The Best Countries to Travel Solo.

I like travelling, and I like travelling solo.

Don't get me wrong, it's super nice to travel with other people, but there's also a great amount of enjoyment to be had travelling with yourself as company. I've been to 20 countries so far completely on my own, meaning that almost half my travels have been solo. I've absolutely loved the experience of being alone when travelling, but some places have definitely been better than others for a solo traveller. Here's my list of top picks, which isn't to say anywhere else isn't good, rather to highlight some of the best places that I've been when solo!

N.B. I have only included actual places that I have been with no one for company. Many places I have been when with others would also be great solo destinations, but having not experienced them alone yet, I don't want to put them on this list as this is a collection of tried and tested places!

1. Turkey
Arguably an unexpected pick for first place, I honestly could not rate Turkey higher. I travelled for 3 weeks completely alone in July and August of 2016 throughout Turkey and quite simply, I had the time of my life. Lately Turkey has had a few political problems, which I won't comment on here, but in my personal experince of having actually been in the country, for a tourist, and a female, red-headed one at that, I could not have felt safer in Turkey if I tried. Everywhere I went, everything I saw and did and everyone I met was amazing! There's so much to do and see in Turkey, it is relatively cheap, I never felt like I was in danger, the people were super helpful and friendly, it was really easy to speak and communicate with people despite speaking very minimal Turkish and there were heaps of options for day trips if I felt like doing something with other people. Perhaps not somewhere people typically consider for a solo trip, but defintely one they should! Turkey = AMAZING.

Dancing around like a lunatic outside the Blue Mosque, Istanbul.

2. Poland
I love Poland. I fist visited in 2015 and fell completly in love with the country. I have recently been back and discovered that I am no less in love with Poland. Essentially it is a truly fantastic place. My recommendations for must see places are Poznan, Wroclaw, Krakow and Warsaw. There are a heap of other places too, but these are some that I've visited and have fallen hopelessly in love with. Poland is a super cheap destination, making it great for a solo traveller with no one on hand to split costs with. There's a heap to see and do, getting around is both cheap and easy with mega-cheap trains and public transport options, it is a realtively safe country and it was easy to get around only speaking minimal Polish. 11/10 would recommend.

On top of the Cathedral in Wroclaw, south-west Poland in the summer of 2015.

3. Slovenia
I feel like this is an emerging pattern, but I must say, I absolutely LOVE Slovenia. There are few places that I've been where I've immediately stepped off the plane/train/bus and thought 'oooooo, I could defintely live here', but Slovenia is 100% one of those places. Aside from being quite seriously the prettiest country I have ever seen, Slovenia is super friendly, super safe, super diverse and fairly cheap. They also love bike riding, mountains, lakes and castles, which is always a great set of things to both appreciate, but also have plenty of in your country. Hot tip - Lake Bled is a must see, along with the capital, Ljubljana (pronounced Lub-lee-ahhh-nahh) and Vintgar Gorge.

This is Vintgar Gorge, which I can confirm, looks a hell of a lot like a magical fairyland/Narnia in real life. 

4. Croatia
Croatia has a bit of a reputation as a party place, so why then do I put it on the solo list when partying generally requires friends? In summer 2016 I spent 3 weeks in Croatia and let me tell you, it was a truly fantastic 3 weeks! I visited Zagreb, Zadar, Plitvice Lakes National Park, Kornati Islands, Nin, Trogir, Split, Hvar and Dubrovnik and I did all of that alone and oh boy was it an amazing time. There's so much to see and do, there's a whole heap of day trips on offer if you ever feel like making some fast friends and doing something with other people, there are plenty of hostels where you'll find lots of travellers after a good time and a few drinks, so if you'd like to head out on the town but fear doing that alone, you need not worry! Croatia isn't the cheapest country in the summer, so at times it was pricey not having someone else to offset costs with, but being Eastern Europe, it was still cheaper than many other places. It was also worth every penny I spent there, because everything I did, saw and ate was great!

One of my favourite solo photos I've ever taken - on the rocks in Dubrovnik watching the sunset over the ocean. I was so fulfilled and so happy and this picture always brings a huge smile to my face when I think back on the moment it was taken. 

5. Germany
I've spent a lot of time in Germany, both with others and also alone, and I think it's a great option for all travellers. In my experience when being solo in Germany, I have always found that there is plenty to do, there's lots of other solo travellers, so making new friends is super easy, it is relatively cheap, especially in the East and Berlin, it is very safe, getting around is quick and easy and there's an endless amount of stuff to see and do, so you'll never be bored! My top recommendations for Germany are Berlin, Potsdam, Munich, Bamberg, Nuremburg, Hamburg and some day trips to some smaller, lesser-known towns. Also, visit as many castles as you can. Germany has lots of them and I haven't been to a bad one yet!

This is one of my favourite scenery pictures, captured in January 2017 in Berlin overlooking the Berliner Dom and River Spree. One of my favourite moments from one of my favourite cities and countries. 

6. United Kingdom
As with Germany, I have also spent significant time in the UK. The UK is a fantastic place to be a solo traveller for many of the same reasons as Germany - lots to do, lots of other solo travellers, fairly low cost, easy transport, GREAT ACCENTS, very safe and amazing shopping. My top picks for the UK are London (obviously!), either Cambridge or Oxford, Bath, Edinburgh and Brighton. If you have a car, the Lakes District is also well worth a trip!

Contrary to initial assumptions you may make, this beautiful building is in actual fact, located in Brighton on the British seaside, and yes, it is indeed possible, on occasion, to wear shorts and sleeveless tops in the UK. 

