Couchsurfing and Hitchhiking

Here is my experience traveling alone as a solo female traveler and some advice I’d like to share.

Naturally, people are quick to call things weird or dumb when they don’t understand or try to understand how it works. But I believe in always being open-minded – that’s the best way to see the world. Living here in San Jose, Ca I don’t actually have any friends within my circle or area that travel the way I do. I definitely do not travel luxuriously. I stay away from tourist areas, never stay at hotels, and I don’t go shopping or bring home much. I’m a 22-year-old girl funding and budgeting my own travels so it boils down to I just don’t have the privilege to travel like “normal” people would but I wouldn’t want it any other way. I’ve gotten to meet some of the craziest, nicest, strangest people via hitchhiking, soon to be couchsurfing and staying at hostels.

Hostels 

1. If you’re going somewhere short-term, try to have an idea of what kind of things you’d like to accomplish (hiking, museums, nightlife, etc.) and for me, close by to public transportation. Especially as a solo traveler with no car, location is key. But the price also factors in a lot and I do gravitate to always picking the cheapest one I can find. 

Hostels are definitely fit more for low maintenance travelers. I never mind where I stay as long as I have a place to rest my head. So if you don’t mind sharing space and living communally then hostels are perfect. 

2. If you have time or decided to plan ahead, read reviews. Hostels have different kinds of environments and you’ll be able to get a sense of the place based on those who have stayed there before. For example, there were many hostels in San Diego. Mine was more laid back since it consists of students but another that was located on Pacific Beach was a party hostel. So read reviews and pick whichever feels best suits you. 

3. It is encouraged you book directly on the hostel’s site so that you are fully supporting them but I admit to not doing this every time. I do use third party sites because it is easier to navigate and to compare with other hostels. Do check the main website anyway to see if they have any upcoming events or if you’re last minute booking, it might be easier to just call the place to check. 

My first time I stayed at a hostel traveling alone was at the Yosemite Bug on my 18th birthday and it was just a solid experience that really opened my eyes to self-realizing I didn’t need much. My first time fostered my love for traveling low maintenance and helped me focus more on enjoying my time rather than depend on superficiality. Hostels have allowed me to hear stories from so many different parts of the world, learning of our cultural differences and meeting like-minded others who are so accepting and kind.   

Hitchhiking 

I have yet to accomplish a long hitchhiking trip but it is a dream of mine to do someday. Being an introvert, I was tentative to start hitchhiking. My thoughts would go to what if I don’t get along with the driver? I’ll be stuck in an awkward situation. I came to conclusion that it would be okay as well when that happens but from my experience so far, that isn’t the case.  

Most people who do decide to stop for you generally have gone through it before or is very open-minded to helping out strangers on the side of the road. With the handful of drivers that have helped me out are those that see the best in people. Hawaii especially was an easy place for me to hitchhike because the culture there is all about community and helping each other out. 

1. It’s safe to say as a hitchhiker, be decent and appreciative. 

2. Do follow your instincts. Upon meeting the driver, you can refuse if it doesn’t feel safe. There was a time where I felt uneasy and so I declined and said where I wanted to be wasn’t in the same direction. 

3. They’re not Uber drivers. Be mindful that they’re doing a favor out of goodness and if it is in the general way of where you want to go, great! 

4. Drivers have told me they love doing what they do because it’s just a great way of connecting to someone. If you could help out with gas during a long drive, that would be nice. But if you don’t have the means to, sharing stories and being a friend goes a long way. 

Doing this have been really eye-opening to me and I would say have made me a braver and more trusting being. Don’t judge until you’ve tried it. The array of people I’ve met ranged from business men to farmers to free spirit grandmas and it’s been a great learning experience for me altogether. 

Couchsurfing 

I’m excited to start couchsurfing. Couchsurfing is exactly what you think it is – sleeping in whatever space (couch, backyard, floor, extra room, etc.) someone agrees to let you stay at. It’s a great help to me being a low budget traveler that loves meeting people. I’ve recently joined the community and my first trip will be next week actually! I will be driving up the coast to explore Oregon. I have no definite plans on how long I’ll stay but it’ll be my longest road trip alone so that’s very exciting. 

1. Build a good profile so that hosts can have an idea on who will be staying with them. Spend time on it and show off your amazing personality and what you have to offer. 

