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Travel

When You’re Strange

written by Brenna Holeman December 6, 2011
The Himalayas, Nepal

 

Chitwan National Park, Nepal

 

Bhaktapur, Nepal

 

The Himalayas, Nepal

 

The Himalayas, Nepal
“It is hard to be a stranger. A traveller has no power, no influence, no known identity. That is why a traveller needs optimism and heart, because without confidence travel is misery. Generally, the traveller is anonymous, ignorant, easy to deceive, at the mercy of the people he or she travels among. The traveller might be known as ‘the American’ or ‘the Foreigner’, and there is no power in that. 
 
A traveller is often conspicuous, and consequently is vulnerable. But in my travelling, I whistled in the dark and assumed all would be well. I depended on people being civil and observing a few basic rules. I did not expect preferential treatment.”
 
-Paul Theroux
The Tao of Travel
 
I started travelling on my own six years ago, when I was 21. In all those years, and in over 60 countries, I have had only a few negative experiences with the people I’ve met along the way. I like this quote by Theroux, because I feel the same: I assume all will be well, and I try to always travel with confidence, trust, and optimism. I believe that people are inherently good, and that most people will try to help you and make your visit to their country a happy one.
What do you think? Are you a trusting traveller or do you feel wary in a new place?

 

Solo Travel
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Brenna Holeman

Brenna Holeman has travelled to over 100 countries in the past 13 years, many of them solo. She's a big fan of whisky and window seats.

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4 comments

Andi of My Beautiful Adventures December 6, 2011 - 1:51 pm

Wow what an incredible quote!!! I am WAY too trusting, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Your clothes btw are GORGEOUS!

Reply
Audrey of That Backpacker December 6, 2011 - 3:37 pm

I’m with Andi on this one! I’m way too trusting but I prefer to give people the benefit of the doubt 🙂 I’ve met so many wonderful people who are genuinely welcoming and willing to help – they vastly outnumber any bad that may be out there.

Reply
This Battered Suitcase December 6, 2011 - 6:24 pm

Andi – Sometimes I feel that I am way too trusting, too, but it has always worked out for me! And thanks for the compliment on the clothes, I love dressing like a total gypsy when I’m on the road…

Audrey – I agree, the good vastly outweigh the bad. It’s strange, sometimes I feel that I have more to worry about when I am at home than when I travel!

Reply
Binary March 12, 2016 - 7:25 pm

WOW

Reply

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About Me

About Me

Hi, I'm Brenna

My name is Brenna Holeman and I drink a lot of whisky. No, wait. That’s not how I want to start. After over 100 countries over 14 years, many of them solo, I tend to write about travel a lot, but I write about other things, too: getting dumped, buying way too much jewellery, and yeah, OK, whisky (none of those things are related, I swear). You’ll find a mix of advice, opinion pieces, and stories on this blog, but either way, I hope to make you want to read more. For more about me and what you'll find on This Battered Suitcase, click here .

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Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life." - Jack Kerouac

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Last Stops: Namibia, USA (TX, AZ), Italy, Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Macedonia, Kosovo

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