7. Czech Republic
The first time I went to Prague, I was with a bunch of friends, I got exceptionally intoxicated and essentially had a wild night on the town and actually don't remember anything that happened. The second time I went to Prague, I was 100% sober and solo, I remembered everything and I had a wildly amazing time. Whilst having only been to the Czech capital, this country makes the list because Prague is one of the greatest cities in the world (in my opinion). As a solo female, it was cheap, safe, super friendly, has great summer weather, lots of doughnuts (#important) and was cheap. I plan on heading back there as soon as I can so I can czech out some more of the country (see what I did there? Sorry...I couldn't help myself), in particular, Cesky Krumlov and Karlov Vary.

8. Singapore
Singapore has the great honor of being the only place in Asia that I've been whilst solo. If you're interested in seeing Asia and you'll be alone, Singapore is a great place to start. It is a very developed and organised city, so culture shock won't be as dramatic as with some other places. Singapore is exceptionally safe, in actual fact, it's one of the world's safest countries, it is reasonably priced, they have amazing public transport, great food options and also a forest of trees that light up in fancy colours with an accompanying soundtrack of dramatic music. What more could you possibly want in life?

The traditional Peranakan Houses in East Singapore.

9. Ireland
First things first, Ireland is SUPER CUTE. Maybe this sounds like a stereotype, but it's true; everything is green, everyone is friendly and they have FANTASTIC accents. I have been known to engage Irish people in conversation purely for the pleasure of hearing them speak and indulging my love of Irish accents. I have no regrets. So why is Ireland great for solo travellers? Well. It's cheap, there's so many super fun day trips that you can do to meet other people, they have utterly outstanding nature, Irish people love drinking and going to the pub, so if you're wanting to meet some people, especially the locals, that's easy done and also they have great accents, which is reason enough for going there. A must see is Connemara National Park, which is huge and remote (by Irish standards), but can be seen by either renting a car or jumping on one of many day trips or short tours. There's also a great falafel restaurant in downtown Dublin called 'Umi Falafel' which deserves a special mention.

Kylemore Abbey, in the wild remoteness of the Connemara region. 

10. Sweden
I've been to Sweden three times in four years, so I guess you could say that I like the place. I've twice been as a solo traveller and had a great time both times, so it rounds out my top ten best places. Being Scandinavia, things can get a little expensive in Sweden, which isn't great when you're alone as there's no one to share costs with, but Sweden is still well worth considering as a solo destination. I can only speak two words of Swedish, but I've literally never had a problem getting around, there are a heap of museum, castles, galleries, a super cute Old Town in Stockholm and an incredible amount of beautiful lakes, national parks and green spaces to see. There's also this place in Stockholm called 'Herman's' which is a vegan, all-you-can-eat buffet. I would literally go back to Sweden again solely to eat at Herman's again because that place is HEAVEN. I quite seriously ate 4 times the normal adult intake of food when I went and they also had a snicker's cheesecake that I've dreamt about two nights in a row. In all honesty, go for the vegan buffet, stay for the great sights (including all the beautiful looking Swedish people...).

I plan on adding to this list over the next few years as I continue to take on the world as a crazy solo vegan traveller. I'm planning on heading to Asia, North America and Africa next to hopefully make this list a little less Euro-centric, but like I said, this list contains only places I have personally experienced whilst solo and till now, most of my time has been spent travelling in Europe. Let me know any recommendations you might have for good solo destinations because I'm always on the hunt for some more places to see!! 

Frequently Asked Questions. 

Who are you?
Hi. My name is Rebecca, and I'm a commercial lawyer practising in banking and finance law. Outside of professional life, I'm a great lover of good food, fresh herbs, my dog, spending time outdoors and enjoying the company of good friends.

Where do you come from?
I was born in Canberra, Australia's capital city. I spent my childhood in Griffith, in regional New South Wales and my teenage years at boarding school in Canberra. Since leaving school, I've lived in London, United Kingdom, Berlin, Germany and my hometown Canberra. 

Who's in your family?
Aside from my mum and dad, I have one older brother, my dog (Red, who is the actual love of my life and hands down the best dog ever) and a fish (called Fish because #creativity). 

What's better, cats or dogs?
This is a very, very important question. With zero hesitation, dogs. I am 110% a dog person. In actual fact, I'm so obsessed with my dog that I frequently Facetime home simply so I can talk to her, and not my parents. As you might imagine, they appreciate this order of priorities a lot...

Why do you travel so much? 
I love to travel. It's my greatest passion in life and my biggest love aside from my dog. I love seeing the world and honestly cannot imagine anything worse than being stuck in only one place.  

Where have you travelled?
Asia;
Malaysia, Maldives, Singapore, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Macau, Thailand, Cambodia, South Korea, Uzbekistan, Japan

Middle East;
United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Jordan

Europe;
Portugal, Spain, France, Monaco, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Italy, the Vatican, Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Ireland, United Kingdom, Slovakia, Luxembourg

Oceania;
Australia, New Zealand 

South America;
Argentina, Chile, Uruguay

Africa;
Mauritius, Morocco, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia 

All up, 58 countries and counting!!

What's a random fun fact about yourself?
Ich kann Deustch sprechen!! (I can speak German) 

I have no close German family, just some distant heritage from the 1800's, so there's no real reason for me to speak German aside from the fact that I love the German speaking world and apparently like to battle my way through extraordinarily complex grammar...

