The night before the big day was the scariest.
I hate packing. So, I left that to be done on that night. The nerves were kicking in and the fear was real.
Wanting something all your life feels so much different from having it.
When my first solo trip got confirmed, I couldn’t stop raving about it to everybody!
I Imagined everything from outfits for each day of the trip to meeting cute strangers on my flight.
But on the night before my flight, the nerves kicked in hard enough for me to question my decision.
Was I ready to take this trip all by myself?
I am not particularly the kind of person who scares easy.
Or so I told myself until this trip.
I woke up early on the big day. The house was empty because mamma-baba were out vacationing with their friends. I did my daily chores, cleaned the house, packed everything, and made a quick trip to the store to get everything else. Done.
I still had four hours till I left for the airport and the thoughts in my head were not being my friend.
I am used to mamma re-packing my bags for every trip I take. She knows exactly what I forgot to pack. So, I pack, she re-packs.
She wasn’t home this time.
I am also used to baba dropping me to the airport every time. No matter how busy he is, he always clears his schedule. Taking a cab to the airport while leaving for a vacation was just depressing.
Vrishank says I am spoilt. I disagree. As always.
I decided to get ready and leave for the airport earlier than I needed to. I was alone and scared at home. I’d rather be alone and scared at the airport.
I always thought I needed company. Every time I had to go to the mall, my first thought was listing the possible people I could quickly call to come hang out with me. Even a trip to the store to buy milk and eggs comprised of nervous-calling everybody I knew so I had someone to talk to till I got home. Every once in a while, I would tell myself to spend some me-time. Which was poor translation for Netflix and Stuff-your-face-till-you-get-sick. I always believed I was the sort of person who needs people around all the time. I wasn’t quite sure I would enjoy my company. Maybe that is why I dreaded this trip so much so suddenly.
Since I was at the airport way before time, I decided to have a mini-meal before I queue at the check-in counter. Went straight for momos and a strawberry cocktail. The momos were delicious but the drink sucked. I finished it all anyway because I paid way too much for it. Yep. I am Indian in every way like that.
It’s frustrating how I can’t remember the last flight I took from Mumbai which wasn’t delayed. This time the delay was of a whole 90 minutes. I knew this was going to come bite me in the ass and so it did. Quite expectantly I missed my connecting flight to Penang from Kualalampur. I don’t know what I was more upset about. Missing my flight or spending 3 more hours at the airport.
Anyhoo! Took the next flight out and checked into my hotel room in Penang by around 4pm!
I’ve always been a fan of long, quite baths. So, took one and hit the bed right away.
I realized I hadn’t slept in more than 24 hours. Counting my overnight flight and the delay! I got no sleep on the plane. There were 2 screaming kids in a 10-meter radius from my seat.
I KNOW!
Woke up at around 9:30 pm, changed and decided to get some dinner. Walked to the hotel’s restaurant only to find it completely empty. Not a soul in sight. According to the waiter, everyone in town wraps dinner before 8pm. Thank god, my hotel had a 24-HR restaurant.
Got myself a table by the pool facing the sea. This hotel was snazzy. It had a private beach. I couldn’t dare to get a table closer to the sea though. I’ve always feared water after sundown. The sea sounds so angry to me at nights.
This was officially my first meal in Penang. So, I decided to order a local delicacy.
‘Mamak Mee’ is what I settled for. Noodles, chicken and fish cakes. What’s not to like!
This was also my first meal with myself. Back home I never really go out to eat by myself.
And I don’t know why!
I stared into my phone for the first couple of minutes because I was so confused as to what the rest of my body is supposed to do when I am sitting at a table alone with food and nobody to talk to or no television to stare at.
The food was GOOD!
I eventually put my phone down and ate in silence.
Hmm. Not so bad.
Finished dinner, cleared my bill, thanked the waiter and walked away.
I didn’t quite feel like heading back to my room just yet. It was too late to walk around town alone. So, I took a stroll around the hotel property. The roaring waves made my walk in the opposite direction from the beach. Walked around for a bit. There was a pool, another restaurant, a parking spot and a condo. Spotted a bench in the condo and sat down for a bit.
Mumbai is always buzzing. No matter what time of day. Cars, honks, people. Also, the weather back home is torturing.
