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To you, who still scare of travelling on your own – means you haven’t touch, feel and taste the true pleasure of being free yet ruled, alone yet not lonely and feel scare yet grow up.

The first time i decided (exclude Singapore and Malaysia – i’ve been travelling along to Singapore since i was 15 years old) to travel on a quite long journey on my own when i was 21 years old – my parents challenged me to travel a bit far than usual and must be alone – for a week. They let me choose the destination – yet in my heart i know…only 2 destinations i do have in mind ~ it is between London and Tokyo…

Then…i chose Tokyo, and until now, i never regret my decision – i found many things in Tokyo – not only culture, yet also the language that i don’t speak – its Nihongo or Japanese and encountered things that i would never imagine before – even my idols are Japanese, still Japan has been waiting for me to unearth…

Some friends keep on asking me – why i didn’t choose London? why Tokyo? 

After a while, i could put my head up to tell my friends the reason why. Basically, i’ve been to both cities – but its more like a family and tour group trip – so since i’ll be on my own, i’m thinking to challenge myself a bit further this time. I do speak English well, but not Japanese – my Japanese that time still limited to “konnichiwa” and “o genki desu ka”.

My 1st and 2nd day was awesome – i’m still in my honeymoon period, i was still having fun like there’s no tomorrow! 3rd day…i locked up myself in the hotel room…i started to feel a bit lonely and cried – in that evening i was thinking to go back home on the next day…i packed my things and decided to arrange my flight on the next morning day.

yet…on the next sunrise, by the time i opened the curtain and let the sunshine comes in to my hotel room, suddenly a thought comes inside me – if i going back home today, i know my parents will not let me go alone anymore in the near future – i realised this is my very own mental and independent test on how far i would be able to survive!

So…i unpacked my things again then took a stroll around Ginza to Shibuya to Shinjuku and back to the hotel. the next day i walked around Ueno and Asakusa. Then…my last day in Tokyo finally came…then suddenly i cried…i didn’t want to be back home – i want to stay longer in Japan.

On that very moment, i looked back on the days when i just arrived up to the day before i must be back home – i believed i grew up a lot! my Japanese is not getting better – but i appreciate people more – independent on my own – increased my tolerance towards others and the best thing is learned about Japanese culture and tradition – last one, i did realised that i’m not alone – many people are actually willing to help if we could just ask them nicely. 

Japan and its people with their culture and tradition taught me a loads! This country would always be my favourite destination whenever it is – i haven’t finish with my Tokyo’s explorations – moreover all Japan.

On this year 2015, i’ll go again to Japan in December – to (hopefully) watch the concert that i’ve been longing for 15 years 😀

ps…and now, i’m so addicted in solo travelling – from Singapore, London and Tokyo!
At times when you feel you are alone – you should open yourself to other people – its not only you or myself who do the solo travelling! Many people do the same thing at the same time – ask for help…don’t be shy 🙂 then you would realised that you are actually never alone in this world…

xxx ~ A.Ionapuspa