What's on your travel bucket list?
Lofoten Islands - Norway
Mt. Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar - Tanzania
Bishkek, Osh, Tian Shan Mountains - Kyrgyzstan 
St Petersberg, Moscow, Lake Baikal, Kazan - Russia
Kiev - Ukraine 
Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Schloss Hohenzollern - Germany
Quebec, Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto, Ottowa, Banff - Canada
Seattle, San Francisco, Hawaiian Islands, New York, New Orleans, Yosemite National Park - USA
Jellyfish Lake - Palau (Google it!!)
Zhangjiajie National Park - China
Galapagos Islands, Lake Titicaca - Ecuador 
Cancun, Tulum - Mexico
Muscat - Oman
Gobi Desert - Mongolia
Seychelles
Uganda to see the mountain gorillas 

+ EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD 
(as you can see, I'm quite the fan of some rather random and 'weird' places) 

Where in the world are you off to next?
When I have some annual leave banked up at a very imprecise and undeterminable point in the future, the dream is to go to Kyrgyzstan to hike in the Tian Shan Mountains. I also have lofty ambitions of spending a white Christmas in a cute mountain hut in Colorado, USA (mostly for the snowboarding, though I'll also get round the hot choccies because #balance), hiking some of the multi-day trails in NZ's South Island and I'd quite fancy an overland tour through Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Ultimately though, courtesy of being a real adult with a job and also the whole global pandemic thing, all of this is but a dream. One day! 

What is your spirit animal?
Unequivocally, a wombat. Absolutely the cutest, funniest, most random animal ever. I love them! 

Do you have any special skills?
1. I rarely, if ever, use an actual recipe. I have a bit of a sixth sense when it comes to cooking and just sort of know if that's the right amount of flour, or sugar or whatever else it is that the thing I'm cooking requires.

2. I like to think I'm good a remembering somewhat random and generally useless fun facts about most things, so if you give me a topic - any topic - there's a strong likelihood I can provide you with a tidbit of random information on that topic. 

3. I'm  a geography nerd. If challenged, I think I could name all the countries in the world, every capital city in Europe, all the states of America, flags (if you show me pictures) and other fun geographic stuff. 

4. I also love planes and can tell you with a disturbingly high degree of accuracy all the regular international departures from Sydney International Airport (approximate time of day, airline, aircraft type and destination) (yes I know how nerdy this is but I'll make no apologies). 

Do you actually frequently get asked these questions?
No. Well, in part actually, because sometimes people ask the odd question and I find it hard to answer properly on social media, so I thought I'd make a page of questions here instead. But truthfully, I like answering questions and I am also an ace procrastinator, and I should be doing work right now, but instead consider it much more fun to ask and answer questions... 

If you have any questions, feel free to ask away! As I said, I like answering questions, so I'm happy to tell you more random and semi-useless information about myself, Harry Potter, bike riding or anything else that takes your fancy!

What it’s like to Travel Solo.

First things first, this is my story, these are my thoughts and they are a product of my own personal experiences. No two journeys are the same, and any thoughts that I am sharing here are not absolute. As a consequence, the title of this article is arguably misleading, because I can only share with you what it’s been like for me to travel solo. But nevertheless, I’ve decided to put into words my answer to something I continually find myself being asked, and that is the million dollar question of what it’s actually like to travel solo. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised by this question, after all, right now I’m mid-way through a 3 month solo adventure, and last year I spent a month alone in Europe, so travelling by myself isn’t exactly new, but I always find myself stuck for words after I explain my travels and when people inevitably ask the above question.

See, it’s not particularly easy to just put into a few words what it’s like to travel solo. It’s an extremely complex, varied and utterly extraordinary experience. I could use an infinite amount of words to describe solo travel, but essentially I’ve never found something as rewarding, fulfilling and inexplicably amazing as solo travel, and for that reason I love nothing more than to talk about what solo travel is like in the hope that I might convince someone out there to give it a go themselves. But, from my own experiences and through speaking to people about the topic, I’ve found that unless solo travel is something you’ve personally done, there so many myths, misplaced beliefs and doubts about what it is really like, and because of that, many people get scared away from the idea of heading out into the world alone.

Maybe it’s a little odd to say this, but for me, travelling solo has become extremely normal, and I actually find the thought of travelling with others somewhat strange. That’s not to say that I don’t enjoy going places with people and doing things with others, because I do. Both types of travel are great, and I think that it is very difficult to say that one way is better than the other because they are both incredibly different experiences that each deserved to be equally valued. That said, I am a huge advocate for hitting the road alone and I absolutely believe that solo travel is extraordinarily unappreciated by many young people and is often feared because of assumptions that solo travelers like myself spend our days wallowing in lonely sadness wishing as hard as we can for a friend. I won’t lie by saying that there are not moments of loneliness, because there definitely are, but as an overall experience, I find being solo a truly amazing way to see the world, and, for me, the solo travel experiences that I have had thus far have definitely not been defined by loneliness.

So, here’s a few things that I’ve learnt, experienced and realized whilst solo travelling.

1. Just because you’re alone does not mean you have to be lonely.

I’m here to dispel some myths, so firstly I’m going to absolutely kill this whole belief that solo travellers are lonely. Wrong. So, so wrong. I am not lonely, I rarely get lonely, and loneliness has only been a tiny part of the 4 months I’ve spent travelling solo. Yes, there are moments I do get lonely, and that is an inevitable part of being alone. But in my experience, these moments have always been fleeting. See the thing is, for me, while solo I am a lot more confident to talk to new people and to make new friends than I would be if I had a friend/friends with me. This is totally a thing because when you have people you know already around you, you generally fall into a trap of being content talking to them so you don’t prioritize or often even think about talking to new people. Conversely, when you’re alone, there is no safety net of friends, so if you fancy having some social interaction, you have to speak up. Luckily this is an exceptionally easy thing to do and all you really need is an open mind and the ability to say ‘hello’. After realizing this, I’ve since spent many days with people from all walks of life. My travel friends range from fellow young solo travellers to retired married couples to young families to local residents on their day off and everything in between. If you keep an open mind and a friendly demeanor you’re almost certain to make friends, and I promise that you won’t be lonely!

