Once in awhile when life gets though or I feel like getting some air, going on a solo trip might just do the trick. I think I did something to it it around few years ago when I still had a lot of time my hands but a lot has changed since then, though it wasn't has huge as traveling around the entire country.
There are things about my country that I can't hide no matter how hard I try to sugarcoat it. The fact is, my country is blessed with lot of amazing tourist attractions and some are yet to be discovered or known by the general public. Having to visit all kind of places, not just through the screen but seeing those things for myself, the feeling is different but there are specific factors that must be considered before such action is taken.
As an individual, I have gotten to that point in my life that I can choose to travel anywhere without having to worry about specific restrictions or hindrance but there are somethings that are worth considering that are not even peculiar to a person or a place. Speaking of challenges that might make me reconsider going on a solo trip across my country, the first is the biggest of it all, insecurity. This is no longer cruise or misinformation or propaganda used in defaming a specific administration. Going on a solo trip during this time of geopolitical and tribal issues in my country, is just suicide. Even with a full convoy, there are still places in my country where you would blame yourself for traveling to.
It is not as if some places are restricted, it is just that, the moment you choose to travel there, you are doing it at your own risk. One of the most notorious source of insecurity in my country is banditry. Just imagine going on a solo trip and getting caught by bandit, that is like "Double wahala" because you were seeking to have some me-time but you might end up spending that "me-time" in a place you would never forget. It is not funny at all, these creatures are so ruthless that they treat their victims like animals.
The second challenge is cost of petroleum and cost of living. Thinking about going on a solo trip and traveling across my country, this is something I have to consider. The last thing I want is getting stranded in an isolated area. The most cruel part of this is that, the cost of petroleum in my country is not properly regulated. The price varies based on places, I might get to a specific place and discover the cost of it is twice the price despite budgeting for a specific price. A solo trip of this magnitude will definitely cost me a lot of money.
Last of it all, is our transportation system, before I start thinking about an idea such as this, I need to consider our roads. There are some places within my state that cars can't access anymore just because of the poor condition of the roads. That is within my own state, now imagine traveling around the country to places I have never been before, without being aware of the condition of the roads. I might just end up abandoning my car and start trekking, that would just make things a lot worse.
Thinking about all the challenges that comes with a trip such as this, I don't think it is worth it. I believe it is preferable to pick a safe place and spend time there, instead of risking my life journeying through the wilderness because there is nothing fun about that.
This write-up was inspired by weekly featured content titled A solo trip in hive learners community.
Cover image - 𝖣𝖾𝗌𝗂𝗀𝗇𝖾𝖽 𝗎𝗌𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖼𝖺𝗇𝗏𝖺
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