2. Being new, I don’t have references but references are good to have. They are reviews on you and that will help hosts and surfers understand better if you’ll be a good fit. You can meet up with other surfers in the area who can write you a reference or also be a host yourself. 

3. When messaging hosts on their place, definitely read their full profile. Don’t copy/paste an introduction and spam a mass of hosts. They will be able to tell. A lot of them will even have secret messages within their profile that you’ll have to mention in the message or they won’t reply. 

4. If you are not a “verified” member on the couchsurfing app, there is a limited amount of hosts you can message. Being a verified member costs $50 and gives you unlimited messaging. Unfortunately, I do not want to sign up for it and the majority of regular surfers don’t. You’ll have 10 chances to reach out to hosts per week. 

5. Take advantage of your messages. Find hosts that are more active recently, have a higher reply rate, and references. 

I can’t wait to have my first surfing experience next week and will definitely report back on it. It was a struggle actually finding a host to accept me in Portland. I was declined quite a few times but was lucky enough to be accepted during such high traffic time in Oregon. There will be a definitive mass immigration of people coming up to Oregon to see the total solar eclipse next week. 

As a solo female traveler, I am so grateful to have these communities that take me in so kindly and are quick to make me feel welcomed. I highly encourage traveling in a way that lets you connect to locals and depend on the simplicity of the nature of traveling. All I need is my two feet because the world is so giving once you open yourself up. Let me sum it up with a great quote from Harry Potter. 

Help will always be given to those who ask for it. 

California Camping

Do you see the bats? Did you hear the coyote? Wake up, there's a raccoon! 
I'm sure I fell harder in love with my boyfriend after going camping with him. I always smile thinking of how excited he gets to point out wildlife to me because I'm honestly so oblivious when it comes to spotting things and would never catch sight of anything if it weren't for him unless it's like directly placed in front of me. Sharing the same excitement over seeing and hearing wildlife is one of my favorite things we do together. I saw a roadrunner for the first time! Brought back some nostalgia for the Wild E. Coyote cartoons I used to watch all the time as a child.



It was his first time going to Yosemite National Park and my second. My first ever solo trip actually was to Yosemite. For my 18th birthday, I booked a train ticket for myself and stayed at my first ever hostel – The Yosemite Bug. We decided to go last minute so of course, there were no campgrounds available in Yosemite. Campground reservations open months in advance and go away quickly so definitely for a longer trip, you should plan ahead and book early. The closest campsite I could find was in Inyo National Forest. It was a great spot and wasn't too bad – just an hour away from Yosemite.

In the very beginning of our relationship, my boyfriend and I camped all the time. Mainly because I was shy and was avoiding at all costs to meet his family and vice versa so we never stayed at his house or mine. We always pitched a tent somewhere like we were homeless. So it brought back a wave of feelings and made me appreciate where and who we are today more.

I love road trips with my boyfriend. I think it's so romantic being able to blast music together, windows down, singing and spilling junk food, complaining, some whining, with my feet on the dashboard. And he's a champ for being able to stand me during long drives. I'm sure I'm plenty obnoxious but all in good fun. And the best part is we make plenty of stops to enjoy the scenery.

Yosemite was so surreal as always stunning in every direction. The road there is just breathtaking. We hiked the Vernal Falls/Mist Trail and did a loop back using the John Muir trail. And where we parked a tree fell over just 3 cars over on our right! So lucky for us but unfortunate for that one car that caved in from it.

One of my goals is to one day backpack Yosemite and take the backcountry way so to avoid the throngs of tourists and to have a more individual experience. But it was still an incredible time. Nature is just so wondrous and healing. It really brings people together and one thing I believe our society can universally agree on is how beautiful our Earth can be.

Our next weekend camping was at Point Reyes Seashore. We went into the small towns and found some great food, went to an oyster bar, and bought some pesto pasta two days in a row. I didn't realize I had booked a campsite that was a hike to meaning it was a 1.5mi hike to get to our campground. And being that it was later in the day and we were also lazy, we crashed at some other campground.

We visited Point Reyes Lighthouse and then Drake's Beach to see elephant seals but didn't see any here. We saw them at another lookout though. 

I made two short videos on our camping trips that can be found on my instagram. I'm starting to document our trips more this way before my boyfriend leaves for boot camp because it captures my feelings better. This summer love of mine is so sweet and warm; it'll hurt my heart when he goes but I won't think of it until the day comes. So many more memories to have together until then.