2. Just because you’re alone does not mean that you’ll be a target to be taken advantage of.

Another big myth is that solo travel is dangerous because people will take advantage of you while there’s no one around to watch your back. I deal with this misplaced belief a lot because I’m a young female and unfortunately that probably does make me more of a target than if I were a 6 foot 5 male champion weightlifter. But, let me just share an arguably surprising fact with you; in the 4 combined months of solo travelling I’ve done, I’ve not ever had a serious personal safety or security issue. That’s not to say bad things can’t happen, because they can, and it’s foolish to think they won’t, but when you’re prepared, aware, and conscious of yourself and any situation that you’re in, risk is generally relatively low. In any situation and at any time, being safe is about making smart decisions, being prepared and not doing careless, risky and stupid things, and just because you’re travelling solo does not mean risk is any greater than it would be if you were with someone else.

3. When you’re alone, the significance of budgeting takes on a whole new meaning.

Ahhhh money. How lovely it would be if it actually grew on trees. But sadly it does not, and this means you have to budget. I’ve found budgeting has been particularly important while I’m solo mostly due to the fact that when you’re travelling with friends and you go to pay for dinner and then realize that you don’t actually have any cash in your wallet or your paycheck hasn’t come through yet, there’s usually someone willing to let you borrow some cash and you can just pay them back later. You can also split meals, accommodation and transport costs when you’re with friends. But when you’re alone, there is no splitting and there is no lending, meaning you really need to be on top of all your costs and cash. Sometimes it’s cheaper when you’re alone because hotel rooms generally charge less for one guest than two, but sadly it’s often a little pricier because you’ll end up paying 100% of transport (like taxi’s) and meals. At the end of the day though, this is all incredibly dependent upon how you travel, because hostel beds would cost the same if you visit alone or with a friend, as will a bus ticket. Essentially being aware of these things and the cost of getting around, sleeping somewhere and doing stuff is particularly important when you’re alone. Also, just a friendly hint - always make sure you can afford to pay for your meal BEFORE you eat it. This also applies to hotel/hostel beds before you sleep in them. It’s rather awkward/impossible to talk your way out of not paying for something after you’ve already used it…

4. You can still go out and party even though you have *no friends*.  

People often assume that because you’re solo you can’t go out or party or have fun. Again, this is a myth. I’ve met many solo travellers who are completely content to head out to a bar for a beer and see who they meet while there, which is totally something you could do and that’s cool. But personally this isn’t my style and if I’m heading out I like to know I’m meeting someone there, and have therefore prearranged that, or someone is going out with me from wherever I’m staying. This has never been a problem, and whenever I’ve wanted to spend an evening out, I’ve simply kept an open mind and said hello to people. Particularly so when staying in hostels, I’ve found that other people staying there have had similar ideas, and we’ve spent the night out together. As a consequence, I’ve had evenings out with all sorts of people, I’ve had all sorts of fun with lots of new friends and I certainly have not spent all my evenings feeling lonely and bored.

5. You can also not go out and party, and instead adopt a nanna life, and no body will ever know unless you tell them so.

I’ll be straight up honest with you all and openly confess my love for Netflix, chocolate and a comfortable bed. My friends are fairly well aware of these loves because they sadly often find themselves behind these three things in the list of priorities in my life after 9pm. Basically I am bit of a nanna. I like being lazy, I like chilling out, I like sleeping, I like going to bed at a reasonable time and I like quiet evenings in. I’m totally going to own my appreciation for all these things, but if you’re too shy to do that, when you’re solo travelling, you can totally have a closeted love for these things. No one needs to know you actually went to bed at 9:45pm last night after eating an entire block of chocolate. Also, no one needs to know that’s actually how you’ve spent 9.8/10 evenings for the past two months unless you want them to, which leads me straight to my next point…

6. GLORIOUS FREEDOM.

YOU CAN QUITE LITERALLY DO ANYTHING YOU WANT AT ANY TIME OF THE DAY AND NO ONE WILL BE THERE TO TELL YOU THEY’D RATHER DO IT A DIFFERENT WAY OR TIME. So many choices, and they’re all yours! Where you want to eat dinner, when you want to eat dinner, do you even want to eat dinner or will 6 servings from the gelato truck on the street count as sufficient, do you want to go to the museum or the beach, do you want to catch the 10am bus or the 2pm bus, do you want to stay in the Old Town or next to the beach – SO MANY CHOICES. And guess what? You get to make every single one of them all on your own. SO. MUCH. FREEDOM. Do what you want when you want and how you want. GO TOTALLY NUTS. THERE ARE NO RULES. Can you tell I am completely obsessed with the freedom of solo travel? It is the best. It is glorious. Travel solo and you’ll understand the beauty yourself.  JUST DO IT.

7. Corny as it may be, you’ll legitimately find yourself.

I always get super shy talking about this point because I feel like it is so cliché and corny and people think I’m being sarcastic but I mean this entirely genuinely; I’ve learnt more about myself, who I want to be, my goals, my dreams, my life and every aspect of my personality in 4 months travelling solo than I have in the other 21 years of my life. It’s kind of inevitable when you spend any length of time with only yourself for company that you’ll do a fair amount of thinking about yourself. Add to that the fact that when you travel you put yourself in unfamiliar and unpredictable situations that require you to adapt, problem solve and carry responsibility you wouldn’t necessarily normally have, and you grow a lot as a person. You’ll also experience new places, people, cultures, religions, traditions, languages and customs, and all of those things will shape you as a person and create new directions and open new doors that your can venture down and through. Who you are as a person is a never-ending story though, so I guess you could argue that you never really ‘find yourself’ because you’re actually constantly evolving. But for me, I’ve definitely found more direction, connectivity and purpose in my life since deciding to travel solo, which has been an incredible help when making any decision or choice in my life.

