Once upon a time, I was in Goa at the happening Bambolim beach. I was walking towards an idyllic sunset on a February evening. The wind was cool and fresh, people were laughing and music was floating from the buzzing shacks at the seafront. Life was good. Within minutes after I took the view in, the sun had set, the orange in the sky had turned navy blue and couples were seen holding each other and simply enjoying the view. My friends were waiting for me at the end of the beach. A lingering sense of peace was settling down. I took the phone out of my pocket and made a phone call.
“Where are you guys
“We are right at the end of the beach, give me a call when you reach the last shack”.
Oblivious to my
As I made my way across the sandy terrain, I sensed a presence around me and I turned back. Darkness had loomed in, I had reached the end of the shacks, the way ahead was nothing but black and the pit of my stomach tingled with insecurity. There was suddenly no one around. I stood under a lone light, the last ray emanating from a bulb hanging outside Joey’s (I guess that was what the shack was called, but I don’t recall it anymore). I called my friend again,
“Where are you?”
“We are actually in the water. Come fast. We are waiting for you”
“My battery is draining out and I’m standing at the end of the last shack”
“We are just a little ahead. Will be there if you can wait there, else you come ahead.”
Unsure if my flashlight will hold on, I decided to take a step ahead and see if I can find them.
At that very instant, a man looms up in front of me and says,
“Please give me a handjob”
Shocked, I look at him and the first words that flew out of my mouth were, “What the fuck!”
I
My heart was pounding, when my friend called
“Where are you.
A few days later, I encountered something similar when I was travelling alone to another part of the city.
I took these two incidents and analysed them a year later when I started exploring the Himalayan terrains. People stared, people probably commented on why I was travelling solo but simultaneously, people also helped whenever I required something.
The biggest take away was one- there will be people who are bound to make your heart pound with fear, humiliation and unsettling jitters but at the same time there will be people who will give you directions, guide you to the right places, share a bottle of water or simply give you company for a while.
Travelling solo is not impossible anymore. So what is the most important part of solo travelling?
Itinerary, destination and a sense of why you are doing what you are doing. The first step to solo travel is convincing your loved ones, you will be safe and you will return home in one piece.
How to travel solo and stay safe:
So let me now get to the safe solo travel in Sikkim- Why Sikkim is your best option for a safe solo travel.
A report on the rate of cognizable crimes in the country has revealed that Sikkim is one of safest states in the country. As glamorous as solo-sojourn sounds, it can be a little daunting to plan a trip where the only company you have is yourself.
The precautions,
If you are having second thoughts on your solo-journey, think again. There are four-districts in Sikkim, each resplendent with majestic views and unknown paths. The
So what are the things we need to remember while in
Now that we have established that
If you are wondering about the language, the people, the food and where to go, let me give you a brief idea about Sikkim.
The common language spoken here is Nepali. However, most of the locals can easily understand and speak in Hindi. Despite the language barrier, most of the locals even in remote locations have acclimatised themselves to basic English. Hence all you need to do is smile and make any form of conversation- you are bound to get a good response!
The local cuisine is flavourful and varying. With a fusion of three distinct communities and many other sub-communities within each other, the Sikkimese cuisine has a fine blend of Indian, Nepali, Tibetan and Chinese dishes as well as local delights from the organic farms most home-stays own.
Gangtok in itself is a food hub. A perfect amalgam of the old and the new, the capital of Sikkim is the most happening place in Sikkim. Almost always abuzz with activities and bathed in colourful lights, Gangtok will engage you in a mesmerising tete-a-tete.
Most tourists are looking for a night-life in Gangtok and often more than once, I’ve been asked about live music.
The night-life in Gangtok is not as happening as you’d expect, especially if you come from a city. But that is the beauty of the place. Most café’s and pubs close by 11pm. Although there are a few good places for clubbing, I’d recommend you to stick to the café’s around the city for sensational musicals and live performances. Most live gigs happen during the weekend only.
On your way, there will be many eateries that serve local noodles and savoury momos. If you are fond of north Indian, continental, Mexican or Italian, there are innumerable places that serve these dishes.
How to travel in Sikkim?
Sikkim is the land of winding roads and meandering rivers. Rugged mountains dotted with colourful blossoms and tall trees are a delight for the eyes. The rivers are blue-green, almost out of a magical story book! The villages are clustered in tiny hamlets and no two villages are the same. Despite being the second-smallest state in India, by area, Sikkim can be immense due to the roads. Careful planning is impertinent before visiting Sikkim
The key points to remember are-
Often when I was outside the state travelling for either work or college, I was asked if Sikkim was a part of India. If we need a passport to visit this foreign land or if Sikkim is indeed a part of China as they’d heard! These queries were not from the uneducated folks. It was the educated mainland fellow countrymen who would ask these questions!
Let me clear some of these doubts on Sikkim
Let us summarise your solo trip to Sikkim
A land where many cultures are used to living together in harmony, Sikkim welcomes you with her open arms. The people are extremely helpful, the homestays are reliable and satisfactory, the food is delightful to the tongue and the places to visit are laced with adventure and fun!
Come, explore Sikkim, and if you have second thoughts, think again. Mentally prepare yourself to be stuck, to find no one to seek direction and to be patient- for there will always be a way out in Sikkim!.
As Greg Child has rightly said, “Somewhere between the bottom of the climb and the summit is the answer to the mystery why we climb”.
Stay tuned for more.