We hope this video has come across as we intended! In our opinion, Sumatra is an incredible place for all kinds of travellers, including solo women. The people here are overwhelmingly warm, friendly, caring, and welcoming. In most places, you'll feel safe, respected, and taken care of. But of course, there are always exceptions, so we wanted to make sure we covered the whole story of our travel experiences in Sumatra. Visiting Sumatra solo changed Carly's life - and she loved it so much that she ended up moving here - so it must be a pretty special place. 💚💚💚
That’s great content. I’ve never had an issue travelling solo in Indonesia and it would be a shame if women felt nervous about doing it. So thanks for speaking about this from a place of on the ground experience.
Nice to see you’re feeling better Carly. I must say what a wise and informative vlog from a couple of street savy travellers. Very well done! This type of subject really does need to be relayed for single female travellers anywhere in the world. Sumatra from my experience is full of happy, smiley and inquisitive locals wherever you go and I feel safer being in Toba than I do at home in Bristol, or even India, Thailand and Malaysia. I also have to agree with you, if some local brothers in a warung are asking for your company to join for a sing song or beverage, it is generally always innocent and inquisitive only and they just want to show off their musical skills to you and practice their English. Indonesia is probably one of the toughest places to travel but must be one of the safest. Great vlog but I’m a bloke who travels solo
Thanks so much for the insight Martin! Totally agree that for the most part, the invitations and friendliness are genuine and heartfelt. We are lucky to live in such a great place: 😊🙏❤️
Yay! We're so happy to hear that! It really is a special place. Hope you have an amazing time, and feel free to reach out if you need advice or a buddy! ☺
Aw thank you for saying that! I'm so glad it came across well. I was lucky enough to have a contact/friend here when I first ventured out, and it really helped boost my confidence, so really want to be that for other people! ❤☺
Just been to Lake Toba Samosir Island beautiful place and fantastic super friendly people, that's what I love most about Indonesia. Not traveling alone but I would if necessary
So glad to hear this has helped! It can be nervewracking going somewhere new - especially a place that's a bit more off the beaten path with less info. Hope you decide to visit and have an amazing trip! 😀
Been a male motorbike traveller for over ten years, with half of that by myself and half as as a couple. It seemed a strange contrast initially when you would describe a potentially unsafe or concerning experience, then say there were no negative experiences. I think this is an important contrast you raised that typically goes conflated for young adults or new travellers. It is a also a distinction that applies for men too. I too have to practice a heightened awareness at times, say when around dodgy areas, anytime exchanging cash, encountering drugged or fighting people, in a poor area with a lot of technology/wealth visibly on me, when I hitchhiked throughout Australia, or when I lived homeless for 6 months in Sydney - these are all concerning situations, a situation that calls for heightened awareness, in the chance that an unsafe path gets elected by fate - however over time one one develops smarts, develops an intuition, developers the ability to compose and recompose oneself to dissuade threats; such as this video's story of deciding to stay awake with the driver. Oden's Havamal had a lot of this type of wisdom inside it, especially when regarding the vulnerabilities of when a man opens himself up to a women, and was written in such a time where it was a necessity for each adult to develop and maintain enough self-composure to avoid exploitation and enable peace. Modern societies aim to extend protection to even those without the development of such self-composure, to reduce trauma and increase privilege, allowing more underprivileged vulnerable children to mature into productive adults, a noble cause, but can never be absolute; a lot of our protection as adults as things in which society can never protect us before the fact (such as abusive relationships, or a fling that turned into a robbery or disease), such requires a self-composed character; which travel calls upon us to develop. Another way to think about it, is that one wants to develop oneself into someone who reduces exposing their weakness (a vulnerability that one cannot defend) to untrusted parties, and for such weaknesses, one wants to develop oneself to convey a character that even if there is the potential for exploitation that it will not be worth it, and that one will and can overcome it; such a development of character allows for the peaceful interactions discussed in this video, where instead of things going badly, they went great - i.e. the example of hiking within the brotherhood of humanity. I believe that this gift of self-composure (knowing, protecting, proclaiming, enforcing one's personal boundaries against imposition) is portable, and upon returning to Australia (for your friend), it wouldn't be that Australia has changed and become more safe (although it could always be that too), but to some extent, it would also be that they themselves have also changed making their environment/firmament more safe.