8. You’ll become best friends with yourself, and that’s totally cool and is actually a really great thing.

Potentially an embarrassing thing to admit to the world, but the more I think about it, the more I realize that I’ve become my own best friend. This dawned on me around a month ago, and since then I’ve decided that this is totally not at all a bad or weird thing, but rather quite the opposite. Initially it was kind of weird and a little unsettling, but after spending so much time with myself, I’m now 100% comfortable in my own company. Again, this is an entirely legitimate point and I am not trying to be corny or sarcastic, but accepting who I am was an incredibly beautiful moment in my life and definitely part of the whole ‘finding myself’ journey. It was incredibly freeing to totally accept myself own mind and a massive part of connecting with myself. Like I said, I was initially embarrassed by this, but the more I think about it, the more I think it’s really a beautiful and freeing thing to totally accept yourself for who you are which is something that wouldn’t have happened to me if I had not made the choice to travel solo.

9. People will think you’re insanely brave.

Moving away from deep and philosophical thoughts, if I could have a Euro for every time someone has called me ‘brave’ after hearing about my travels, I would almost certainly be significantly richer than I currently am. I always get so surprised when people react by labeling me as brave because I’ve truly never thought about my travels or myself that way. I don’t exactly like this label though, because I feel like it automatically assumes what I am doing is dangerous, and my choice to travel solo regardless is therefore some kind of heroic act, which in my opinion, it totally isn’t. I don’t think you need to be brave to travel solo, but if that’s the general opinion, then be brave, cause you’ll actually need significantly less bravery in practice than many people seem to think you’ll need!

10. You’ll have the time of your life so much so that it will be difficult to put the journey down into words.

I’ll continually make the choice throughout my life to travel solo. I am completely addicted to the solo journey and I do not think there are enough words in the English language for me to express how much I love it and how much I encourage others to do the same. Travel is a magical experience in any way, shape or form, and I will always take any opportunity to see new places. But, I’ll always have a particular fondness for solo travel because it’s been such a rewarding, fulfilling and worthwhile experience and I truly would not be the person I am today without the solo adventures that I have had. Every single journey is so individual, and there are an infinite amount of moments, memories, lessons, realizations and experiences that I’ve had whilst solo that I cannot adequately put into words. Quite simply, to travel solo has been the best decision I have ever made, and I cannot recommend solo travel enough.

So, like I said, it’s kind of really hard to answer ‘what’s it really like to travel solo?’ in just a few words, so you get a bit of an essay answer instead. I hope it’s answered a few questions and basically as my parting comment, all I’d like to say is TRAVEL SOLO. You’ll love it!

Coconut, Mint, Matcha and Kiwi Cheezecake.

This little creation was a complete experiment, a product of some insane boredom and an insatiable craving for something mint and lime. I'm quite proud to say that it was a raging success to all three of those things, because even though it was experimental it tastes absolutely delicious and has won over some of my biggest critics yet, it cured the boredom and it absolutely satisfied that mint and lime craving!!!

This dessert is oil free, refined sugar free, raw vegan, dairy and gluten free, and big on taste. I've fed it to quite a few of my friends and so far I haven't had a single negative comment, which is, in my mind, a great testament to its deliciousness!!

I won't keep rambling on, rather I'll just let you have the recipe and then you can see for yourself how GOOD this cheezecake is!!

*N.B. 'cheezecake' with a 'z' refers to the vegan version of the more commonly known cheesecake!

Ingredients;
The Base

1 cup raw almonds
1/4 cup desiccated coconut
12 medjool dates, pitted
(optional - add in 1 tbsp almond butter, though then it won't be raw!)

1. In a blender or food processor, combine the above ingredients until well combined into a sticky mixture with no large chunks. The mixture should hold shape when rolled into a ball between your fingers.
2. Take a lined cake tin (I use a square one, though any will work) and scoop the base mixture out. Evenly spread the mixture out over the whole of the cake tin making sure that the edges and corners are the same thickness as the middle. Press down firmly with your fingers or a spoon and then plce in the freezer while you make the filling.

The Filling - Part 1

1 1/2 cups raw cashews, soaked in water overnight then rinsed and drained
400ml coconut cream
1 tsp vanilla bean paste
1/4 cup maple syrup/agave syrup/rice malt syrup

1. In a (CLEAN) blender, combine the above filling ingredients. Mix on high speed for several minutes or until the mixture is completely smooth and not at all gritty from the nuts (be persistent - it will go smooth eventually).
2. Pour approx. two thirds of the mixture into the cake tin over the base. Be sure to keep the remaining third so that you can make the top layer of the cheezecake!!
3. Evenly spread the vanilla part of the mixture and then place in the freezer for a minimum of 1 hour.
4. Set aside the remaining third of the mixture.

The Filling - Part 2

+ 1 tsp matcha powder
1 large handful fresh mint leaves
Rind and juice of two fresh limes
3 tbsp maple syrup/agave syrup/rice malt syrup (optional)

1. Take the third of the mixture that you set aside and add in the matcha, mint and lime rind and juice. Blend away on high speed for several minutes until the mint leaves are fully blended into the mixture and everything is a delightful froggy green colour.
2. After the base and first layer has been in the freezer for a minimum of 1 hour, carefully remove the tin and pour in the top layer. Return to the freezer overnight to set.

