Impromptu Long-term Travel: A Crash Course in ‘Winging It’

Last Updated on November 21, 2023 by Christine Kaaloa

IMG 43111Train from Bangkok to Hat Yai border crossing (into Malaysia):.
Uncomfortable Spaces of Impromptu Long-Term Solo Travel

Bangkok Update (Love letter 14)

It’s been a while since we caught up, and boy, do I have a story to share. Before I left Korea, I had this grand plan – three months in India, job searching for summer teaching work back in Korea. Sounds simple, right? Well, life doesn’t always play by the rules we set, especially when your journey is impromptu long-term travel.

Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post. I used World Nomads, but this is a trip insurance finder to match your budget!  Check out my solo travel gear and trip resource page.

How I Got into Impromptu Long-Term Travel

The Trip Plan That Didn’t Pan Out

So there I was, in the vibrant chaos of India, fueled by the excitement of potential job opportunities waiting for me back in Korea. But here’s the hitch – I never planned for the ‘what if’ scenario where those opportunities didn’t materialize. By the end of my long Indian summer, I still did not have a job opportunity to return to. Real life doesn’t always follow the scripts we write for ourselves.

Standing at the crossroads of having just arrived into Bangkok, a trigger moment came for my answer: I had no plans. I could return home to Hawaii or pioneer onward into the unknown. I made a choice and the journey into impromptu, long-term solo travel began.

Tired of traveling alone? Travel with me on a GRRRLTRAVELER Adventure trip
long-term travel decisions
long-term travel decisions?

Embracing Impromptu Long-term Travel: A Crash Course in ‘Winging It’

For someone accustomed to meticulous planning and structured vacations, the world of impromptu long-term travel brought thrills and, yes, a tinge of suppressed terror. No planned bucket list routes for an around the world trip and no budget for a long trip beforehand.

It was just me, my backpack, and a leap of faith into the unknown. I was winging it!

Check out my packing list for 7 months of travel

I always thought that vagabonding was for the truly adventurous and free-spirited. It wasn’t for travelers like me, armed with a Master’s degree and a career in television.

Take an around the world trip? Sure, I had considered it.

But an off-the-cuff hopscotch game with countries on limited funds, until I find a job ? Not yet, not now.

Read how to budget for long term travel

view from wat chalong, wat chalong phuket, famous temples phuket, Phuket Travel Guide, things to do in phuket, things to
Phuket Travel guide: Traveling Phuket

Life’s Unexpected Cheerleading

Sometimes, life throws you a curveball, a chance to venture into the unknown. It felt like life was cheerleading me on for a game I didn’t quite figure out yet.

But this impromptu adventure promised a crash course in resilience, adaptability, embracing uncertainties and discovering the unexpected joys of a journey without a roadmap. It felt terrifyingly fun.

So here I am, navigating the unpredictable path of impromptu long-term solo travel. My story unfolds with every step, and while I didn’t plan for this, sometimes life’s unexpected cheerleading guides you toward a narrative you never knew you needed. Maybe I need to find courage or self reliance in the unplanned, and discovering the beauty of a journey that writes its own script.

After all, the best stories are the ones we never saw coming..

Nervously seeking but (hopefully) finding,

GRRRL

   My Travel Survival Cheat Sheet

 

download checklist 25 travel tips for solo travelers

Download my 25 Solo Travel Mistakes to AVOID Checklist

And Get my Travel Survival Blog Updates

Related Posts

Long Term Solo Travel Tips, Love Letters, SMART SOLO FEMALE TRAVEL, Trip Planning