Already thinking of our next road trip! Zion National Park or Yellowstone maybe?

Oahu

I think I was 12 (maybe) my first time going to Honolulu and I went with my childhood friend Claudia and her family. My second time was last year with my boyfriend for his 21st birthday and I would say that was my first honest experience in Hawaii. So this was my third time in beautiful Oahu and I couldn't be more excited especially to travel with my boyfriend again.


Despite it being much more crowded than Maui and Kauai, I love Oahu. I think I find the sand the softest here in which someone joked to me before, "because of the mass of people stepping on it." We rented a car and stopped at Rainbow's Drive Inn first thing because it was somewhere I wanted to try last year but didn't get a chance to. And it was so disappointing! I blame Guy Fieri for this since I saw this joint in an episode of DDD. But it did cure my hunger so I can't complain. I think a lot of the plates depend on quantity over quality because I did get a great amount of food but it just tasted so average.


We went to a few beaches, had some shaved ice, and just enjoyed each other's company being here again. So cheesy, right? We had dinner at The Pig and the Lady which is a more upscale Vietnamese restaurant. Of course we had no idea because the last time we were here we tried The Pig and the Lady at the farmer's market. So we walked into this really nice restaurant with typical beachwear and stood out awkwardly but it was funny. We expressed our embarrassment to our servers and they laughed reassuring us it's perfectly okay. It was an amazing meal. We had the duck pho, their signature Asian fusioned wings, oysters, seared ahi tuna, and this awesome combination of wasabi-cucumber fused soft serve. I basically ordered half the menu.


We woke up early to go snorkeling at Hanauma Bay the next day since coming in before 7am, both parking and admission is free. I'll never get tired of snorkeling. We were able to find a giant eel which was amazing since last time we were so excited over a tiny eel. Then we went to Marukame Udon and had the best curry udon. It was a short time we had this time here but always a good one nonetheless.


Until next time, Hawaii! Kona's definitely next; I've never been!

Sea Lions in San Diego

Despite living in California, I've only been to San Diego once before two years back with a group of friends. We took a day trip to enjoy restaurant week and strolled through Balboa Park. So I was eager to revisit this time alone and stayed for two nights.

It was an easy hour flight to San Diego. I took an Uber and arrived around 8pm to my hostel, ITH Zoo Hostel. It is by far the biggest hostel I've stayed at and it's because this specific one was home to a lot of volunteers, students (mainly), and travelers. It reminded me a lot of college dorms and there were probably more than 100 beds. After tiptoeing into my room (a girl was sleeping) I dropped my backpack down and walked to the nearest open dessert place. I had a creme brulee cheesecake and pineapple upside down cake.

The next morning I walked to Balboa Park and failed to realize that museums don't open that early. I think I was there around 7am but I continued to stroll around and came to appreciate the quietness of it. I was here before when there was a lot of traffic and had to dodge a few strollers.




The good thing about this hostel is that everyday there is a tour/event so I went on the tour and it became a really great highlight of this trip. We stopped at La Jolla and the veteran's memorial. I can't explain the joy I felt seeing so many sea lions and seals up close. I've never been so close so it was an incredible experience for me. I had a funny moment when I was trying to get closer to this baby seal but there were also baby birds and a mama seagull nearby. I think she felt threatened so she kept swooping circles around me.






I had lunch with 2 guys, one from Switzerland and another from Rome. We talked a lot about our cultural differences and tipping etiquette was one of them. The guy from Rome asked me if it was mandatory to tip here and the guy from Switzerland was quick to reply, "yes or it's very rude!" He was very adamant on this so he's been leaving tips everywhere including tables at fast food joints. And it's something I never thought about before, how do other countries feel about tips? I know tipping for me in which he is right, feels mandatory. Through bad or good service, it feels like if there's a space for tip then I feel like I must despite how I felt about the service. It's more so out of courtesy because it's ingrained in our culture that our tips make up for most of the workers' salary as well. In other cultures their salaries as servers may be higher to compensate for such things as tips. I believe this was what the guy from Rome was trying to say. In his culture, servers can live off their regular salary.

Back at the hostel, I asked a girl to play pool with me since there was a table. It was my first time! I was awful and kept knocking the cue ball in. She was on her 8ball when someone decided to show me how to properly hold the pool stick and out of some magical pure luck, I managed to win. I was invited out to taco tuesday and we went in a large group of 15 to this very crowded restaurant. After 15 minutes of endlessly waiting in line, I felt bad but decided to skip out and went for ramen instead. Definitely worth it.