+ 4/5 kiwi fruit for topping

When serving, remove from the freezer and allow to sit for approx. 15-20 minutes. Whilst the cheezecake is slightly thawing, take a sharp knife and cut the skins away from the kiwi fruit. Slice them into disks and then carefully lay them over the top of the cheezecake, pressing down slightly so they stick to the top layer.
Slice up and serve!

*Keep in the freezer and allow to thaw for approx. 15 minutes before eating.

Chocolate and Caramel Chia Pudding Parfait.

This parfait owes it's existence to two other recipes on this site - my Chocolate and Almond Butter Milkshake and my Raw Vegan Caramel Slice. See, one day I was eating a regular chia pudding and I was simultaneously craving some chocolate/caramel creation. I guess you could say that it was a real 'wow' moment in my mind when this heavenly combination came to me. Like guys, we're talking the ultimate breakfast/snack/dessert here. Chocolate, caramel, and chia all in one. What a literal dream.

Ingredients;

(Serves 2)

The Chia Pudding
3 tbsp chia seeds
1 cup plant milk (my preference is for coconut milk)

1. In a bowl, combine both the chia seeds and the plant milk. Mix well and place in the fridge overnight (or for a minimum of 4 hours) to set.
2. When set, take two glasses/jars and spoon the pudding into the bottom. The glasses/jars should be approx. 1/3 full.

The Caramel 
4 medjool dates, pitted
1 tbsp nut butter (peanut butter is my preference)
2/3 cup plant milk (my preference is coconut milk)

1. In a blender, combine the dates, nut butter and plant milk on high speed. Blend for several minutes until the dates are fully blended and the mixture is completely smooth.
2. When blended, add the caramel layer on top of the chia pudding in the glasses/jars.

The Chocolate Smoothie
1/2 cup plant milk (again, I opt for coconut milk)
2 tbsp raw cacao powder
2 tbsp maple syrup
1 frozen banana

1. Blend the plant milk, cacao, maple syrup and banana until completely smooth and fully combined.
2. Pour the smoothie out as the final layer on top of both the caramel and the chia pudding. Serve with a sprinkle of either finely chopped dark chocolate or cacao nibs and voila! Breakfast goals = achieved.

Blueberry and White Chocolate Cheezecake. 

A few months ago I received a lovely, lovely gift from the team at Power Superfoods that contained, among various other things, some cacao butter. I've wanted to experiment with cacao butter for so long, but I've never quite had the chance or always seemed to forget to buy some when I was at the health food shop! But, as always, Power Superfoods were there to make my wildest food dreams come true.

Cacao butter is the edible natural fat of the chocolate bean, cold pressed to retain its nutritional properties and delicious natural aroma and flavour. Generally speaking, it is the core component of all chocolates, and, as I like to think of it, (when melted) liquid gold (coincidently also the colour it goes when you do melt it!).

You're likely freaking out because here I am openly stating that cacao butter is a natal fat and *note sarcasm* obviously all fats are bad and you may die if you eat some. WRONG. In actual fact, naturally occurring saturated fats, i.e. those in cacao butter, are a crucial part of a healthy and wholesome diet as they are needed by the body to keep skin and hair quality good, naturally regulate hormones and aid fertility. Natural saturated fats are entirely irrelevant to cholesterol and weight gain. Additionally, cacao butter is a great source of Vitamin E and has a unique composition of the essential fatty acids Omega-6 and mono-saturated Omega-9. It's so important to recognise that not all fats are bad, fats are an essential part of a healthy diet and that cacao butter is a perfect way to have your chocolate and eat it too!!

*N.B. Cacao butter is available at most good health food stores, or online. It is relatively inexpensive.

Ingredients;

The Base
1 cup raw macadamia nuts
1 cup raw almonds
12 medjool dates, pitted

1. Blend the above ingredients in a blender or food processor until a kind of 'dough' forms - the mixture should be sticky and hold its own when rolled into a ball. If it is too dry, add in some additional medjool dates.
2. Take a lined cake tin (I used a square one) and pour the base into the bottom. Use a spoon and/or your fingers to press the base mixture down really well, especially in the corners.
3. Place in the freezer while you make the first layer of filling.

The White Chocolate Filling
1 cup raw cashew nuts, soaked overnight and then drained
1 400ml can coconut cream
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
2 tsp vanilla bean paste/extract or powder
1/2 cup finely chopped and melted (double boiler style) cacao butter

1. Place the above ingredients into a blender and blend on high speed for several minutes. You need to blend long enough that the mixture is not at all gritty (under blended cashew nuts will make it so). It should be completely smooth. I personally blended for around 6 minutes. (perseverance is key!!!)
2. Remove the tin with the base from the freezer. Pour the white chocolate filling in over the top and return to the freezer for a minimum of 4 hours.

The Blueberry Filling 
1/2 cup raw cashew nuts, soaked overnight and then drained
200ml  coconut cream
3 tbsp pure maple syrup
3/4 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen) + handful extra

1. Place the blueberry layer ingredients into the blender and, as above, mix on high speed for several minutes until the mixture is not gritty and the cashew's are smoothly blended.
2. Remove the tin from the freezer. Take a small handful of frozen blueberries (unblended!) and put them in the tin on top of the white chocolate layer. Pour the blueberry layer over the top, making sure to cover all the whole blueberries (they're like a fun surprise when you cut the cheezecake!).
3. Return to the freezer for a minimum of 4 hours, preferably overnight. To serve, take a sharp knife and slice into bars, or squares (whatever takes your fancy!). Top with some extra blueberries.

