The Austin Blogger Helping Women Travel Solo

Once we sat down to talk with influencer and journey blogger Lindsay Mukaddam, she’d simply landed in Croatia. After a bleary flight and a stable nap, Mukaddam labored to put in a Zoom replace on her Airbnb’s spotty Wi-Fi. Between the loading and buffering, we mentioned rescheduling, however Mukaddam was becoming a member of associates on a weeklong boat journey up the shoreline, and the open sea promised even worse obtain pace. By divine windfall (or a well-placed kick to the router), the clouds parted, and Mukaddam appeared on display, grainy but seen ultimately.

Such is life for the world traveler. For half a decade, Lindsay Mukaddam has been sharing her adventures underneath the multiplatform deal with One Girl Wandering, amassing practically 200,000 followers alongside the way in which. From her complete journey guides to organized group journeys along with her followers, Mukaddam hopes to convey a core message: you don’t have to attend on others to see the world. Right here, she shares a few of her most essential classes.

You began this enterprise to forestall stagnation in your life. What was the method of changing into One Lady Wandering like?

I undoubtedly didn’t got down to have this become a enterprise. I had began touring, however my Instagram on the time was only a private account. I had some family and friends who have been like, “It’s best to begin a weblog.” In fact, none of them have their very own weblog. They don’t know the way laborious it’s. I used to be like, “Yeah, certain, I’ll do this.” And so I began a weblog and began sharing by means of that and thru social media, and it simply sort of took off from there. Attracting a group got here with alternatives [to work] with manufacturers, different corporations, and tourism boards. And from there, fortunately, I’ve been capable of make slightly enterprise out of it. In order that’s what I do now full time.

You assemble journey guides, share ideas, and advise girls on the easiest way to journey. Why is it essential so that you can assist others see the world?

A whole lot of girls maintain themselves again from touring. They’re ready on associates or on important others. Solo journey is one thing that’s been taboo for ladies. So, I wished to show a few issues. One, you are able to do it—you don’t want to attend for anyone, and also you shouldn’t look ahead to anyone, as a result of life is just too brief.  You by no means know what’s going to occur in life, and it is best to have the ability to get on the market and discover and never be ready on different folks to be checking their calendars. Two, I’m married, and a number of girls suppose that when you get married, that’s it. You’re together with your husband 24/7, and also you guys must do the whole lot collectively. An enormous a part of my mission is to let girls know that it is best to attempt solo journey even for those who’re married. I nonetheless journey with my associates, with my husband, and go on group journeys. I simply need girls to know that that is an choice for them, and for them to be daring sufficient to take it.

What are your greatest ideas for ladies who’re overwhelmed by the prospect of planning a solo journey?

You don’t have to take a huge worldwide first journey; you can begin off sluggish. You’ll be able to take your self out to dinner. Take your self to the films. Go to the museum by your self. You’ll be able to work up by means of your consolation degree by doing small issues, like taking a visit to the following city over or doing a weekend journey. You don’t want to leap utterly off the cliff of your consolation zone.

You don’t depend the variety of nations you’ve visited. Why is that?

One of many causes I don’t depend is as a result of, what determines visiting a rustic? Is it staying there in a single day, or is it visiting for just a few hours? I’m a giant lover of going again to locations, so I’ll do return visits. I believe I’ve been to Paris 4 occasions now. I’ve been with my husband, with associates, and on my own, and every time was a special expertise. I’ve been to Japan 3 times. I’ll be going once more subsequent 12 months, and I’ve obtained a bunch journey going to Japan quickly. I’m undoubtedly an individual who’s in assist of slower journey and return journey. I attempt to not rush by means of locations. I really feel that a number of occasions, particularly for us in America, we now have such restricted trip time that while you do lastly get [to travel], I see individuals who give you these wild itineraries of making an attempt to hit 5 nations in every week and also you’re identical to, “Decelerate and actually take pleasure in the place you’re.”

In all of your solo adventures, have there been any standout, “That is it” moments?

I would get emotional. It was towards the tip of my first solo journey that I used to be sitting atop a mountain in Switzerland. I used to be staying at a lodge with a funicular to the highest, however at a sure time the funicular stopped operating, so [hotel guests] have been the one ones on the mountain. I made a decision to rise up at dawn, and I bear in mind sitting on high of this mountain considering, “This reminiscence goes to be all mine.” It’s one thing that I’ll get to treasure, like slightly gem that I get to carry on to.

Is that some of the fulfilling components of journey, attending to see these wonders firsthand?

That’s undoubtedly a part of it. One other a part of it’s simply seeing how completely different folks dwell their lives. You suppose a lot about how you reside your life and what’s regular for you, after which while you get to go see different folks, it actually shifts your perspective. You be taught various things, and generally you be taught that there are higher methods of doing issues. And I believe that has helped me rather a lot after I return from journey—eager about how I’m dwelling, how I can enhance that, and the way I can carry into my life what I’ve realized from assembly different folks.