Interviews | GRRRL TRAVELER

Long-term solo travel and three mistakes I wish I avoided

Filed under Features Slide, Interviews by Christine Ka'aloa on November 16, 2011 at 1:40 am {27 comments}

Long-term solo travel. I wouldn’t call it easy. Being homeless and living on the road is hard work!

By my sixth month, my travel enthusiasm began fluctuating. I was still thrilled by the unending travel adventure I was living; but also, starting to feel run down from shouldering the constant responsibility of it. Being it was my first attempt at such a feat however, I didn’t expect things to be 100% smooth sailing. I knew I would hit rough spots and battle demons. But had I planned better, I’ve no doubt my ride would’ve been smoother.

Here are three mistakes I wish I avoided…

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Love Letter #14: When life forces you into the uncomfortable spaces of long-term travel

Filed under Interviews, Love Letter Postcards by Christine Ka'aloa on July 19, 2011 at 3:36 pm {9 comments}

Train from Bangkok to Hat Yai border crossing (into Malaysia)

Dear Love,

You may be wondering what’s up with me these days.

Before I left Korea, I had planned 3 months in India…

My plan: to job search for summer work in Korea while in India.
One hitch: I never planned for the ‘what if‘ I never found a job by the end of my Indian summer!

This forced me into a uncomfortable crux of “What do I do next… and for how long?”

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How to travel solo in India: Interview with Chiaki Nakashima

Filed under Features Slide, Inspiration by Christine Ka'aloa on June 26, 2011 at 3:18 am {9 comments}

What does the idea of “a solo woman traveling in India” surface for you?

When I met Chiaki, we were both, waiting for the local bus to our yoga ashram. A Japanese waif of gentle yogic smiles, she challenged my notions about what it is to be a solo female traveler in India. Chiaki didn’t boast the extensive list of a world traveler, nor was she avoiding the challenges of navigating the Indian terrain in the way a native would; she was tackling India solo in calm stride.

How the hell was she doing it? (more…)

India: Solo Fears, Scooters and Goa Dreds

Filed under India, Interviews by Christine Ka'aloa on March 21, 2011 at 3:48 am {9 comments}

Looking at the sea out from Baga Beach, the sea is shining, teasing,… much like the vibe of the locals and beaches in Goa. As a female traveling who’s been nervous about traveling india alone, I feel surprisingly safe here. Waves tickling my feet, a pineapple lassi in hand, I look out at the beach. Even the cows are catching their daily dose of sand and rays.

“Goa is one of the friendliest spots in the India. ”

That’s why, Tara, a native from Kolkata, is back in Goa for a six-month stint of work at one of the many Baga beachside restaurants, Shining Star. I asked (more…)

5 Ways to Trust Yourself as a Traveler (2010 Expat Review)

Filed under Inspiration, Interviews by Christine Ka'aloa on January 6, 2011 at 6:31 am {4 comments}

Living abroad?

Nothing like it.

I’ve made new friends and found a strange new world abroad that I’ve called home for almost a year. Overcoming the various roller-coasting battles of culture shock, food obstacles, a new work environment and an unhelpful colleague, I’ve found my own ways of coping and getting by in Korea and often, without the luxury of Korean translations. It’s surmounted into one exuberant exclamation…

I’ve survived!

The Biggest Lesson I’ve Learn so far: Trust the Unknown

All artists envision their creation, before putting chisel to stone or paintbrush to canvas. Sometimes, the vision is complete; other times, its vague but powerful enough to pull your steps towards your goal. If there’s a lesson I’ve learned from all my travels, living a freelance lifestyle in New York City and moving abroad to Asia, it’s definitely trust! Living in Korea solidified that fact for me and taught me to loosen up… a bit.

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Solo Jeju: Riding a Scooter around Udo Island

Filed under Interviews, Jeju Island by Christine Ka'aloa on November 20, 2010 at 2:41 am {11 comments}

Udo Island is exactly what I thought Jeju should be– a small island swaying with a warm and tranquil vibe, the crisp mixed scent of island farming and seaweed, black rock beaches and gentle livestock grazing alongside small country roads. Best of all, it could be done solo and by scooter! But did I know this beforehand? No.

After a 3 hour bus ride, I arrived at Udo Island via ferry at around 4:10P…the last ferry leaving Udo Island was at 5:30P. Call me foolhardy but if I spend hours on a bus just to get to a location, I’ll be damned if I leave without seeing it! So there I was with a little over an hour to explore the island.

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5 Daredevil things to try if you’re Solo in Vietnam

Filed under Inspiration, Interviews by Christine Ka'aloa on October 24, 2010 at 2:53 am {17 comments}

You don’t have skydive out of a plane in order to be a daredevil. You don’t have to eat strange bugs or worms to be an adventurist. Sometimes, adventure and danger can fit into the simplest things; and if you’re a solo traveler, occasionally it’s the simplest things that can feel the most dangerous!

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Hanoi: Street food, Solo Boredom and Water Puppets

Filed under Hanoi, Interviews by Christine Ka'aloa on September 14, 2010 at 9:44 pm {8 comments}

Last day in Hanoi. While I’m ready to leave Vietnam and the insufferable monsoon heat, I’m not ready to return to Korea. Noooo…

Today I need to move hotels. I emailed various hotels to check on availability, last night. Vietnam being the way it is, none of them returned an answer, so this [More...] morning I went hotel shopping on foot. I stopped by Veronica’s hostel to see if she arrived safely; lo and behold,…

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6 Tips to Riding a Motorbike in Thailand

Filed under Interviews, SOLO TRAVEL by Christine Ka'aloa on August 8, 2010 at 2:32 am {5 comments}

Located on the outskirts of Pai (Thailand) is Suntichon Village, also referred to as the Chinese Village. The village is a small cultural site… Video is of the ferris wheel.