I get what you mean by your life is meant to be lived with others, but also life doesn’t pause when others don’t want to go. Why do I solo travel? Because I don’t want to wait for others to go and I don’t expect my friends to live the same lifestyle only saving up to travel. I met some of my best friends abroad and I would not trade it for the world. I went through so much while I was alone traveling for months, but I learned so much resilience. I love you and your mindsets Anja, but for me and a lot of people I met it was out of necessity instead of choice
I'm an anthropology student and I think the questions you raise at the beginning are so worth exploring. I took a course called Anthropology & Travel at my university and we really focused on different elements of tourism and how they impacted the communities they're targeted at. It was an interesting look at travel that I didn't fully pay attention to until that moment.
hey just a heads up i would recommend you really look into better help because it has been in a lot of controversies and the "therapists" aren't certified or board approved pls, look into the allegations and the horrible things that better help has done ( like selling private information and personal info you talk about with therapists) before taking any more sponsors from them... or don't it your platform.
I paid for a whole month and the therapist kept having bad connection so our meetings would get cut short and they kept “forgetting” to send me homework they wanted me to work on. Basically talked for like an hour the whole allotted time and they refused to refund me and just said I could change therapists if I continue to pay. (which it’s not cheap 🥲) But I’m happy that it works for some people and they find therapist that help them! I suppose the company just needs to monitor things a bit more and be more consistent.
i am sobbing. as someone who has drove across the country and sat crying at the airport in costa rica looking for something inside. travel has brought me to the most wonderful people. it hurts to be home and away from community. we are meant to be together, truly meant for it :,( thank you for this video. i feel it immensely. every aspect. and the hug between you and ur sister. i hope one day to experience that hug again. ur vulnerability is important and this share is so special. thanku for being you.
This is my favorite video you have ever made. It’s remarkable how specific this was for things that I’ve experienced feeling but didn’t have words for and haven’t heard anyone else talk about! So much love to you, Anja ❤
Anja I just wanna say that your videos have been giving me so much comfort for years now. Your spirit and kindness have such a special and beautiful energy you can literally feel through the screen. Everytime I watch your videos something inside of me heals and I appreciate you and your work so much. You deserve nothing but all the happiness in the world, thank you for your existence, I hope you know how happy you make the people around you and how special you are.
i tried solo traveling last summer (because of a breakup) and it opend so much. I loved it so muchhhh. and it is just a thing to escape from things for me
1:57 hit me where it hurts. For as long as I could remember I had dreams to solo travel. I went on a handful of solo trips and I already noticed that a lot of it (in my case) is running away from community and reality. Running away from self. It's an interesting realization to come to, especially when your only real dream was traveling. After my last adventure, I don't know if I can solo travel anymore. I start to feel lonely much more quickly these days and it's a little more difficult to cope with that. Thank you for being vulnerable in this
A life well lived is a life with people that you love around you.. that loves YOU BACK! Years ago i quitted all my friendships because they were all one-way friendships and they were consuming me. I was always the one giving, helping, just being there for them, being available always, making compromises, do things i didn't really like jut to be with them, and i felt so stupid because i never wanted or expected anything in return. At one point I didn't even know who I was or what I liked, I was completely lost.. I was so focused on loving other people that i forgot to love myself first. Alone I don't feel lonely like I did with others, and I don't miss someone to share my experience with. I feel like I am finally enjoying life
Omg thanks for sharing your perspective on solo travelling! I recently been to Australia for a year and after some time I got really exhausted and felt a lack of security. Because of the missing deep connections or sense on what I'm doing. It feels so great to hear someone that felt the same while traveling.
I really resonate with what you´re mentioning at the start. I two years ago I was loving solo travelling because I had nothing pulling me home. Last year I went off on my own again expecting the same liberating feelings I had the year before. But since day one I was so homesick because now I had someone waiting for me back home, someone I just wanted to spend time with, no matter where that is. So now I am obviously very happy to have found my home-person but at the sime time I´m sad to not be able to enjoy solo-travelling any more :D
I solo traveled last summer and it was some of the most miserable moments of my life. I’m an extremely outgoing person yet still struggled to meet people and create connections, and when I did they wouldn’t last longer than a day. I fell into a really lonely and hard cycle and ultimately came home early. Knowing what I know now community and companionship take priority over travel in my life, fortunately I’ve figured out how to have both to a degree. An experience, for me, isn’t lived until it’s shared.
There is a difference between being alone and feeling loneliness. Also, you need to empty the garbage in your mind or the garbage will follow you even to paradise. At the the end we are the architects of our own hell. Enjoy the spectrum!