I will definitely revisit San Diego someday just to go to the zoo. I wanted to hold off on it so I can experience it with my boyfriend. But this trip was very California so it didn't exactly wow me but it was nice. I did have an amazing dozen oysters to myself though. Ok all of the food here is pretty amazing. I would come back just for the food.

Cabo San Lucas

I originally planned to go to Puerto Vallarta but ended up going to Cabo which was fine because I had a great time. It was short and sweet but for the amount of time I was there, I met an exciting bunch of varying personalities and took advantage of how cheap the food was.

Before going I was slightly nervous because although I took 3 years of Spanish in high school, I think the best I can do is count to 20 and simple words I absorbed from watching Dora the Explorer. Then I realized it was Cabo and from hearing so many stories of it being a tourist trap turned out to be true. Including room, I spent less than $100 my two days there there which was amazing.

Despite loving traveling by myself, I'll admit I have my moments of weakness where I'll miss my boyfriend a lot. Cabo was definitely a place where I felt lonely immediately arriving because most travelers consist of families and couples. Standing in line waiting to pass customs felt quite lonely. And Cabo was so different for me compared to other places because it is constantly hectic. As soon as I went through baggage claim, there was a huge room of various rental car companies. There was just so much noise. Everyone was waving me over and coming to approach me so I was a little bit in shock – imagine a bunch of cameras with flash on going off. It felt just like this.

I decided on taking a shuttle to where I was staying ($17 for the shuttle) and it was a fully packed shuttle. I had a married couple who sat next to me who were very sassy and complained for the first part of the ride on how cramped it was. For the price, I could care less compared to $150 for a private taxi ride. My hostel was the last stop after 7 resorts/hotels. I stayed at Baja Cactus Hostel which was around $12-$14 for the night.

I settled in and quickly set out to eat some tacos. I ate about 9 tacos during my trip. Tacos in Cabo have ruined me. I've never been as satisfied with a taco ever since. It was funny because the first restaurant I went to, the waiter was so impressed on how quickly I could order. He was handing me an English menu when I ordered. I laughed and told him, the only Spanish I know are the names of taco meats (pastor, asada, lengua, carnitas, etc.) I am well versed in the language of taco.

3 tacos, a beer, and flan for dessert...$8. Insanity. I still shake my head to today when I think about it. It's just so incredible to me when 2 mediocre tacos here can be $8 already.








I strolled down to the beach and pier. I went in and out of shops. One thing I really didn't like is the constant hassling. Cabo's economy largely depends on tourism so the lot of workers aim to make money off of tourists. I understand it was the culture of it and just having no shame with trying to make money. I would've just liked it more if I could walk 5 steps without someone trying to sell me something. Almost all of the little shops sold the same kinds of souvenirs anyway but pay attention because prices do vary. I was able to bargain and saved $15 on a backpack!

I tried Mexican coconut which was young coconut with chamoy, lemon and tajin. I would drink the juice first then the server would come to take it back to cut. Of course the waterfront had a ton of tourists so I understand Cabo isn't somewhere I would gain an authentic Mexican experience unless I lived more locally.




Back at the hostel, I made friends with an Australian girl and another girl who worked at the hostel. I'll admit I always remember where the ones with accents are from but others from the U.S. I can't seem to remember which state. We watched Judge Judy together in the common area as I cuddled the hostel's pet dog. Afterwards, I took a walk with the girl from Australia and we became fast friends sharing funny stories. I was really set on having some ice cream and the closest thing I could find for soft-serve was unfortunately Ghirardelli which I have where I live so a little disappointed it wasn't somewhere local. Then we went to buy beer and candy. I got about a dozen of these strawberry tamarind candies and came back the following day to take for the way home.

When we came back, it felt like a sleepover party. Myself and 8 others were all in our beds guys and girls mixed talking and teasing one another. We all talked for about 2 hours before deciding to turn off the lights. I was especially teased for being so gullible and not having been inside of a club. They tricked me into believing there was a designated hostel worker only for turning on and off lights. So I was waiting for a man to come tell us to go to bed which just sounds ridiculous now that I'm writing this.




