Blogging takes a lot of time and energy.

Astonishing, I know.  My plans to debrief and dissect every single destination that I traveled to this summer fell by the wayside once it was time to get back to real life.  I have since decided to talk about my most favorite place and more importantly, try to convince you to visit as well.  You're probably thinking, "if you are talking about your favorite place, why aren't you talking about Bali?" Bali was a dream destination of mine for many years, and while I did love it, Bali didn't change my life . I do remember having some sort of an epiphany  on a remote island in Lombok, but in terms of expectations versus reality, Kuala Lumpur was the real MVP.

Originally, I was supposed to only have 9 days in South East Asia.  I was going to spend a few days in the Philippines and hop over to either  Kuala Lumpur or Singapore for a short period.  I spent SO. MUCH. TIME researching which country was the, "best" and worth the effort.  Ultimately, most sources  simply said, visit both, but if you had to pick, Singapore wins over Kuala Lumpur.  This is a great example of the need to visit countries on your own and to not always rely on the experience others.  I would absolutely place Kuala Lumpur over Singapore, and here are the reasons why....

Are you tired of watching everyone else live out their #travelgoals? Are you ready to embark on your own travel journey? Paris, Brazil, Egypt, Thailand, just a few on your list, right? There is only one problem... you have no one to go with.  You've tried making plans with friends and family, but there is always some excuse.  Well, let me tell you, you're not totally out of luck. YOU CAN TRAVEL SOLO!  Solo traveling is life! I have traveled to seven countries by myself, and thanks to these tips, I rarely feel alone or at a disadvantage when I do.   

1. Be open and friendly.
People are more likely to spark up a conversation with you if you are alone.  I have had groups invite me to spend the day with them, all because they loved my energy and I was open to the idea of hanging with "strangers".  Remember to stay safe and use your best judgement when feeling folks out.  If things seem okay, relax and have fun! I have created some genuine friendships through meeting folks abroad! ​