This entire video is exactly what ive been feeling and thinking, it honestly makes me feel much better to know I’m not alone in these thoughts and feelings. Thankyou for this video, really
Anja I really resonate sm with you. I've lived in China for the past 10 months and I still have 14 more months ahead of me living here and it's been quite hard for me to realize that I have left my nest of deep rooted connections behind, it's felt quite lonely here, and I cannot wait to see my friends and family again. I also think that solo traveling is sometimes overrated and the way society and media sometimes is trying to push you into not needing anyone with all these, on my opinion, selfish unrealistic speeches about independency and focus on just making your money I find it quite sad and extremist. Your videos feel like a hug and is nice to see that others think similar to you and you're not alone. Thanks for this! 🧡
hey you, i am a german girl living in the south. I was never alone while traveling and i have this feeling that i have to do it because everybody does it.. also i have never left europe. And its a real pressure to do it.. because of our society. And you know what.. i give a fuck, because i am actually very happy with my live and when i am ready to do stuff like this, i will do it! xoxo lara
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on solo travel (especially Thailand!), I’ve had these exact thoughts while traveling south east asia solo for 7 months, but I felt so alone with this! At times I even felt really guilty bc of feeling depressed on a cool trip so many people would do anything for, this was beyond validating! Loads of love from berlin
this video touched me on so many levels. also I didn't watch it until today bc the the topic of solo traveling is stressing me lots since it is almost expected to be done by everyone in our generation. I really appreciate your honesty and different perspectives
ugh yes I just realized I didn't properly explain. I didn't go into full detail incase it could be too triggering but I'll explain it here. i witnessed the after effects of someone drowning in the resort pool :( The ambulance came with the AED and cpr but it was too late. This was very sad and I hold so much empathy and sadness for the family of this person ❤️
@@ANJAexists Shit, that must've been horrible. Even worse for the people who knew the person who drowned of course, but it must've been terrible for the rest of you too. Must have sucked to be travelling alone and experience something like that. I get that it's probably some time ago, but sending hugs.
@@ANJAexists aww that's so sad. I understand why it shook you so much now.. I appreciate you looking out for people that get triggered but in the end it is your story and the point of the trigger warning is to go into these uncomfortable topics (if you want to) without offending anyone, because you know.. you warned them. Very sad. But you are extremely eloquent in specific parts of the video I can't imagine you not finding the right words. Thanks for sharing! ❤
i love you and your videos Anja! ive been following you for a long long time when you were just posting art videos haha and its been so fun to see your journey through life. i truly resonate with the things you talk about and it makes me happy :) i wish you the best!
Thank you for sharing Anja, I truly feel like I have grown up with you watching your videos, as I have just come back from one of my solo trips myself and have been having some of the same thoughts you've just expressed, I really love watching your videos as I feel I am listening to a friend.
my view on your experience on solo travel is that you were not in the 'right' mindset for it. you just had a sort of break-up or started a ldr and you were feeling kinda down and that, to my eyes, affected your mood, and your views on it...
hiii :) ah! your right :/ I didn’t fully explain because last second I decided it might be too sensitive of a topic to talk about here. But I responded to another comment explaining what I saw :(😢
It's incredible how introspective you are about your whole experience and solo traveling in general Anja 🙏 This is full of your fantastic and goofy humour but also filled with very important questions about travel, tourism and culture, I loved watching all of it!!
Anja, I understand what you are saying. I went to the Wim Hof expedition on February and its something that I had been wanting to do for ever, since I started ice bathing years back. So this year I finally went and I felt like I finally had find my sense of community so I experienced much healing and growth. However, after the five days I was there I still didn't want to come back because I was running away from my life. It felt like I had met my tribe and the PUFF was gone. So I stayed in Europe jumping around between people I knew. However, everyone was still living their lives and I was wondering around them. I did get a lot out of it because I was still around friends and family but still lost in a way. I always wanted to solo travel but the one time I did it I didn't like that feeling of being alone and the unknown of where my life was heading. This year a lot of things did clear up for me. That I would travel but only in community-based environments and with projects that gave me the sense of purpose of why I was doing it in the first place. I think this video is very valuable for people that want to solo travel to understand the pros and cons and to always source for community because its the one thing that really matters at the end. There are people in this world built to solo travel, I follow some youtube bloggers like Eva Zubeck and I believe that for people like her it does actually work. Most of us do indeed have the need to feel like we are a part of tribe or we will feel anxious and lost. Nomads back in the time used to travel, but always in tribe. I believe that our ancestors had many things right that we as a society do not anymore. Sending loves. Keep it up!
pausing 7 minutes in to say wow wow wow. I feel so understood. I recently solo traveled on my own, and long stayed in asia for about 2 months. and i struggled so much with all of these thoughts, emotions, and more. it really opened my eyes to "tourism" and escapism and even, as you said, modern-day colonialist fervor with which us young people are selfishly going out in search of purpose. It really immediately brings up so much hidden to your surface. I empathize so much Anja, love you and thank you for sharing this vulnerability 🤍
Thank you Anja for speaking so honestly about Solo Traveling! A lot of what you mentioned i have already thought about and it is nice to hear somebody have the same thoughts!
It is food for thought how we love to travel to far-away 'exotic' places, yet when we get there we want them to be familiar, with people speaking a language we already understand, food we're used to, a tourism industry, etc. and how we thusly 'westernize' countries when we travel to them.
