I have spoke to hundreds upon hundreds of people on my journey with no money. Inevitably, most of our conversations are about my trip. Here is a list of questions that boggle people’s minds the most.
Is not it dangerous for a woman to travel alone?
A short answer to this question is no. When travelling to different parts of the world it is important to think not about the level of safety in that country, but about one’s own individual abilities to handle difficulties, solve problems and avoid potential trouble.
If a woman wants to travel alone in Afghanistan, she can’t influence the way men will perceive her there, but she can adjust her response. That in itself is the most empowering idea that is of the utmost use to any individual.
Simply put, no matter man or a woman, if one is begging for trouble, one can find it even in the safest countries in the world, such as Norway, Denmark, Switzerland. It is your responsibility!
Where do you get the money from?
In the beginning of the journey I did not actively look for money. Conversely, I chose not to use money and to put myself in situations when I had no other choice but to look for other possibilities.
But every now and then I would be offered some. The wealthier the country, the likelier it is that someone will offer money. In such situations I rarely refuse. Say, my host in Peru gave me around 140$ for a rainy day; a man at a gas station in Germany gave me and my companion 115 euros for food; a Bosnian woman who was taking me from Germany to Bosnia gave me 50 euros.
On rare occasions I have been offered short-term job opportunities, which, again, I accept if the offer is good enough. For example, a farmer in Sweden invited to stay at his farm for the night, but if I wanted to stay longer I could work and make some money.
Where do you sleep?
In a bed. My success rate of finding hosts, or a person who is willing to put me up somewhere, is almost 100%. From place to place and country to country the conditions of the accommodation vary. But, for the most part, I am comfortable enough.
Are you not afraid of travelling alone?
Fear is rarely present in my thoughts.
I might be weary or alarmed by something, but hardly ever am I afraid. And the cases when I do feel uneasy, I recognize that I have no time to waste on feeling afraid, but I must rather think about how to get out of the situation as quickly as possible.
Usually if I feel fear I just keep very quiet, I relentlessly observe and scan my environment for the exit.
Did you ever have a ‘bad experience’?
I never know how to answer this question, because it really depends on the perception of the person. I have a suspicion that based on the generally accepted perception of ‘bad experience’, I must have had plenty of them. But I personally don’t see it that way.
Yes, I have been touched against my wish; I have been kissed; been asked for sex; or offered money in exchange for sex, and so on and so forth.
No, I have not been raped, kidnapped, robbed, scammed, etc.
I have had emotionally disturbing and traumatizing experiences, but many of them have nothing to with men and their sexual desire. I imagine people hardly think about that when thinking of a ‘bad experience’.
Do you carry a pepper spray or a knife with you?
I do not. I did own a knife in the beginning of my journey, but ultimately, it was taken away from me. Since then I do not carry anything of the sort. Partially due to the confidence in my ability to handle situations without having to settle to self-defence, and partially because it is personal preference of mine.
I believe that if it comes down to a physical battle any of these items are not going to increase my odds significantly. Therefore, I prefer to concentrate on a ‘weapon’ which is never going to be taken away and used against me and is much more potent – my intellect.
What do you eat?
Consumption of food is one of the basic needs of any living being. Thus, for the most part people are always aware and thoughtful in that regard. I am almost always offered to have lunch together, taken to a store, offered snacks, and so on. When I am hosted in a household, food is almost always present. So, I am rarely hungry or undernourished.
How do you get clothes, or other necessary things?
In the beginning of my journey on a few occasions people offered pieces of clothes. One man in Norway who was particularly fascinated by me, took me to various shops and bought me everything that I needed at the time.
On another occasion my host in Montenegro gave me his sister’s old laptop for she did not need it anymore.
With time my financial situation improved and if I have enough money, I buy things that I need. I aim to get things that are of high quality, so they last long and serve me well in different weather conditions.
What does your family think about your journey?
I do not have a family, but it barely matters in relation to my journey. I do not perceive existence of a family as a limiting factor.
What do you do if you get sick?
I have never been as healthy and physically fit as I am now. I generally eat healthy, my weight is always optimal, I am physically active. So, I am rarely ill, and if I am, I find a situation for myself when I can rest for longer period of time.