I woke up early to go to the waterfront to take a water taxi ($20) to see the Arch of Cabo San Lucas. There was some conflict because the waves were a bit too rocky so my person cancelled but then found another boat that was going out so I joined them instead. Unfortunately, the maritime police did send us back to dock. So I took my refund and went for some tacos. Then came back to the hostel to have breakfast with everyone on the rooftop. Filled with laughter and sunburnt shoulders, it was a good time.

Until next time, the best al pastor tacos I've ever had in my life!

Anchorage, Alaska

Another solo travel for my wandering soul and I was so excited especially after meeting two amazing human beings this past year who were from Anchorage. Chris who I met in Maui and Tricia who I met in Seattle – our memories will always be in my heart.

I flew from San Jose, CA to Seattle, WA to Anchorage, AK. It was my first red eye flight and I was arriving in at around 1-2am. The flight was a new experience for me despite flying so often because I didn't realize how long daylight was in Alaska.

I took a taxi (there's no Uber in Alaska) to my hostel, Base Camp Anchorage Hostel. It looks fairly small on the outside but was surprisingly roomy with even a second floor. The owner was kind enough to move me to a different room where no one was staying in so I had a dorm to myself and so I wouldn't need to worry about tiptoeing around either.

I woke up so early (had around 3 hours of sleep) because like I mentioned before, I was completely unaware of how long the day was here during summertime. I've always heard stories of how it's dark all day and some residents would even need to take vitamin pills so I just assumed it would be cold and dark. But it's summer! So I checked in with the front desk since I came in so late and was given a tour. Everyone was so incredibly friendly and I felt so comfortable already. I met two great girls there – one who was a graduate student at Duke and the other who just started working at the hostel and had moved here from Seattle. We bonded over stories, country music, and boys.


We went out to hike together borrowing a car from another worker there who was very proud of this car we were using. It cost him less than $300 and did its job. Well, as it turns out, it wasn't too reliable and broke down on us going up a hill. But that led us to all hitchhiking together and my first time sitting in the back of a truck. It was so exhilarating going up the mountain with the wind tossing my hair everywhere I couldn't stop laughing. I felt so happy.




We parted ways with our kind driver and made our way up the hill like he suggested this was the trail. It was unfortunate because there was no clear trail, some scat (bear or moose) which scared us a bit, and so we all decided it was best if we just went back down. We went out to this great breakfast place and I was able to try reindeer sausage for the first time which was so juicy. It's definitely my favorite breakfast sausage now. I was a little hesitant to try at first only because I forgot reindeer aren't mythical creatures...oops. I was just thinking oh my god, I'm going to eat Rudolph.

After breakfast, we went back to the hostel together and I was ready to explore a bit of Anchorage on my own. I rented a bike from the hostel and the same worker (he's a very nice guy though!) who gave us his broken car...lent me a broken bike. It's funny because there were about 20 bikes to rent from but all were too tall for my 5'1 frame so this was the only bike that fit me perfectly. I found out a little too late as I was going down the hill and realized my brakes weren't doing anything. I remember thinking oh no, should I jump off now or...but luckily there was a neighborhood I turned into. So I walked my bike back up the hill just to not risk anything else and swapped my bike to another one. A bit taller than I'd like but safety first.






I biked for around 13 miles and took in the views. I stopped to snack on my trail mix and took a nap on a patch of grass overlooking the coast. Anchorage is such a small town with so many sparse shops none really open too late. It was very quiet but it was nice. Definitely a very homey feel to it all. Everywhere I went out to eat the staff were all attentive and friendly. I can't wait to come back someday and rent a car so I could actually venture to places such as glaciers and different towns. A roadtrip through Alaska would be amazing and maybe learn how to fish.

Anchorage, you are a wonder to my heart and made me feel so welcomed. There's no doubt I'll be coming back one day to Alaska. And I saw moose! And learned they're not as cute as I thought.

Kauai

I love Hawaii with all my heart. Given any moment if you ask me if I could be anywhere right now, where would I go? It'll always be Hawaii. Any island doesn't matter just please, please let me be over there. So cheers to my next island adventure, the beautiful island of Kauai.

Flying into Kauai was so beautiful. The island at a distance was just breathtaking – so green and lush.


