So you have decided to embark on your solo trip and it can be pretty nerve wrecking if this is your first time. Even for seasoned solo travelers, there is no guarantee that they will not meet with challenges along the way.

An issue that is prominent but not talked about often is the loneliness one feels when traveling alone. Oh, you will be surprised how lonely people actually feel at times on their solo trip behind all those glamorous Instagram pictures you see on their feed.

Still, this should not stop you from going after your dream to see the world. Whether you are reading this as a form of preparation before you go for your trip or are currently traveling, here are 8 Ways To Have Fun On A Solo Trip.

#1 A SMILE GOES A LONG WAY

Do not underestimate how much a friendly smile can do for you. Even if you are not familiar or completely clueless about the native language there, strangers are more receptive towards you and tend to help if you look friendly.

It is likely that you would need to reach out for help from the locals along the way so give them your best smile!

#2 BE OPEN TO MEETING NEW PEOPLE

Join activity groups organised by the locals which you can find from social media sites. This is a great way to meet more people who are able to show you the city from a local’s point of view.

Furthermore, you get to find out the best places for food and hidden gems around the neighbourhood not known to tourists.

#3 STAY AT HOSTELS OR GUESTHOUSES

By staying in a hostel, you are able to make friends with other travelers and hosts. You are able to broaden your perspectives by making international friends. Some of them may also be experienced travelers and are able to share valuable information that is helpful for you.

If you happen to meet people whom you can get along well with, it can be plenty of fun even during times when you are in the hostel. Suggest to hold a potluck party or sharing sessions!

#4 GO ON DAY TOURS

It may be better to join group tours if you wish to explore certain areas. Sometimes a tour guide is able to share and answer all your queries better than you can do so when you are alone.

Being stuck in a group with other travelers also meant that you are likely to strike up a conversation with a few of them.

#5 VOLUNTEER

Want to meet like-minded people who share a similar compassion for a cause? Volunteering is the best way to do that. Not only will you get to make more friends, you may even be able to save on accommodation if you stay with the locals.

A volunteering experience in a new country will leave a much deeper impression on you and the memories forged with the locals and fellow volunteers will never be forgotten.

#6 GO TO A PUB

Those who love a good party ought to head down to a bar for a chill night. People that you meet at a bar are most likely to be there for a good time. Enjoy the music and end your night with a beer or a glass of champagne.

#7 PLAN ACTIVITIES THAT YOU CAN DO ALONE

Since you are going to be alone for most of the trip, take into consideration activities such as visiting the museum, going for a movie, explore off beaten tracks and cycling as part of your itinerary.

This is the time to do everything you have always wanted to or have an interest in without having to compromise with others.

#8 EMBRACE ALONE TIME

Learn to feel comfortable being alone because it does your soul wonders. Also, traveling alone teaches you to be independent and not to rely on others too much.

Sometimes, being surrounded by a group of people can drain our energy. Take this chance to recharge and find out more about yourself.

I’ll be honest. When Ladyironchef first asked if I could do this article, I was a little stumped. I thought to myself: Do people need to know that it is really okay to eat alone? But then I recalled the first time I had to have dinner by myself – yeah, I did feel a little (okay, very) self-conscious. I’ve grown quite a bit since then, so let me give you 5 reasons why it is perfectly fine to dine alone.

1. BECAUSE NOBODY IS WATCHING

No, seriously. You tend to think that rocking up to a restaurant alone is social suicide because you’re positive that as soon as you walk in through the door, sensors are going to pick up the fact that you are “1 pax” and immediately sound the siren to alert all the other diners about what a loser you must be to not have dining companions.

I would hereby like to offer you a top secret piece of information that will blow your mind and release you from these debilitating cuffs of discomfort… Ready?

(whispers) Nobody is looking at you.

That’s right. Put yourself in the position of the diner who’s already seated. How many times have you paid attention to who’s walked through the entrance or who’s sitting alone? And say you did notice the single diner, did you have any thoughts about him/her except to glance away at something else, or return to your conversation with your friend? I thought so. (Well, maybe except if said single pax is kind of hot and you and your friend start to gush.)

