When people meet me or hear my travel, there are usually 2 responses: ‘are you traveling alone?’ or ‘wow, you’re brave!’. I often heard ‘advices’ from people of the region/ continent recommend ‘it’s not safe to go alone as a female’. I know people mean well yet the truth is that solo travel is easier/ no need as much bravery as perception, fun, and providing more intimate local experiences.
When you travel alone, it’s more flexible for the schedule and easier to find ‘lucky’ last spot. For safety, we need to be careful wherever we are, there is no guarantee in any country or city. Moreover, the best way to experience a culture is through its people. Without a travel partner forces you to ‘speak’ the local language (or get creative in communicating) and interact more with the locals which is fun and makes the trip more memorable. Perhaps even a bonus as female, I had been invited to birthday party, family dinner and ‘body guarded’ by police to a bus stop (requested by a local).