*N.B. 'double boiler style' simply means taking a saucepan with a small amount of water, and placing a bowl over the top. Gently bring the water to the boil and, with the cacao butter in the bowl on top, stir until melted!

Spicy Dukkah Falafels.

I've always wanted to make my own falafels, but until now I never have because I thought it would be just too hard. How very wrong I was. 

I'm not sure why I thought things would be hard - there was no good reason for me to think that - but in all seriousness, you literally just require a blender or food processor, some fairly common ingredients (nothing too exotic or 'weird') and a fry pan. SIMPLE. 

I'm yet to travel to the Middle East, although I will be in a few short months (HELLO PERPETUAL FALAFELS!!!!) but thus far the best falafels I have ever eaten were to be found in the Coromandel Peninsula of New Zealand. In actual fact, as random as that location may be, it was those falafels that inspired me to make my own, so this recipe owe's its existence to that humble cafe on the beach. For a flavour punch, I decided to make dukkah falafels, which I think sets these apart from other recipes of a similar style. Arguably not wholly 'traditional', the dukkah takes these to the next level and, I'm most happy to report, tastier than those Coromandel falafels (this is clearly an objective opinion...). 

*N.B. 'dukkah' refers to a Middle Eastern spice and nut blend that is generally available in most supermarkets. As an Aussie, my recommendation is Table of Plenty, which is available in Woolworths and Coles. You can alternatively make your own (its quite simple, you just need a blender) - I'm sure a quick Google will yield some good results! 

Ingredients;

1 425gm can chickpeas, drained and rinsed well

1 cup coriander (or parsley, depending on personal preference)

2 tsp minced garlic

3 spring onions

2 tsp ground cumin

2 tsp paprika

2 tsp dried coriander (optional)

Pinch of salt (optional)

1 45gm packet of Table of Plenty dukkah (I used Spicy nut and spice blend)

3 - 5 tbsp flour (any works – I used wholegrain spelt)

Sesame seeds

Sesame seed oil 

Method;

1. After rinsing the chickpeas really well, place them in the food processor (blender will also work, though may require a little more persistence in scraping down the sides).

2. Roughly chop the coriander and shallots, and then add to food processor along with the garlic, cumin, paprika and dukkah. Process for a few minutes, or until everything is mixed well and there are no chunks of chickpea.

3. Add the flour 1 tbsp at a time and mix until the mixture is no longer wet and will hold its shape when rolled into a ball (and also won’t stick to your fingers!).

4. Place the mixture in a covered bowl in the fridge for 1 – 2 hours to firm up. Once chilled, roll the mixture into balls that are about the size of a tablespoon. When rolled, lightly press the balls into the sesame seeds on each side (optional, though looks and tastes great when serving). At this stage, lightly press the balls down to form more of a disk shape, rather than a ball.

5. In a large fry pan over medium heat, add a small amount of sesame seed oil. Cook each falafel for a few minutes on each side being careful not to burn. They should turn a golden brown colour and be completely warm the whole way through.

6. Serve in some iceberg lettuce cups with some finely diced tomato, red onion and coriander. Top with tahini and mashed avocado.

Soba Noodle Stir-Fry with Tamari Tofu and Veggies.

I'm slightly obsessed with stir-frys and noodles and tamari tofu and vegetables. I particularly like to combine all of these loves into one singular dish, which is basically what happened.

I also have instigated a new weekly goal. So, basically every Monday before I get out of bed, I set a goal for the week, or an intention. This week I decided to EAT MORE GREENS.

As a vegan, I eat relatively healthy as it is. I do a moderate amount of exercise, so I eat quite a lot of food and I'm mindful of the fact that whole grains, fresh fruit and veg and unrefined sugars need to form the majority of what I eat. That's not to say I don't indulge, and in actual fact you'll find me indulging almost on a daily basis, but in general the vast majority of what I eat is wholegrain carbs, like rice and pasta and fresh fruit and veggies. So, kind of by default, I guess I already eat plenty of greens as far as the standard person's food intake is concerned. But, there is always room for improvement, and that was my goal this week - to improve by eating more greens than I usually would.

Things have gone relatively well. though a goal such as this is something I feel I will continually work on. Nevertheless, I had some lunchtime cravings one day for noodles and tofu - i.e. not green vegetables. But, instead of just giving up on my goal, I decided to incorporate it into what I felt like eating, which is how this dish came to be.

This is a seriously good meal if I don't say so myself. Full of beautiful Asian-inspired flavours, fresh vegetables and the heavenly delight that is soba noodles, I'm fairly certain I've found a new dinner time staple!!

Ingredients;

The Tofu
125gm tofu
4 tbsp tamari (or reduced salt soy sauce - but use tamari if you're gluten intolerant)
Approx. 4 tbsp cornflower
2 tbsp sesame oil