This was actually the reminder that got me through my initial discomfort of having lunch or dinner by my single self – that seriously, nobody is paying attention to me.

2. BECAUSE DINING ALONE GIVES YOU THE CHANCE TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS SOMETIMES

Communal dining is all the rage now – forget sitting at individual seats, the long table is where everyone’s hanging out. It can, however, make things even more intimidating. Sit next to strangers? Alone? Whuttt? Once, I was having dinner at super hip restaurant Burnt Ends, which only has one long bar table that faces the cooking area, so everyone sits side by side in a row. I had expected company but there was a miscommunication, so I ended up sitting by myself at the right-hand end of the long table. Things were made worse because there was one empty seat between me, and the rest of the diners. It quite literally looked like I was an outcast. I’ll admit – I did feel extremely awkward because of the seating arrangement.

Soon though, a guy filled up the seat and he was also a lone diner. We began to talk and by the end of the night I’d made friends with a Swiss guy who owned an art gallery and guesthouse in Penang, where I was free to stay at if I decide to visit. I learnt a bit about his culture and he learnt a bit about Singapore. Such serendipitous occurrences are quite nice, really. And you might not get the chance if you were absorbed in a conversation with your friend.

3. BECAUSE DINING ALONE GIVES YOU A CHANCE TO BE IN THE MOMENT

In uber fast-paced Singapore, you rarely get the chance to savour a moment for exactly what it is, whether it’s particularly exciting or not. I would like for you to try this the next time you’re eating out alone.

• Don’t use your phone (yes, yes I know it’s hard, but try).
• Look at your food and wonder about how each ingredient got to your plate. Is the fish from Norway? Japan? Is the vegetable from Australia? Malaysia? Thailand? How did it get farmed? Did it come by sea or air? Look at that salad dressing, wonder how the chef thought of making such a combination – did he try 10 versions before he was happy with this?
• Pay attention to the surrounding without making any judgement; just observe. What’s the music like? What kind of buzz is in the cafe – a low hum or boisterous chatting? Is there a big crowd walking in front of the cafe? Where are they going at this hour?

Or, simply let your mind be blank. Our brains are constantly bombarded by information and rest only while we sleep – how nice is it to be able to just daydream, or zone out during the day?

4. BECAUSE DINING ALONE BUILDS CONFIDENCE

I told you at the beginning of this article that I didn’t think eating out alone was scary, forgetting that I did use to think so. The reason is, after doing it several times and realising that truly nobody was paying attention to me, it gave me the confidence to keep doing it.

And here’s the thing, after a while, even if people were talking about me (though seriously, it pretty much doesn’t happen), it doesn’t bother me anymore. There’s also the false assumption that people are saying unkind things about you – what if they were actually talking about how nice your hair was, or that they liked your outfit, or maybe, that you looked like another friend of theirs? We’ve all done that before.

There’s definitely a sense of freedom and confidence in being able to dine alone – everyone should be able to enjoy this.

5. BECAUSE IT’S NOT A SOCIAL CRIME TO DINE ALONE

Society makes us feel like we are constantly competing with people around us. People seem to fear dining alone because it invites judgement that: we must be eating alone because nobody wants to have a meal with us. Now that’s just silly. You do have friends – they’re just busy. Maybe you couldn’t join your colleagues for lunch because you were rushing to meet a deadline. Or, maybe – ooh, shocker – you just want to enjoy some me-time. Eating by yourself does not make you inferior to people who have company.

I think that people who dine alone exude confidence. They’re comfortable in their own skin and don’t find it a necessity to constantly have friends around to feel good. Don’t you think so?

So go out there and enjoy a scrumptious brunch by yourself over a couple of weekends, relax and enjoy the moment for what it is. You’d be surprised – you might even end up preferring to dine this way!

About the writer:
Ruby Tan used to write for Her World, and is now a freelance writer with a dream to travel the world. She believes that the some of best things in life don’t have to be bought. If you want to make a friend, share travel tips and advice, or even to discuss deeply about life, write to her at rubytan.work@gmail.com