Once in Serbia I needed a minor assistance, and I was fortunate enough to be hosted by a pharmacist who suggested me a medicine that worked perfectly.
In Colombia I got food poisoning. Fortunately, the couple that was hosting me, was very understanding and I could stay with them until I felt better. Gloria took care of me like a mother would take care of her daughter.
A few times when I had to go to Georgia, I was able to check my health and address issues that I had, or run general tests.
Do you travel all year round?
Yes. It does not matter whether it is plus 40 degrees Celsius outside, or minus 20. I will adjust to the conditions and move on. In fact, my timing in different parts of the world is impeccable: I visited Svalbard at the end of January; when I arrived in south-east Asia it was a raining season; I travelled to the North Cape at the end of October.
Do you have social media?
The only platform that I use on some occasions is WhatsApp. Other than that, I do not have social media. I mainly converse with people face to face, and rarely via e-mail.
How can I contact you if I want to talk to you?
Generally speaking, long distance communication is not my cup of tea. Every now and then I might exchange a few messages with select people, but, all in all, If I would like to see a person again, I prefer to travel to wherever they are. Over years I have visited some of my hosts over three times.
How do you take care of your hygiene?
There is hardly ever any issue regarding this topic. Since I am always hosted by people, washing clothes and taking a shower on regular basis is not a problem at all. While on the road – gas stations, cafes, etc. are of great use for washing hands, face, or brushing teeth.
Have you ever slept outside?
Yes. In four and a half years of travels I have stayed outside for around 10 times. It mainly happened when I was not alone, but with a companion. If the situation is such, the aim is to find a quiet place, where people won’t notice me easily and have an opportunity to take advantage of my vulnerable state. I used to deem such nights as miserable and depressing, whereas now I am hardly touched by such instance.
Do you ever feel lonely leading such a lifestyle?
It is a lonely way of living. Essentially, I am always a foreigner, always a stranger. But it is a deeply personal, intimate and vivid experience to have, evoking powerful emotions, making one contemplate life and see it in great many shades and colors.
It is difficult to establish more long lasting bonds while moving so often. But, at the end of the day, are not we all alone anyway?
Is not it tiresome to travel for so long?
It really depends on personal objective of a traveller. Personally for me, I view it as my job. Just like a person with a traditional lifestyle goes to work everyday, I travel. Do you ever get tired of working, going to school or university? I imagine that yes. But what needs to be done needs to be done. Same approach works in my life.
Except that I have more freedom in what I am doing.
Times when I felt particularly exhausted, I have found possibilities when I could stay in one place for a month and more.
Have you ever been physically forced to have a sexual encounter?
No. I have dedicated a great amount of time in trying to understand how human’s and, particularly, men’s minds work. As of now, I am reasonably good at avoiding and navigating typical troubles and the troublemakers.
How do you manage your sexual life while being always on the move?
For women it is quite straightforward. If a woman wants sex, she will find it. It all depends on personal preferences and needs of a particular individual. Most of the sexual partners that I have met on my journey were my hosts.
Do you often meet other people like you?
In order to answer this question it is important to establish certain realities. The fundamental objectives of my journey are of abstract nature: deeper understanding of human nature; more intimate understanding of my own mind; becoming more capable and resourceful individual. I have never met anyone, a man or a woman, with similar objectives.
But, yes, I have met a few hitchhikers on the way who travel on a low budget. Surprisingly so, we have very little in common.
Do you often meet men who want to be physical with you?
It heavily depends on the country I am in. Men in most European countries tend to be more thoughtful and less pushy with their desires. In many Islamic countries such instances happen on hourly basis, and can be very stressful. In Asia men are mellower, they might express a little bit, but normally they don’t insist. Men Russia and many post-Soviet countries tend to do things surreptitiously.
Why do you travel alone?
Introducing another person into the picture adds significant amount of complexity into the situation. And I require quite the opposite. If I am alone that means that I do not have to think about another person’s needs, it is not necessary to work on the dynamics between us, and so on.
I solely depend on my own abilities. And if I fuck up, it is my fuck up only.
And to me this journey is not just a trip around the world. It has a meditative quality to it. So, another person would be only a distraction.
Why do you do this anyway?
Modern world does not make much sense to me. So, while I am still here, why not be part of it on my own terms?