I'll be in North Sumatra early April, 4 nights in TukTuk, 2 nights in Medan, 3 nights in Banda Aceh. Your video , although I'm a lone male traveler, has helped a lot !
Hello Carly, great video, fabulous cat t-shirt and tips 4 solo female travel! Traveled solo on bus, boat, horseback, walking, never the fear like the US! Terima kasih.
Hate-hati staying with new friends. Once in Bali i got my passport, camera, cash stolen when I stayed overnight with a foreign traveler. Managed to get most of it back but what a hassle! @@ExploringSumatra
If local women don't drink in bars or go for a walk in the bush for a swim, you are giving the impression you are easy, and if you end up a victim it will be your fault in their eyes.
Hey! We don't know about the practicalities of bus schedules or routes down that way, but safety-wise, shouldn't be a problem at all! Locals are super friendly and helpful. ☺
![DID WE GET SCAMMED In INDONESIA? [Episode 15]](/img/n.gif)
We hope this video has come across as we intended! In our opinion, Sumatra is an incredible place for all kinds of travellers, including solo women. The people here are overwhelmingly warm, friendly, caring, and welcoming. In most places, you'll feel safe, respected, and taken care of. But of course, there are always exceptions, so we wanted to make sure we covered the whole story of our travel experiences in Sumatra. Visiting Sumatra solo changed Carly's life - and she loved it so much that she ended up moving here - so it must be a pretty special place. 💚💚💚
That’s great content. I’ve never had an issue travelling solo in Indonesia and it would be a shame if women felt nervous about doing it. So thanks for speaking about this from a place of on the ground experience.
Thanks Paula! Great to have another vote of confidence from an experienced traveller 😊
Nice to see you’re feeling better Carly. I must say what a wise and informative vlog from a couple of street savy travellers. Very well done! This type of subject really does need to be relayed for single female travellers anywhere in the world. Sumatra from my experience is full of happy, smiley and inquisitive locals wherever you go and I feel safer being in Toba than I do at home in Bristol, or even India, Thailand and Malaysia. I also have to agree with you, if some local brothers in a warung are asking for your company to join for a sing song or beverage, it is generally always innocent and inquisitive only and they just want to show off their musical skills to you and practice their English. Indonesia is probably one of the toughest places to travel but must be one of the safest. Great vlog but I’m a bloke who travels solo
Thanks so much for the insight Martin! Totally agree that for the most part, the invitations and friendliness are genuine and heartfelt. We are lucky to live in such a great place: 😊🙏❤️
Thank you so much! I'm looking to travel to Sumatra by myself in March next year and this has reassured me that I've chosen the right destination :)
Me too! I want to travel in march
Yay! We're so happy to hear that! It really is a special place. Hope you have an amazing time, and feel free to reach out if you need advice or a buddy! ☺
Awesome! Maybe you guys can connect. We're sure you will have an amazing time here ☺
Thank you for helping others with your clip ✨
My pleasure 😊
Great video as usual Carly. You are so kind, it warmed my heart when you said - you have a friend here already 🧡
Aw thank you for saying that! I'm so glad it came across well. I was lucky enough to have a contact/friend here when I first ventured out, and it really helped boost my confidence, so really want to be that for other people! ❤☺
Just been to Lake Toba Samosir Island beautiful place and fantastic super friendly people, that's what I love most about Indonesia. Not traveling alone but I would if necessary
Awesome! So glad you enjoyed Samosir - it really is a stunning place. And couldn’t agree more about the friendliness of the people. 😊😊😊
Nice to see youTrudy!! Good common sense advice - as you said it could be useful anywhere you might travel.
