Lone Female Traveller

I'm sat at Johannesburg airport waiting for my flight to Zanzibar, and I thought I would share this strange phenomenon I have recently discovered.

It started something like this......

I go to the check in at 1Time desk, hand over my passport and when asked my destination, I reply smiling, "Zanzibar" (bearing in mind it was 5am, the fact she got a smile out of me was pretty remarkable.)

Her own, equally dazzling smile slowly fizzled out into a frown, followed by a look of total confusion.
"You're travelling alone..???"
"Yes I am"

She looked at me with a slight tilt to her head, and then...... "But why?"

So I laughed- I knew I was going to get asked, I just didn't realise it would be so early....

"Because I wanted to"

Now, don't get me wrong, I am no "Eat Love Pray" character. I have no desire to find myself, I know who I am, andI am not rebelling against anything.

I simply wanted to go to Zanzibar and lie on the beach with a few good books for a while.

So why is it people always look at me like I'm mental?

Case #1: Dubai.
I went to Dubai to visit a friend who I hadn't seen in years.
The check in was fine, but the minute I hit Dubai airport, men and women equally stared as I walked around un-chaperoned by a husband or mother.
I discovered there was a separate taxi rank for lone female travellers, and even the buses have "women only" seats up front by the driver, I'm assuming for safety reasons.
I put it all down to cultural differences and thought nothing of it.

Case #2: Mauritius.
On the way back to South Africa from Dubai, I decided it would be quite neat to stop off in Mauritius and soak up the sun. I'd heard the we stunning beaches there, and it was about as idyllic as you could ask for.
Checking into my boutique hotel, my first question asked was "will your husband be joining you?"
Cue me explaining I was on my own.

From there, every restaurant I went to (book in hand) not only was I asked where my husband/boyfriend was, it was always followed up with "are you ok" and a look of uncomfortable pity.

I know I chose a honeymoon destination, but really!!! What did they think? That my betrothed was killed in a heartbreakingly tragic accident that meant I had to come on my honeymoon alone? That maybe I was jilted at the alter and in a gesture of defiance I came on my honeymoon alone??

It's a simple as this.

I enjoy my own company.
I like to go to different countries.
Sometimes my friends can't take leave from work, or don't have the budget to come with me.
If I don't go to these amazing countries, what exactly am I working for?
At 36, I am old enough and brave enough to venture out on my own.

So.... Zanzibar.
Another romantic destination.
Let's see how strangely people look at me.
Maybe I should make up a tragic story about a fictional husband...... Just in case......


Update to follow


Lakota

Live Love Laugh

Xx


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Location:O R Thambo Airport Rd,Kempton Park,South Africa