It is not that I seek out to travel solo but solo trips just happen. Like first I thought I was going to Bhutan with my younger nephew but that didn’t happen. In the end the first trip of 2014 was to Kutch, my personal vacation and solo. I will recount conversations that happened because of traveling solo.
1. Somewhere in Kutch
Taxi Driver to me: It is all very nice but Ma’am you should have come with your family …
Me: Yes I know but …
2. At Narayan Sarovar
Man: Are you a journalist?
Me: No I am not.
Man: With that camera I thought you were!
3. A young Air-force boy in the the same coach of the train while traveling from Ahmebdabad to Bhuj
Boy: Ma’am where are you from?
Me: Gurgaon
Boy: Well you must be working there cause I can recognize a Haryanvi when I see one.
Me: laughs
4. Taxi Driver to me at after coming back from the BSF Check Post
The officer was asking if you are a foreigner! I told him she is traveling alone but she is from Delhi and speaks Hindi.
5. At Great Rann of Kutch
Woman: Are you a scientist?
Me: No
Woman: Well you are sitting on the ground and clicking pictures so I thought you must be conducting research.
So much so for trying for another angle for a photograph!
6. Me taking pictures at the Great Rann of Kutch
A stranger: Ma’am which country you are from?
Me: मैं भारत से हूँ और हिन्दी में बोलते हैं. (I am from India and I speak in Hindi).
7. Again at the great Rann of Kutch two boys come to me and ask
Boys: Can we take your camera and pose with it?
Me: Yes and if you wish you can take pictures with it.
Boys: No ma’am we are happy posing.
8. Again At Great Rann of Kutch
Girl: Are you a professional photographer?
Me: No I like clicking pictures but I am not a professional.
Girl: Points to the tripod and says- well with all this I thought you must be but you say you are not!
9. At the White Rann Camp Tents, Gorevali Village at Breakfast I got chatting with another woman
Me: Sometimes it is good to travel solo
Woman: Yes you will enjoy particularly if you are a loner!
Me: Scratching my head and thinking if I am a loner, I guess I am a bit of.
10. And for a change me to a boy at Great Rann of Kutch, he was the quietest boy around, was on cell phone for a while before, I guess with his girlftriend.
Me: Will you click a picture for mine.
Boy: Sure.
I give him my cell phone and stand.
Boy: आप बहुत tension में लग रहे हो (you look so tense)
I burst out laughing!
People were a bit curious about me traveling solo but it was mostly fun. I never once was hassled.
Nice conversations ! Incredible pics.You look gorgeous in red surrounded by white wilderness !
Thank you.
Are you visiting/have visited the Rann Utsav which is on now ?
No Rama the tents cost 15K per night out there. Way out of my budget.
Enjoyed this post greatly! Love all the photographs! You look so beautiful!
Thank you Sindhu 😀
Haah, I heard people saying, “She is from TV (TV ma thi laage chhe)” near Rann. 😀 They make you feel pretty important, isn’t it?
Aah, no not yet Hiral 😀
You seem to have garnered some interesting attention during your stay in kutch, Mridula… 🙂
But no serious hassle Anu which was a big blessing.
I liked the scientist part!
That was a new one too Shrinidhi!
Interesting narrative. Though your pictures are also equally good, i loved the way in which you made this post, mainly with conversations. great idea !
Thank you.
Tantalising and beautiful great Rann. Wish I could go there someday.
Do go Abhijit you will like it.
Hi Mridula, just wanted to let you know that I think you are swell! It is my dream to travel solo and I would love for you to give me some tips and guidance 🙂
I think the fact that you travel solo on a regular basis is totally awesome and inspiring! Great post 🙂
Gauri I do not travel solo that often, and it is easier on sponsored trips that happen due to my blog. My first trip would be to go to a region that is women friendly even if it is outside India.
Nice post 🙂 I would love to travel solo and will probably try it this year. I was wondering, how many types of questions one have to answer. And one more, I was surprised to read questions like foreigner and scientist· You are looking beautiful and amazing background 🙂
Thank you Deepa. As not too many Indian women travel solo the ones who do get all the questions! 😀
interesting conversations….. 🙂
http://www.myunfinishedlife.com
Thank you Sushmita.
It is fun answering all those curious and quirky questions to some stranger on the road. I love it 🙂
Niranjan, but I also long for a day when traveling solo would become much more common!
आपकी कच्छ के लोगों से ये हल्की फुल्की गपशप पसंद आई। मुझे कभी अकेले घूमना पसंद नहीं रहा क्यूँकि अपने जैसा कोई मुसाफ़िर साथ हो तो घूमने का मज़ा कम से कम मेरे लिए चौगुना हो जाता है।
Manish for me alone, with company, with my daughter, as family everything is fun!
Seeing your picture makes me realized oh this is the place where so many movies were shot, refugee is one of them. Great.
And yes, conversations are no doubt great.
I think some of the recent movies have been shot here too like Raamleela. It is quite scenic in a stark way!
Hi Mridula, How safe is it for a solo women traveller to stay in the tent city of dhordo?
I stayed outside the tent city in private accommodation and even that was safe. Tent city is safe.