It was definitely a different experience here than in Maui because the island is much smaller. I reserved a bed at Kauai Beach House Hostel. I had a laidback time here as it was very quiet and not crowded. One of my favorite memories is sitting at the picnic table in the kitchen with three other girls all from various cultures. One from Israel, another from France, and last but not least New Zealand. We talked about love and shared our experience. One of the girls read some poems she had written in her travel journal. Another gushed upon her romantic take on love and one had been traveling for the last year on her own. And then there's me who just felt so grateful to have this moment. Midnight came and it was New Zealand's birthday so we sang in different languages and called it a night.




The next day came I woke up early to see the sunrise. I went to rent a bike because that would be my best bet of transportation. I just didn't feel like going around using the bus. The rental shop owner  sparked conversation with me by noticing my Muir Woods cap, which he told me the story of how his dad used to carve a lot of wood and they would travel to San Francisco to sell them as souvenirs at Muir Woods. I biked to my heart's content taking in grand views of the island. I stopped at beaches, finished my book, had some shaved ice, and had a great day pampering myself enjoying the sun. 

A Night in Maui

Maui is so incredibly special to me because it is my first true solo trip out of state. All my life I've been conflicted between my nomadic nature and city girl antics but I was finally acting on something I think defines me and makes me feel most myself. I love traveling. I love the fact that traveling by myself doesn't give me the handicap of keeping to my party but allows me the chance to learn from locals, open myself up more to strangers, and finding direction through real human connection.

Now imagine me. I'm a 5'1 Asian girl with a red purse on her hip here in Maui on her own. I don't know if it's because I felt out of place but I probably looked just as lost. I didn't research Maui at all or planned to do anything. All I knew was I had a bed to rest at night and left the rest to being a new experience.

So my time there starts out with taking the bus to the hostel I was staying at called The Banana Bungalow. I met a bubbly Australian girl on the way who booked a one-way trip to Maui and was staying at the same place so it gave me a bit of relief to know I won't get off at the wrong stop. Being chatty myself, we quickly got in trouble on the bus. And the transportation here is something I've never seen. Because it's a small town, the bus goes through neighborhoods and there's only two bus routes.


After settling in, I asked the front desk for advice. The front desk was so sweet and helpful and she highly encouraged me to hitchhike – something I've always joked about doing but never tried. I was excited but so nervous. I was worried no one would pick me up. I was worried about looking like a fool on the side of the road. I was worried about so many of these silly things I no longer think of.

Let me tell you – it took longer than I thought. I even had some young teenagers walk by the road near me laughing. I did lose a bit of hope but finally a good man rocking a ponytail better than I do stopped for me and luckily the town, Paia, that I wanted to visit was on his way so it all worked out. We made a stop at Costco gasoline and he played tour guide as he drove explaining every rock to store to tree.

During my time, I went to two beaches. 




 I had some fish and chips, drank a smoothie, ate some shaved ice, and strolled my way up and down the little shops the town had to offer. I took the bus back at sunset and met this guy at the bus stop who quickly befriended me and who would also save me later on the bus from the chatty drunk man who kept asking me the same questions. At the bus transfer stop, I met Chris. Chris was from Alaska and it was also his first day in Maui. He had bought a one-way ticket to Maui coming from Kona but was having difficulty finding somewhere to stay the night because of the one-way ticket. Most hostels don't allow guests to stay longer than necessary which is why that rule is enforced. So he went with me back to my hostel to try and it worked out. The difference between us is I wouldn't survive without my phone being alone and his has been out of battery for ages and it was a flip cellphone. I've never met anyone with a flip cellphone in the last few years.

Also, it turned out I was staying at a party hostel as we came back and it was rowdy. He became my closest friend in Maui that night. We played darts, foosball, and laid on the hammock outside. It was my first time for all three of those things! I've never laid on an actual hammock tied to trees under the stars and it was amazing. The next day we checked out of the hostel and hitched a ride with Tom who lives in Austria. Our adventure that morning consists of IHOP which Tom has never had and thought was a local breakfast place so breakfast was very exciting. I had told them both my goal for this trip was originally to catch some sea turtles swimming and we went on a hard search for them to no avail until accidentally stumbling on some when we weren't searching so hard. We had a good time sitting talking and climbing rocks until Chris had to leave. The remainder of us went and had a smoothie until it was my time to go.




My first trip traveling alone was an incredible experience for me. I met so many different characters and personalities that were kind, funny, strange, or could have done without...I'm talking about you man who talked about himself for an hour when all we wanted was to pet your dog! But it all came together to teach me how to learn from others, making friends, and becoming just a tiny bit braver.