However, it was surprisingly quiet on the streets here. An occasional motor-biker passed by but otherwise, I could still hear the waves. The weather felt great too. Not as humid as I had expected.
I sat on the bench with a blank mind. I had no thoughts. I stared at the street then at the parking lot and then back at the street. An occasional thought about home crossed my mind. But other than that, nothing really. I checked my watch, it said 11:20 pm.
Went back to staring.
Checked my watch again. It said 12:20 pm
WHAT!!
Killing time was always a task for me. I would deliberately reach places late because I hated waiting alone.
Not anymore, I guess!
That hour on the bench alone was the best part of my day.
To come to think of it, when was the last time you spent an hour being your selfish self? I have no memory of a time when I decided to think of myself and myself only and do everything that pleased nobody but me. I can’t even count the number of movies I missed or the restaurants I ditched because I didn’t have company.
I remember spending hours after lights-out, sitting on a stool in front of my mirror talking to myself about my day and going to bed happy because I knew my mind and my heart were on the same page. I have no idea why I stopped that exercise. People never believed me, but I never felt the need of having a sibling growing up because I loved myself as a child.
Nostalgically, I walked back to my room happier that night because now I knew I enjoyed my company. And finally, this solo trip seemed like the best decision ever!
Changed back into my PJs, got in bed, surfed the internet for a while and turned the lights off at 4:15 am.
And that was day one.
awesome!!!!
Loved it !!! Amazinggggg!!!!
Topic ch bhari hota. Ekda mipn Eka divshi ektine don movie bgitle…mast macd mdhe khall.. shant bsun rahile ek don tas…so khup maja ali.. Its me time hota to…aata tujh vachun mlapn solo trip or solo day out punjha krav vattay.
Ani blog vachtana as vatat hot ki imagine pn hot hotis.. like movie..Keep it up…
Mast hota first blong…Subscribe kelay blogpn🌸🤗❤️💕✌️
Its great!!!!! Beautiful start for a blog 💕💕
OMG… how can you just be so amazing even with ypur writing😍 These are just soo adorable❤❤
😍😍😍 loved it prajakta!! Even the design of the blog is amazing! Keep up the good work!
It was fun reading ur blog. Love you keep writing.. I seriously love ur work.👍 God bless😘😘😘
Wonderful dii…. Its so amazing I was really imagining each n every thing …….. Felt so good to read invested my ten minutes in good love you would like to read more
LOVE LOVE
This is amazing and so are you;) Waiting for moreeee!!
It’s soooooo amazing like I felt so myself while reading it… Amazing and thanks for such an awesome blog which changed my mind
It’s just amazing…
It literally felt like you were telling everything in person..
Loved it n you are awesome as always..
Lots of love to you..❤❤❤❤❤😘😘😘😘😘😘
Its just awesum love keep going 😘 waiting for ur next blog love #lovelove ❤
I always wanted to write the way u have written…!!!! Hope I can learn that by reading these😘❤ ….Got my new idol in writing stuff😅😘
Hey prajakta🙋
Awesome work and by reading this i wanna go on a vacation alone too……
Very inspirational as well
Love u 😘😘😘😘
Keep up the amazing work 😊
Honestly,I dont like reading but you havr to trust me on this,I just couldn’t stop myself from reading more and more.It really felt like You are telling story about your solo trip.It was so good to know everything in detail.Now waiting for more such MostlysaneBLOGS
Thode photos daale hote toh aur accha hota
Amazing..👍😊
Beautiful❤❤
This was just amazing!!❤️
Loved what you have written !!! Great way to start! And honestly I could relate to so many things you have written about, such as not able to eat alone, watch a movie alone and so on. Please write more. I am in love with your writing❤
Good as its the start.. would love to hearout more. Wayy to gooo Prajakta. Congratulations for the blog.
prajkta ” as i am web developer ,i want to suggest you that make your web site more attractive …..use better image gallery plugins…… and ..by the way you are doing great job
The blog was damn good❤ Even i am the kind of person who doesn’t like to step out of the house without anyone’s company.