1. Remove the tofu from the packaging. Use a sharp knife to slice the tofu into pieces approx. 0.5cm thick and 2cm wide - at least 6 pieces. Take a plate and lay some absorbent paper towel on the plate. Lay the pieces of tofu onto the towel and cover with another piece of absorbent towel. Place this in the fridge for about two hours with something heavy sitting on the top (i.e. a skillet or bottle of milk, etc.). Using something heavy is important in helping to drain the tofu of any excess water which will inevitably be stored in the tofu from its packaging. Soggy tofu will never go crispy and will not absorb flavour as well as properly drained tofu.
2. After approx. two hours retrieve the tofu from under previously mentioned heavy object. Grab a container that has a lid and lay the tofu strips into the container, then pour the tamari over the top. Depending on how large your container is you may need more tamari, because you should use enough to cover all the pieces so that they all absorb some of the sauce. Place the lid on and put the container in the fridge for at least a few hours (minimum) though the tofu will keep in the fridge.
3. When the tofu has  marinated, remove it from the fridge. On a chopping board, sprinkle the cornflower generously. Taking one strip of tofu at a time, cover it well in the cornflower, before gently dusting off any excess. Repeat for all the strips.
4. Take a fry pan and place it over the heat. You want quite a hot pan, so turn the heat towards the higher end of the spectrum. Pour approx. 2 tbsp sesame oil into the pan and allow to heat. Do not use olive oil as it doesn't handle such hot temperatures as well as sesame oil (coconut oil is also another option that will work well, although you will end up with quite a different flavour). Carefully place all of the strips into the pan and cook for a minute or two on each side until they are a light golden brown. When cooked, remove from the heat and place on a new sheet of absorbent towel to remove any excess oil.

*N.B. Alternatively, if you're in a hurry, use some pre-marinated tofu from the supermarket. 

The Stir Fry
180gm soba noodles  Approx. 10 stalks broccolini
Approx. 10 stalks asparagus
Large handful fresh snow peas
1 cup bean shoots
3 shallots, finely sliced
Handful fresh coriander
Sesame seeds (to serve)

The Sauce
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp tamarind paste
1 tbsp coconut sugar
4 tbsp tamari
2 tbsp water
Juice of a fresh lime

1. Bring a saucepan of water to boil and cook the soba noodles as per the packet instructions. When cooked, drain and rinse.
2. Take a large fry-pan and drizzle in a small amount of sesame seed oil. Allow to warm up (on medium heat).
3. Meanwhile, chop the broccolini and asparagus stalks in half before putting them in the pan to cook.
4. Take a small, airtight container and add all the sauce ingredients. Put the lid on and shake vigorously to combine. Add half the sauce to the pan with the cooking veggies.
5. Cook the asparagus and broccolini for around 5 minutes before adding in the bean shoots, shallots, coriander and snow peas. Add in the pre-cooked tofu at this stage. Add in to cooked soba noodles and mix through along with the remainder of the sauce.
6. Serve with some additional fresh coriander, a squeeze of fresh lime juice and a sprinkling of sesame seeds!

Coconut and Raspberry Wagon Wheels.

I'd like to take your tastebuds somewhere for a little moment.

Basically I want you to imagine a raspberry lolly, the kind most people loved like nothing else when they were young. I then want you to imagine a crispy and sweet coconut cookie, like something you're best friends grandma would bake and feed you endlessly whenever she saw you. Finally, like the literal icing on the cake, I'd like you to imagine a light and sweet coconut cream, the kind that would make you feel like you were in the Hawaiian Islands living it up like nobody's business. Now, put all of that together and imagine for just one second the insane taste sensation.

You can stop imagining now because I give to you my Coconut and Raspberry Wagon Wheels and your life will now never be the same again. Better yet, they're vegan, they're refined sugar free, and they are basically the best things ever.

Ingredients;
The Biscuits 
4 tbsp vegan butter
1/3 cup coconut sugar
1/3 cup coconut flour
2/3 cup wholemeal spelt flour
1/4 cup maple syrup (the pure stuff, not the artificially created nonsense!!)
2 tbsp rice malt syrup

1. Preheat a fan-forced oven to 160 degrees Celsius.
2. Using an electric mixer, combine the vegan butter and the coconut sugar on high speed until you have a smooth, creamy mixture.
3. Add in all the other ingredients and begin to fold them in together (I do this using the electric mixer, I just don't turn it on). When the flour is semi-mixed through, turn the mixer on low speed to combine. When the flour is relatively mixed in, increase to high speed and mix until well combined. (Alternatively, skip the folding and low speed stage and inevitably end up with flour legitimately everywhere...Yes, I have been there....)
4. Line a baking tray. Take roughly 1 tbsp of cookie dough and roll it in your (*clean*) hands to form a ball. Repeat until you have no mixture left.
5. When the mixture is all rolled out into balls, take the tray and, using your fingers or a fork, press down on each ball until it has a flat top - i.e. make it look like a pancake that's approx. 1cm thick. Place in the oven to bake for approx. 8-10 minutes. Keep a close eye on them so they don't burn. Remove from the oven when just lightly brown around the edges.
6. Allow to cool before assembling into wagon wheels.

The Coyo

2 400ml cans full fat coconut cream (do not buy the low fat version or this won't work!)

3 tbsp pure sweetener (maple syrup/agave syrup) 

1. Sit the cans in the fridge for a minimum of a few hours to allow the two parts of the cream to separate. 

2. After a few hours, open the cans and scoop out the creamy solid part into a bowl. DO NOT ADD ANY OF THE SEMI-CLEAR LIQUID PART OF THE CAN, because otherwise you won't get a cream, rather a watery, coconut-ty mess! 

3. Add the maple syrup and mix on high speed for a few minutes. 

4. Pour into a jar and refrigerate overnight before using. 

The Raspberry Jam
1 cup raspberries (fresh or frozen)
2 tbsp rice malt syrup
2 tbsp chia seeds

1. In a saucepan over low/medium heat, combine the jam ingredients. Allow to cook for a few minutes (long enough that any frozen raspberries are fully defrosted) and then scoop into a jar/air tight container and store in the fridge until use.

To assemble the wagon wheels, take a cookie and flip it upside down. Spoon a generous dollop of jam on and spread with a knife. Then, spoon on some coyo and top with another cookie. VOILA!! Store in the fridge (if they even last that long - not likely!!).