummy dosas and relaxing drinks for the evening. 

The city was so lively and there were a lot of people walking around post dinner. We went for a walk and experienced the cool breeze with beautiful flowers and lights around us. 

The Lakes

Lake Minnewanka

Lake Minnewanka is about a 25 minutes drive from downtown Banff and we left right after breakfast. It wasn’t too crowded and we loved that ! We took a short walk around the lake. My most favorite moment on this lake was when both my friend and I were lying down to relax, feeling the freezing cold water and just looking at the Rockies, thinking nothing!! Thoughtlessness is an amazing feeling to experience. 

Lake Louise – Lake Louise was our next destination for the day. We took the bus back to downtown and then the scenic route to Lake Louise. I had my eyes wide open and could not speak a word, the moment I saw Lake Louise. Rockies covered in rock flour and flour mixed in water, pictures do not do any justice. You just cannot create the color on canvas or camera. It gave me goose-bumps. Coming from a very small town in India, I never imagined I would see something so beautiful ever! 

And I know it sounds cliche, definitely do the Kayaking, it’s worth the hype (could be a bit less expensive though).

Lake Moraine – Lake Moraine was our last destination for the day. If I had to pick one among the 3 lakes we saw that day, I would pick Lake Moraine, mainly because of its bright blue color. It was eye-wetting, I was so deeply touched by the serenity that it made me feel like I am literally in heaven. 

We just sat there chit chatting for a while, and then took the short hike to the viewpoint. Every step to the top had its own charm, every few feet had a different view. 

The Banff Gondola 

Doesn’t the top of the Sulphur mountain look like the top of the world? Decide for yourself 

The Banff gondola takes you to the top of the Sulphur mountain. You can enjoy the view around the small museum, gift shop and take the boardwalk. My favorite is definitely the boardwalk.

If you want to just sit back, relax or have a deep conversation with someone while enjoying a 360 degree view of Banff, this is the place for you. Honestly, I could not smell the Sulphur so much as everyone says but I could see patches of it on the mountain. 

The Cave and Basin 

The cave and basin was our last attraction for the trip. It is another amazing natural wonder. It tells you that Banff not only holds natural beauty in the Rockies and lakes but also hidden in this beautiful cave. This historic site of natural mineral springs is the site around which the Banff National park was established. 

It was a short trip and we enjoyed every moment of it, it felt fulfilled, it felt complete. So much so that, it finally pushed me to start writing a blog, something that I always wanted to do.

I can’t wait to go back there again to see the rest of the places around and to spend more time in the city.