The Austin Blogger Helping Women Travel Solo

After we sat down to talk with influencer and journey blogger Lindsay Mukaddam, she’d simply landed in Croatia. After a bleary flight and a strong nap, Mukaddam labored to put in a Zoom replace on her Airbnb’s spotty Wi-Fi. Between the loading and buffering, we mentioned rescheduling, however Mukaddam was becoming a member of buddies on a weeklong boat journey up the shoreline, and the open sea promised even worse obtain pace. By divine windfall (or a well-placed kick to the router), the clouds parted, and Mukaddam appeared on display screen, grainy but seen ultimately.

Such is life for the world traveler. For half a decade, Lindsay Mukaddam has been sharing her adventures beneath the multiplatform deal with One Girl Wandering, amassing almost 200,000 followers alongside the way in which. From her complete journey guides to organized group journeys together with her followers, Mukaddam hopes to convey a core message: you don’t have to attend on others to see the world. Right here, she shares a few of her most essential classes.

You began this enterprise to forestall stagnation in your life. What was the method of changing into One Woman Wandering like?

I positively didn’t got down to have this become a enterprise. I had began touring, however my Instagram on the time was only a private account. I had some family and friends who have been like, “It’s best to begin a weblog.” After all, none of them have their very own weblog. They don’t understand how arduous it’s. I used to be like, “Yeah, certain, I’ll do this.” And so I began a weblog and began sharing by that and thru social media, and it simply type of took off from there. Attracting a neighborhood got here with alternatives [to work] with manufacturers, different firms, and tourism boards. And from there, fortunately, I’ve been in a position to make slightly enterprise out of it. In order that’s what I do now full time.

You assemble journey guides, share ideas, and advise ladies on one of the simplest ways to journey. Why is it essential so that you can assist others see the world?

Numerous ladies maintain themselves again from touring. They’re ready on buddies or on vital others. Solo journey is one thing that’s been taboo for girls. So, I wished to show a few issues. One, you are able to do it—you don’t want to attend for anyone, and also you shouldn’t watch for anyone, as a result of life is just too quick.  You by no means know what’s going to occur in life, and it’s best to be capable to get on the market and discover and never be ready on different folks to be checking their calendars. Two, I’m married, and lots of ladies suppose that after you get married, that’s it. You’re along with your husband 24/7, and also you guys should do every little thing collectively. A giant a part of my mission is to let ladies know that it’s best to attempt solo journey even in the event you’re married. I nonetheless journey with my buddies, with my husband, and go on group journeys. I simply need ladies to know that that is an choice for them, and for them to be daring sufficient to take it.

What are your greatest ideas for girls who’re overwhelmed by the prospect of planning a solo journey?

You don’t have to take a big worldwide first journey; you can begin off sluggish. You possibly can take your self out to dinner. Take your self to the films. Go to the museum by your self. You possibly can work up by your consolation stage by doing small issues, like taking a visit to the following city over or doing a weekend journey. You don’t want to leap fully off the cliff of your consolation zone.

You don’t depend the variety of nations you’ve visited. Why is that?

One of many causes I don’t depend is as a result of, what determines visiting a rustic? Is it staying there in a single day, or is it visiting for just a few hours? I’m a giant lover of going again to locations, so I’ll do return visits. I believe I’ve been to Paris 4 occasions now. I’ve been with my husband, with buddies, and on my own, and every time was a distinct expertise. I’ve been to Japan 3 times. I’ll be going once more subsequent 12 months, and I’ve bought a bunch journey going to Japan quickly. I’m positively an individual who’s in assist of slower journey and return journey. I attempt to not rush by locations. I really feel that lots of occasions, particularly for us in America, we now have such restricted trip time that if you do lastly get [to travel], I see individuals who give you these wild itineraries of attempting to hit 5 nations in per week and also you’re similar to, “Decelerate and actually take pleasure in the place you’re.”

In all of your solo adventures, have there been any standout, “That is it” moments?

I’d get emotional. It was towards the tip of my first solo journey that I used to be sitting atop a mountain in Switzerland. I used to be staying at a lodge with a funicular to the highest, however at a sure time the funicular stopped operating, so [hotel guests] have been the one ones on the mountain. I made a decision to stand up at dawn, and I bear in mind sitting on high of this mountain pondering, “This reminiscence goes to be all mine.” It’s one thing that I’ll get to treasure, like slightly gem that I get to carry on to.

Is that one of the crucial fulfilling components of journey, attending to see these wonders firsthand?

That’s positively a part of it. One other a part of it’s simply seeing how completely different folks reside their lives. You suppose a lot about how you reside your life and what’s regular for you, after which if you get to go see different folks, it actually shifts your perspective. You study various things, and typically you study that there are higher methods of doing issues. And I believe that has helped me quite a bit after I return from journey—fascinated by how I’m dwelling, how I can enhance that, and the way I can carry into my life what I’ve discovered from assembly different folks.