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During the summer of 2021, after recovering from a challenging year full of uncertainty, lockdowns, and social distancing, I was dreaming of flying again, exploring new places, and engaging with authentic cultures. Yet the choices were still limited with COVID-19 restrictions imposed in many countries around the world.
The birthday solomoon
My first solo island adventure was to Seychelles, a country in East Africa and home to beautiful sandy beaches, coral reefs, and nature reserves. Not only was it my first trip in one year and a half, but also my birthday gift. Planning for this trip was tricky, especially with ‘The Honeymooners’ five stars luxurious accommodation options that didn’t necessarily fit with my taste or budget.
Eventually, I came across a charming family-owned residence situated in the heart of Beau Vallon beach, with panoramic views of Mahé Island. When I saw pictures of Villa Roscia, its themed rooms, simple yet artistic touch, and serene white and blue interiors, I felt I did belong.
The first post-COVID-19 flight was heavy and somehow awkward. However, as soon as I landed on the island, my mind went out of its cage and started wandering around between the pure greens and blues. I did not feel like a stranger. It was refreshing to take off my mask, see people smiling, walk barefoot on the sand, watch the sunset holding the open sea, and hear the music of Bob Marley while sipping a cocktail on the beach.
The island wasn’t so crowded back in June as people had just started to travel. This gave me the extra privilege of having private tours, still at a reasonable price, with local guides who shared their knowledge and made me discover many beautiful hidden gems on the island. I had the entire villa for myself for most of my stay. I was awakened by a rooster crowing every morning. I could open my balcony door to find myself on the villa’s terrace overlooking Beau Vallon beach.
The villa owners prepared my breakfast every day and made my birthday morning even more memorable with freshly made chocolate crepe and a souvenir from the island. The next day, my birthday adrenaline reached new heights with the roughest speedboat trip in my life (to date) to reach La Digue Island, which is about 90 minutes boat ride from Mahé and known for its beaches dotted with granite boulders. Thanks to two bold sailors, I survived the horror movie ride while practicing meditation and self-control with a decent amount of water splashing over my face.
New year, new beginnings
When approaching the end of 2021, my priority wasn’t figuring out what to do on New Year’s Eve but welcoming the next chapter with tranquility and fueling my energy with inspiration. The solo island experience was no longer a stranger; it became a preference!
My second solomoon target was The Maldives, a paradise on earth situated in the Indian Ocean. Again, the accommodation choice wasn’t straightforward, with over 130 island resorts to filter. I had to challenge my thoughts one more time: am I ok with staying solo in a romantic hideaway for five days without doing other activities beyond one island? Well, I did pass the Seychelles test, so why not step up to level two of the game! My search engine skills didn’t disappoint me, and I was blessed with finding the charming turquoise ‘Summer Island' located in North Male' Atoll, straddling the sun's path from east to west.
On January 2nd, 2022, I was off to the lovers’ island! After landing at Velana International Airport, I waited for other guests to arrive so we could all be transferred by speedboat to the resort. To my surprise, other solo travelers were waiting for their boat transfers among the honeymooners, families, and couples. The minute our boat left the port, a feeling of curiosity and excitement began to arise while observing secluded islands spread over an endless sea. When we reached the island, seaplanes were also landing there.
Despite all the other beautiful islands that I visited before, something was fascinating, beyond imagination, about the unspoiled nature in the Maldives and local people living in harmony with their surroundings. Staying in a beach villa was a dream that came true. Sipping my coffee while facing the sea, listening to the waves, appreciating the silence, smelling nature, and having a 360 walk around the island became my favorite morning rituals. I experienced many firsts: from fishing to snorkeling with sharks and sea turtles, kayaking for one hour on my own, and being photographed in the middle of the sea, surrounded by overwater villas and a drone flying over my head.
After spending five days on the island, I got used to the idea of ‘nothingness' and realized how much my body needed a cleanse, away from the busy city life and overly planned back-to-back holiday activities. I learned that it was ok to be on vacation for the sake of relaxing, chilling on the beach, eating fresh seafood and fruits, admiring the sunrise and sunset, emptying my mind from past or future occupations, and just enjoying the present moment.
Busting the myth
After having the time of my life with two breathtaking island solomoons, I was able to break my barriers and interact with uncomfortable thoughts and emotions. I am now eager to discover other ‘honeymoon’ islands, spend more quality time in nature, and try unconventional travel experiences with less to do but plenty to explore.
One of our biggest awakening moments coming out of the pandemic was the need to discover ourselves better and cope with ‘alone’ time. Creating that space meant gaining more clarity about what we want and how to have conscious interactions with other people. And while ‘honeymoon’ destinations can be an ideal choice for families and couples, they are equally intriguing for solo travelers seeking new inspiring places that can enrich their souls. So why wait for the perfect occasion and perfect travel partner and miss the opportunity of nurturing our lifetime ‘self companion’ to higher levels of divinity…
Inspiring. Keep it up :)