I'm someone who's very free spirited and really enjoys solo traveling and has been to many countries. I recently got married and we're thinking about having kids. I decided that I do want a family, but now that it comes close to time I'm really scared. I'm really afraid of losing my freedom and my solo trips. I'm starting to feel uncertain about my decision to have kids.
British travel vlogger Carrie Patsalis has visited Afghanistan more than once, travelling through places including Kabul, Kandahar, Jalalabad and remote parts of Nuristan.
What surprised her most was how different everyday life could be from the image many of us have seen on TV for years.
She described being met with incredible hospitality, locals helping when her car broke down, being invited into people's homes for food and tea — and even mistaking wedding gunshots for something far more serious. 😅
But her experiences also revealed a much more complicated picture.
While she found many Afghans incredibly welcoming, she also spoke about growing frustration over the economy and the restrictions placed on women, including the impact of women being prevented from continuing their education and medical training.
It’s a fascinating perspective on a country that most of us have only ever seen through news reports and documentaries.
Would you ever consider travelling somewhere like Afghanistan to experience it for yourself?
Girls who grew up with strict parents but still managed to start going out/travelling at a young age — how did you make it happen?
I mean going to simple, safe places at first, like nearby towns, cafés, beaches, tourist spots, day trips etc.
How did you convince your parents and build enough trust for them to let you go? And how young were you when you started?
Would love to hear your experiences and tips 😭🤍
Did you feel safe? Is the biggest threat pickpocketers or what other risks are there? I would just take a cheap phone with me and minimal cash during the day in that case, but are there any other dangers? Is Uber safe? I was thinking Cartagena and Medellin. Anyways, any advice or experiences?
Biggest things for me are cost, culture, arts/museum, good food. I’ve only been to the Balkan region of Europe so would love to explore outside of it.
Hi everyone!
I’m a solo female traveler visiting Taiwan for 10 days from October 21st to October 31st.
My itinerary is 100% flexible and open right now. I want to experience a great mix of Taiwan's beautiful nature and day hikes, but I also love exploring the cities, historic streets, culture, and eating my way through the night markets!
Since I haven't locked down my travel route or bookings yet, I can easily adapt to your schedule if our paths cross! I'm looking to connect with fellow solo travelers, expat women, or locals who want to team up.
About Me: Easy-going, reliable, safety-conscious, and always down for a good laugh. I also love taking photos for each other!
If you’re going to be in Taiwan during late October and want to co-plan an adventure or just grab a bite, please comment below or send me a DM! Let's make the most of these 10 days. 🙌
First time traveling over seas solo and will go to Beirut, Lebanon in a few months with an over night stay in Turkey. English speaker with little knowledge of Turkish language and beginner in Arabic. All advice, tips, must-see, and recommendations are welcome.
26F American seeking advice re 25F Korean national who has targeted me with disturbing behavior.
I 26F am staying in a roommate situation for an international volunteering project. I am in Korea for 2 months and I have a week left before leavimg.
There are 5 girls here between 20-26 and one 25F who has been living here for a year to work a real job. The rest of us are international volunteers who stay 1 or 2 months to work at a hotel.
For the first month, I found it easy to make friends with everyone and didnt have any real issues with anybody. The 25F Korean girl who lives here had been a bit reclusive, not so open to hanging out with us, a bit hard to have a conversation with us etc. So we just let her come out of her shell on her own.
Last week she started paying special attention to me (for whatever reason, idk we dont have much in common at all). She would randomly come into my room (shared by 3 people) and start talking in a weird high pitch voice and would grab my hand and try to start a conversation.
For the most part I have been friendly with her but her way of speaking put me off from really getting close with her. Only with me she will speak in a baby voice, make strange exaggerated facial expressions, and say nonsensical things.
For example I will just sit on the couch and she will come up to me and say "wOuLd yOu LikE tO cOmE tO mY pArTy?????" In that weird creepy voice. Or she will send me a random DM saying something completely irrelevant like "Do you want to visit Russia with me?"
We are not close friends but she goes out of her way to pretend like we are. She will grab my hands and cuddle with me on the couch while having a nonsensical conversation that leads nowhere. She seems to be liked by everyone else and treats everyone else with respect.
The other day she popped into my room complaining that she hates her job and wanted a bunch of advice from me about what to do. I just wanted to help so I talked thru it with her for a few minutes and she acted super overly friendly the whole time?
I was a bit weirded out but I assumed she was just not good at making friends so i let it go. Anyway this week we ended up spending a lot of time together because i wanted to buy a new camera and she knew a place so we went together. And the next day we went on a long walk together.
She seemed to be acting normal during these outings but toward the end of the day would get snarky with me.
The next day we watched a movie with all the roommates and she kept holding my hand or poking me in a silly manner. Again I just thought she was really really awkward or something. But she seemed tobe having fun so I left it alone. I thought I was helping her come out of her shell etc.
Unfortunatley she seems to have turned the wrong corner and now she cannot hang out with me without saying something backhanded or making me extremely unsettled and uncomfortable.
We went to the grocery store together and it was perfectly normal but suddenly she became a totally different person, keeping my groceries away from me and holding my hand and creepily saying "I just wanna make you happy" or "lets go home and make out!" But she would always frame it as a joke.
Finally yesterday I was just laying on my bed and she came up to me with a camcorder and started recording me while insulting my appearance from afar??? I was just on my phone and she said "oh you have such a big nose and your room is really messy".
I just ignored her and decided not to engage with her anymore after this incident. Now she cannot stop following me around asking me if I am mad and grabbing me in some fake hug. She keeps making excuses to find me alone to confront me about why i "look mad at her".
Its getting totally out of hand at this point I started telling some of the other girls that shes being so creepy to me. Unfortunately it seems like she acts like this exclusively with me and the other girls cannot relate. I have one roommate who is empathetic and is a bit concermed as well.
But I dont really know where to go from here, why she is acting SO bizzarely toward me, or what I have done to make myself a target. I am not really a people pleaser or insecure about anything, I think I come off as very friendly and personable. I dont have low self esteem and im not in a particularly vulnerable spot in life.
Does anyone have any insight into this odd situation? Is there something I have done to attract this behavior?