🥰
Thank you so much for this information. I have been thinking of going there and was quite nervous. Really appreciate it your insight.❤
So glad to hear this has helped! It can be nervewracking going somewhere new - especially a place that's a bit more off the beaten path with less info. Hope you decide to visit and have an amazing trip! 😀
Been a male motorbike traveller for over ten years, with half of that by myself and half as as a couple. It seemed a strange contrast initially when you would describe a potentially unsafe or concerning experience, then say there were no negative experiences. I think this is an important contrast you raised that typically goes conflated for young adults or new travellers. It is a also a distinction that applies for men too. I too have to practice a heightened awareness at times, say when around dodgy areas, anytime exchanging cash, encountering drugged or fighting people, in a poor area with a lot of technology/wealth visibly on me, when I hitchhiked throughout Australia, or when I lived homeless for 6 months in Sydney - these are all concerning situations, a situation that calls for heightened awareness, in the chance that an unsafe path gets elected by fate - however over time one one develops smarts, develops an intuition, developers the ability to compose and recompose oneself to dissuade threats; such as this video's story of deciding to stay awake with the driver. Oden's Havamal had a lot of this type of wisdom inside it, especially when regarding the vulnerabilities of when a man opens himself up to a women, and was written in such a time where it was a necessity for each adult to develop and maintain enough self-composure to avoid exploitation and enable peace. Modern societies aim to extend protection to even those without the development of such self-composure, to reduce trauma and increase privilege, allowing more underprivileged vulnerable children to mature into productive adults, a noble cause, but can never be absolute; a lot of our protection as adults as things in which society can never protect us before the fact (such as abusive relationships, or a fling that turned into a robbery or disease), such requires a self-composed character; which travel calls upon us to develop. Another way to think about it, is that one wants to develop oneself into someone who reduces exposing their weakness (a vulnerability that one cannot defend) to untrusted parties, and for such weaknesses, one wants to develop oneself to convey a character that even if there is the potential for exploitation that it will not be worth it, and that one will and can overcome it; such a development of character allows for the peaceful interactions discussed in this video, where instead of things going badly, they went great - i.e. the example of hiking within the brotherhood of humanity. I believe that this gift of self-composure (knowing, protecting, proclaiming, enforcing one's personal boundaries against imposition) is portable, and upon returning to Australia (for your friend), it wouldn't be that Australia has changed and become more safe (although it could always be that too), but to some extent, it would also be that they themselves have also changed making their environment/firmament more safe.
I'll be in North Sumatra early April, 4 nights in TukTuk, 2 nights in Medan, 3 nights in Banda Aceh.
Your video , although I'm a lone male traveler, has helped a lot !
Hey! That's so great to hear - for sure the general safety tips are useful for all travellers! And yay for your upcoming trip - how exciting! ☺
Thank your for the information- I am a solo traveler and will definitely write for guide recommendations 😊
Awesome - so glad you found the video! Happy to help out with recommendations :)
Perfect timing. Just sent a link to a lady asking of it's safe for solo female travellers in Sumatra. Cheers, STL
Excellent! Hopefully she finds this helpful - thanks for sharing 😀🙏
Hello Carly, great video, fabulous cat t-shirt and tips 4 solo female travel! Traveled solo on bus, boat, horseback, walking, never the fear like the US! Terima kasih.
Hey Liz - haha I love the cat shirt! From the markets in Tomok - "Huting" is the Batak word for cat. 😺
Hate-hati staying with new friends. Once in Bali i got my passport, camera, cash stolen when I stayed overnight with a foreign traveler. Managed to get most of it back but what a hassle! @@ExploringSumatra
great vlog great topic take care stay safe
Thank you mate! Back at you ☺
Sumatran ❤
If local women don't drink in bars or go for a walk in the bush for a swim, you are giving the impression you are easy, and if you end up a victim it will be your fault in their eyes.
Can I travel from bottom of Sumatra to dumai port safely as a Australian, by bus, thank u
Hey! We don't know about the practicalities of bus schedules or routes down that way, but safety-wise, shouldn't be a problem at all! Locals are super friendly and helpful. ☺
Buaya darat😂
Mana ada? 🤣