"Solo traveling" is a funny phrase. In the past few weeks, I've felt the complete opposite of being by myself and more connected than ever. In fact, it's taken conscious effort and a hellavu lot more work to get alone time -- the default state has been constantly surrounded by others.
Naming only a handful of all the seemingly random ways I've met others on the road:
- asking a French guy to take my photo at a pagoda (turned into a 5 hour stroll and dinner)
- giving away one of my Justin's almond butter packets to an American girl (turned into a sunrise adventure the next morning)
- venting all my fears of riding an e-bike to a Norwegian girl at a scooter shop (turned into an entire day together)
- explaining how my camelback works to a local Burmese fella (turned into a full day of exploring town and meeting his family)
- using a tall Dutch guy as shade protection waiting for a boat (turned into a fortnight of traveling together w/ his crew through 4 cities!)
Just writing these out, I still have a bit of the "holy shit! did that really happen??" feeling. In almost all of these scenarios, it took less than 20 minutes of initial banter that then led to immediately being fully immersed for hours (or weeks!) together. And the convos and experiences from these immersions have been priceless, thought-provoking, and mind expansive. And in some cases, I've felt more alive and awake.
I wish these types of immersions happened more frequently in the states. I believe one of the major driving forces of these immersions while in Burma has been constantly living in the lower tiers of Maslow's hierarchy of needs (survival, safety, love/belonging) vs. living in the higher tiers (esteem, self-actualization) aka former life in NYC. On a pretty consistent basis, I'm thinking about where I'm going to live, where to find clean water, clean food. Wondering what night buses aren't going to make me vomit and if the stray dogs are going to bite me at night. And having gotten sick twice already, wanting some face-to-face sympathy!
And then a really beautiful thing happens when you're tending to those survival, safety and connection needs (and can't easily resolve it yourself): it forces you to interact w others, ask for help and recommendations, trust in the innate goodness and kindness of strangers, seek connection as a powerful source of strength, tear down conditioned constructs of hyper individualism, be aware and vigilant of your surroundings, and get the f out of unconscious living.
Funny how having less of my basic daily needs met makes me feel more connected to humanity and more alive.