Waiting for ur next blog😍
It was amazing prajakta..i liked the part where in you added that when was the hour you spent being your selfish self..i loved the way you left us with a thought..keep writing..lovelove❤😙
Awsome Didi… 😍😍😍😍😍😘
U r jst too good…
Luv u a lot… ❤
@mostlysane amazing job!! Not too long not too short…just apt!!😊👌👌👏
I felt that I wasn’t reading a blog! Felt as if you are sitting right in front and reading it out to us!!! You go girl.. amazing job!!👏
HOW GOOD WAS THAT ❤ This actually made a lot of sense ! People are dependent for ever single thing and me time is very important ! Loved this one ❤❤ can’t wait for more
I can literally imagine your expressions while reading this… This is good.. the reading experience I’m saying…
But the RealTalkTuesdays… honestly I enjoy that more.. maybe because of your expressions…I guess we are used to listening and seeing you…
But this blog is good.. I’ll like to read more…
It is intriguing. 😊 A good topic to start off with. Khup Chan ! 🙂
It was like ur sitting front of me n telling me everything✨i was reli imagining everything💓it was soooo real😇
It just makes me more inspired for a solo trip!!
The article was a really good read! Calming and filled with good vibes! <3 Here and there, I felt like I was reading about myself! 🙂 Keep up the good work! :*
Always a wellwisher.
You are amazinggg
Keep it up darling…..so so proud of u…. love love
It was amazing to read this😘
Amazing diii …love love keeep it onn
What an amazing start…Prajakta…
Will be eagerly waiting for your blog’s now onwards…
Love love….
More power to you ❤❤❤
Hey Prajakta! I saw how excited you were for this, and how much we had to wait for this one blog, but it was all so worth it! Trust me, the best blog I’ve seen so far, kind of knew you were good at writing but didn’t know you were this good. This was the best part of my day probably. Reading your blogs made me feel so good and I felt like Even I should try to spend more time with myself, it’s so relatable. I really really appreciate your efforts for this one. Your writing inspires me to write. Really looking forward for the other blogs. You are such an amazing, simple and positive person. Can’t believe a person like you exists. I mean it. I love you so much Prajakta! May god bless you and your dreams come true. Take care Love! ❤️
Love u prajakta
I also doodled Ur name on my hand 😘
Aplyala fakt donach goshti avadtat kajukatli ani praju patli
Woww…. Just loved it..!!
I got engrossed into the story….. 😍😍😍😍😍…loved the experience
I just felt that I am reading my bff’s diary but sadly mine doesn’t write one..Love Ur work n all d best u r gng to rock this also
It’s awesome. Im not a reading person I can’t read more than 1 min hate it 😂 feel sleepy like,but your content on of blog literally made me imagine the story made me catchy to read it. So even I’m planning to go on solo trip just to find my own story. You are inspiration through this blog to many. Looking forward for another blog.
😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍 imagining in that place while reading
that was lovely
Prajakta it’s really nice. As it is your first blog it’s very very good. I loved it. I feel the prajakta on screen is somewhat different from the prajakta who wrote this blog. Do write blogs frequently. From now on I will eagerly wait for your next blog. I love you praju….
That was nice to read and perfect to start,as i am used to see and ” HEAR ” you,it was like reading a very soft and breezy words from you instead of the free flow talk of yours in the videos,that was like a transition.
Instead i would love to experience that free flow in your writing. this was first , it was raw and simple but you succeeded in bringing in the visuals in-front of my eyes especially the bench one i could start imagining about that.Bring in some quotes or caption and story behind that how you arrived to that thought of mind i believe you do posses that preaching quality, hope you would love this my small observation.
Good luck and lots of love.
loved it. It felt like i was reading me in your piece of writing. so beauticul i can’t even!my heart is sooo full!!!<3 It remind me of my time in Malaysia.:)
Amazing, feels like I was there beside you noticing all u said, also I am not very fond of reading but since I started reading this one I Couldn’t stop. Also felt like it shouldn’t end. That’s definitely a good one 😊
hey, I can totally relate to this. My me time ends up being some random show time or television most of most maybe dancing but when you actually start thinking about yourself and look around! This scene in life has been reduced so much. Resently I have written a book on wattpad on the girl who loves lonelyness. And believe me I said the same things.
But in the end the start was pretty good hope to read more.