For true travelers, the meaning of travel may not lie in how many sceneries you’ve seen along the way or how many likes you’ve garnered on your social media feed. What truly matters might be the change in mindset and the enrichment of life experiences during the journey.
Some yearn for group travel, filled with laughter and never a dull moment. But today, we’re talking about those who choose to set off alone, endure the solitude, and have conversations with themselves. For them, such a journey is a release of the soul and a redemption of the self.
@Li Xiye (@Joyland Travel)
Movies / Travel / Photography
Recommended destination: Iceland
When traveling alone, safety is certainly a consideration. Iceland has a small population and fewer immigrants than other major European countries, making it very safe with almost no security concerns. I once read an online post saying that Icelandic police, being so underworked, lead happy lives playing with cats, feeding ducks, and playing in the snow. There were even photos of officers patrolling while licking ice cream that went viral.
Aside from post-rock music, Iceland is perhaps most famous for its unique landscapes. Its terrain is so similar to the moon’s that astronauts Aldrin and Armstrong, the first men on the moon, once trained here. Nature is a masterful artist, and when you’re alone gazing at those breathtakingly beautiful sceneries, your heart is bound to feel something different.
Nordic countries all rank high in happiness, and the people there are really nice. Let me share a small story: on my first day in Iceland, my camera lens broke. Everyone advised me to get it fixed when I returned home, but I was determined. I found the only repair shop in Reykjavik that could handle my camera. The shop owner said it was broken and would need to be sent back for repair, taking three to four days—but I wanted to take photos in the meantime. To my surprise, he went to the back room and brought out an identical lens, saying, “Take this one, just return it before you leave.” Then he handed me his business card without asking for a deposit or even checking my passport.
Such trust makes you feel the world is truly a wonderful place.
Many people love the movie *The Secret Life of Walter Mitty*, right? The protagonist is a daydreaming homebody who, in order to win a girl’s heart, bravely embarks on an adventure—part of which takes him to Iceland. In fact, many films and TV shows have been shot in Iceland. I bet Christopher Nolan is a fan of Iceland~ The planet Mann in *Interstellar*, the snowy mountains in *Batman Begins*, they’re all in Iceland. Plus *Star Trek*, *Star Wars*, *Game of Thrones*, and more.
For movie fans, visiting the filming locations feels like living a beautiful dream.
I once heard someone joke: why are Finns so good at computers? Because it gets dark so early there, they have nothing better to do than write code at home.
Then in Iceland, they must just spend their free time making art.
Though Iceland isn’t a big place, it has so many renowned musicians: post-rock band Sigur Rós, neoclassical composer Olafur Arnalds, electronic group múm, indie folk-pop band Of Monsters and Men… and the list goes on. You might have even heard of Reykjavik in Cantopop—“There’s a beam of light in the Arctic, you say leave it to me to gaze upon. When I feel hopeless, thinking of it sets me free. This purple-tinged green light, never raging across the sky, is like the distant place we once reached together, yet never traveled to.”
In the love story that Juno Mak can’t forget, Iceland has become a symbol—representing promises and hopes.
@Shuitianji
Recommended destination: Luang Prabang
Let me recommend a place called Luang Prabang. As per international custom, here’s some background: this serene ancient city is in Laos. Usually, the first impression people have of Laos is that it’s dirty, messy, and underdeveloped. I’ve been to several Southeast Asian countries, and indeed, Laos’ tourism isn’t as developed as Malaysia’s, its accommodations aren’t as comfortable as Thailand’s, and it can’t compare to Singapore at all.
The reason Luang Prabang is suitable for solo travel is that the city isn’t big—you can walk to every corner on foot. Start your day by heading into a French colonial-era restaurant on Luang Prabang’s “Farang Street,” wait for the first batch of freshly baked baguettes to come out, then order a cup of freshly ground coffee. Your trip can begin this enjoyably. Farang Street is the most famous street in Luang Prabang, lined with the city’s most beautiful temples and monks’ villas. The streets are flanked by rare bougainvillea and frangipani flowers, complementing the shuttered buildings behind them—every snapshot feels like a vacation straight out of a cozy aesthetic. Yep, pretend you’re in France.
Speaking of *Journey to the West*, among all the temples I’ve visited, the one that felt most like the Thunder Monastery is Wat Sensoukharam, nestled between the Nam Khan River and the Mekong River. It’s a Thai-style temple built in 1718, with ruby-red roof tiles and bases, and gilded Buddha statues lining the porches. The monks in yellow robes chanting scriptures earnestly make it seem like the world of Buddha has been brought to life.
Many places in Southeast Asia have gradually become commercialized, but Luang Prabang is still widely recognized as the city where traditional and colonial styles are best preserved. It’s also the hidden paradise many Western travelers seek.
I read *The Rainy Season in Muang Ngoi* and was immediately drawn to this place—off the grid and without commercialization. Calling it isolated isn’t an overstatement. The scenery here looks like an 18th-century oil painting, and the simple villagers made me never want to leave.
Does anyone remember the loom? Something almost extinct in cities, it’s everywhere along the roadsides of Muang Ngoi. There are also stilt houses in the riverside jungles, and the children—so clean and bright, their laughter and playfulness so heartwarming that I didn’t dare take out my camera, afraid of disturbing the moment. Muang Ngoi is a great place for hiking; here, you should slow your pace.
(According to Neeu You Network)
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