ON YOUR OWN TRIP

An aberration certainly, in a coun- try where holidaying is synonymous withthefamily andthelonetraveller is either a hippie or a maverick coloured in various shades of suspicion. “But then the experience is so rejuvenating, so revealing that you become impervi- oustothese labels,”laughsSawhny,40, a businesswoman, who first picked up her backpack and took off on a trip all by herself to a camp in Uttar Pradesh seven years ago, simply because there was no one available at the time to go with her. And now she does it, because more often than not, she can’t think of a better way to holiday.

“It’s nice to be with oneself and not have to worry about anyone else. It sounds cliched but each one of us needs downtime or time out or what- ever we may call it. It’s essential to get away from the stresses in our lives—personal or professional. We cannot run away from them, but can certainly find means to recharge our batteries enough to keep the car rolling, if not speeding,’’ says the lady who has been to Norway, China, Bhutan, Rajasthan and Kerala all by herself over the past few years.

Bhargava is even more forthright about his choice. “I love to delve into the intricacies of art, culture, Indian and Western traditions when I travel.

At that time the last thing I need is a clutter of people around me asking stupid questions that will ruin my mood. Plus it’s great not to be tied down to other peoples’ programmes, schedules and decisions. You can do exactly what you want,’’ says the 41- year director, client servicing, at a Delhi-based PR agency. Bhargava, in fact, believes his four-day holiday to Jaipurtwoyearsago, whenhedroveoff tothe heritagecityinhis carallbyhim- self,was“the mostthrillingexperience of my life.’’

These lonerangersareatribewhose numbersareslowlybutsurelyswelling.

Be it for the sheer convenience of it all or a need to get away from the hustle- bustleofcity lifeorperhapsasearchfor that ever-elusive “me time,” more and morepeopleseemtobesuccumbingto the charms of holidaying alone—at least once in a while—even if it means confrontingraisedeyebrows.

As did Aarti Shah, a 24-year-old in- vestment banking analyst, settled and working in London. Shah, who has ex- plored Manali, Pondicherry, Malaysia and Australia on her own, admits that the first time round it took time for her to convince her parents that she’d be okay. “Even within the communities here, it’s still not the norm for Indian girls to travel alone for long periods of time,’’ she says. However, soon the cautious reaction changed to admira- tion among friends and families.

Much like it has always been for TanyaTully, based in Dubai and work- ing for Emirates Airlines. “I have been to Australia, the US, Hong Kong, Thai- land, Singapore, Goa, Sri Lanka, Canada and a few countries in Europe on my own,’’ Discoveringa newlandonyour ownleavesyou withlittletime tobehomesick company. For, alone need not be lonesome; it could be comfortable, relaxing, exciting beams the 35-year-old who also attrib-utes her peripatetic ways to the fre-quent discounted tickets her job gets her. “Travelling is my passion. I am a successful, single woman living on my own terms and my parents have al-ways supported my decision to do whatever makes me happy, which in-cludes all this travel,’’ adds Tully, who is greatly interested in river rafting and adventure holidays.

Lullu Ramanath, manager with a travel and visa support services agency, has been to just one solo holi-day— a two-week white water rafting on the Zanskar River in 2003—but talks about the experience as one that completely relaxed and recharged her. “I think it’s great to go on organised trips like this, where the place is not just a tourist destination and you end up meeting so many like-minded peo-ple, ’’ says the 42-year-old.

And surprisingly, while security is not really an issue, it’s not always that a single woman holidaying alone can keep the wolves at bay. Reveals Sawhny: “I have been hit on many times. There was this man who wanted to go leopard-spotting with me at night at my camp in UP. Well, there are no leopards in that part of the country. Basically, you have to know how to handle yourself, which most of us do.’’

And while Tully also admits to missing the family once in a while when she’s shopping or wants to share a spectacu-lar sight with someone, most agree that discovering a new land on your own leaves you with little time to be home sick. Especially as making new friends rates right on top of the advantages-of-travelling- alone list. Says Shah: “In Oz, I met so many people doing similar things that it was easy to find a group of people to hang around with. It’s great when you can sit in a cafe‚ and just start chatting with people on the table next to you—something that would rarely happen back home.” However, she adds, “In certain parts of India, travelling alone as a woman, I felt I could have been more comfortable if there were others with me.’’ And yes, there are other tight spots. Like when Sawhny fell right through some marshy ground and straight into a hole in Norway last year while trekking through a forest on her own. “I pulled myself out of the hole with the help of a log, but was totally lost and it was get-ting dark. And that was the exact time when my father chose to call me and ask me how I was doing. I said I was fine, with a group of friends and having ball. That needed some doing—I couldn’t have let him panic and hear about it all my life thereafter. Later, of course, I found my way down and it all worked out fine,’’ she laughs. Add to all these tales the bundles of spectacular photographs that most of these single travellers come loaded back with and any doubts or misgiv-ings people have about travelling sin-gle vanish. It’s envy all the way from here on, feels Tully: “People often ask me—weren’t you scared? The honest answer is no. More excited than any-thing else. Many have often said they wished they could do the same!’’

Little wonder then that Sawhny has already booked herself on another solo spin, this time on a Zanskar trek in August. Bhargava, on the other hand, can’t wait to visit Egypt on his own to unravel the mysteries of the land. As he philosophises: “We are conditioned to always turn to people to ask advice on what to do. I am one of those who are well upto handling their own deci-sions. Basically, as long as you are comfortable with yourself, you are all the company you need.”

Tully sums it all up succinctly (and a trifle poetically) when she says: “I dared to begin my own journey a few years ago and with each journey comes powerful truths that bring changes to my life. Travelling for me is to excavate the real woman buried deep inside me and it reveals exciting new opportunities that will lead me to my destiny and happiness.’’ Need any more reason to pick up that backpack and move on to a journey of self-discovery?