I was so excited to be on board via Etihad Airways whereby I was given a complimentary ticket for the biggest event in the Middle East, Expo2020 which was held in Dubai. There was a free bus ride and all we needed to show was our ticket, however, due to spiking cases as omicron was also very active during my trip, I cancelled my Expo plan but truly enjoyed my time in Abu Dhabi, getting lost in the middle of the desert and walking for two hours, asking for directions towards the Corniche Area.

It was a trip I would be forever grateful that I took the courage to be a Solo Traveler because for the past six years, travelling with my husband while he did all the talking at the immigration ( well at least here in Seychelles upon entry) I was so dependent on him, indirectly letting myself to be so UNRELIABLE thus leading me to be anxious at how it would be travelling alone this time. Later did I realize that allowed myself to cling on him even on small things like packing our pieces of luggage and all I did was look at how he put everything in order according to his standard. He's so used to travel at an early age therefore told me he's an expert at packing. It came to a point that I was exhausted arguing with such a petty thing. The kind of situation where you could say,

I wanted it this way, he wanted it that way! darn!

Travelling solo has the great advantage of being AUTONONOMOUS and SELF-RELIANT thus able to survive on your own regardless of the situation because you are self-sufficient, nonpartisan and solely dependent on YOURSELF.

January 1, 2022, that Sand Dunes
Adventure at Al Q'uaa

I may have worked in Qatar for three years but I rarely had a real experience of what it was to walk through and to lie down on the dunes, to feed the camels and to enjoy the calmness of the Arabian Desert.

There was a magical spell that drown me into it that I hardly took a video because I don't want to spoil the solemnity of the place.

Having witnessed the sunset on top of the highest dunes, gave me a great feeling of serenity while heaven opens up for that PEACEFUL moment for myself.

I felt like I have conquered my fears and the uncertainties of everything else and at that moment alone what mattered was my communion with myself and with the place.

My Travel Adventure Gave me
a New Perspective about Myself!

My travel adventure was so personal to me that I needed it to reunite with what I had lost. For six years of being so tolerant with everyone around me thinking that it was the best thing to do, it was too late to envision that it led me to lose my identity.

The very practical example of travelling ALONE scared the hell out of me not because I am alone but because the inner voices of my younger self telling me the world is so scary, considering the pandemic not to mention venturing out in the desert, it's like beating my head against a stone wall. Even my family told me not to travel because it is risky, scary, dangerous, wasting money and so many other things.

I knew they love but heck I need to recollect myself, so I shut all of them and took the courage to tell my husband that I NEEDED THIS TRAVEL FOR MYSELF. It was so empowering for me to finally show them that I wanted myself back and that I am responsible for my life.

I am also very grateful to our ma @TigerLily or @Dreemsteem and dada @BluefinStudios during our Uptrennd University whereby they both have enlightened me towards the direction of working for myself especially during my marital crisis. That lowest point of my life when ma @TigerLily shared that song from Casting Crowns "Just Be Held" until today whenever I felt like being dragged back to one of the darkest hours of my life, her words of wisdom always resonated and I'm ready to face my challenges again.

I am forever grateful!

She is such a wonderful soul and a blessing to everyone with whom she has touched each of our lives as she did with MINE*.