Wow you really brought up a new perspective I never thought about with solo traveling and the comfortable feeling of capitalism abroad. Oh Anja, I’ve missed your videos so much. They truly bring me so much joy and I wish I could find a friend like you
Living in my country for people who are single, under 40 and not from wealthy families is insanely hard and expensive to the point where even if you have a degree and a decent wage, you'll still live in a crime infested dump, paycheck to paycheck with no way out. The system where i live has been made so that anyone that isn't a part of the few that own most the wealth will be working just to survive and their wages will go into the pockets of those insanely wealthy... I'm an introvert, being around people drains me even though i like almost everyone i meet but sadly the only way i can save is to share accommodation, which is extremely stressful. If I spend my vacation pay overseas, while doing some remote work I can be alone, relax, recharge and the rent in most places is 1/20th of what i'd pay to get the same in my home, food is also a lot cheaper so i end up overall saving. So yes, travel is escape for me, but it's also the only time i get 100% to myself. Once i've recharged i have the energy to interact with the locals and I've never had a bad experience so far and i've travelled to 16 countries. My country is greedy and the older gens hold most the wealth, their kids are just as selfish and entitled as them so i'm done being a slave to the landlord boomers of my country. I've always tried to promote positive ideas and even worked in many different charities but all seem to lead to some rich horrible person abusing the kindness of anyone involved. So yeah, i'm done. life is too short to be a slave. All my savings will go into travel and working abroad until I find a place that truly feels like home, then i will most likely move there. I think I've found it in Lebanon and I'm now going through the process of getting a visa to stay and work there for at least a year. The way I see it, with this level of greed, no real community can exist. So i'm finding a community in a place with nearly no wealth, where the people have been though so much and yet still push to help one another. Seeing you with your sister makes me want a family or to be in a community even more. - Sorry english is not my first language. I hope you all watching this video find what it is that you need in life and please dont be so hard on yourselves. Times are tough and you're here, you'll get through what it is you need to get through and things can always get better
“Gotta have the opposites dark and light, light and dark in a painting. It’s like in life. Gots to have a little sadness once in a while so you know when the good times come. I’m waiting on the good times now.” Bob Ross
I also did solo travelling 2017 to Indonesia. Felt mostly super alone and isolated. struggled a lot. had a boyfriend at home, but he kept stopping our communication. Didnt watch yet the video until the end, but felt already super related to it. It was a learning, but also quite harsh.
watching this and weird to recognize Koh Tao!! I understand this video as I have been travelling through Thailand. Although I will say it is a huge privilege to be able to go to a new place and experience the culture, and trying to make it authentic for yourself is the only way through.
Hi anja, i never comment on videos, but I’m currently travelling south east asia, and i’ve had exactly the same feelings you had whilst travelling. Especially regarding the erasure of culture due to capitalism/the reality of tourism/the purpose of travelling. So hearing you talk about this, especially when its not really takes about (i feel like social media has such a big impact on driving the hype around tourism and glorifying the influencer lifestyle) reassured me a little that i’m not the only person seeing all the bullshit. I started really questioning all of this after reading an article by the new yorker called the case against travelling. I would recommend you read it, it doesn’t get too into capitalism and it’s impact, but it explores the facade around travelling culture. Love that you shared this, sending love from indonesia!!
i do relate to one of your point ..... at first the way for me to travel was Erasmus projects and volunteerings ... and once i had my own money to go and travel it was just soo fake and didn't enjoy that much
Independence as a skill is nice. But community for me is what matters more, the connections of humans. 💕 I can be alone a few hours but also is humans are meant to be together. I’m happiest and most regulated with people I love and in the beautiful part of humanity.
Hahah cutie, you respond to so many comments - i hope negativity doesn‘t ever get you down. I really appreciate your sincere videos and to hear about your view on life It‘s nice listening to you and I resonate with a lot of things that you share. You go girl, live your artsy cute little life and figure out what it‘s all about for u - i love hearing about it :D I always save your videos for a special moment where I‘m calm and can really enjoy it, if that makes sense :) it‘s like a treat hehe
It is important to acknowledge that the tourism sector is important for these people that had to have an income. Yes it is unfair that it often is their only way but I would not put that on the travelers but the nations letting and have let this happen. The realistic thing to do is to unite and fight against these problematic areas!
I resonate with your message in this video. I found it really amazing you feel the same as me about caring for others and not using money to have connections with others.. it's almost if that experience was transactional.
Thanks for this video and sharing your thoughts. It makes so much sense. Solo traveling is not always easy and fun, there will be often days, where life just sucks. (It feels like a full time job, working on yourself and being outside of your comfort zone, alone by yourself). You made me realise a lot of things I didn't had words for that before
This was a really interesting view of travel, which I had never really considered. as someone who is considering going travelling potentially on my own for the first time. thanks for another Interesting video that challenges my perceptions of the world. It be tough out here but I'm glad to see you making an attempt to thrive :)
I'm still watching, so I might add on to this - but for now, unrelated to the topic: Anja, you are GLOWING! You look so good, shining from the inside out. I hope that's how you feel too :)
Hey Anja! Have you read the essay "A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again", by David Foster Wallace? It was all I could think about while watching the video. It's a really funny article Wallace wrote for a magazine covering 7 days on board of a luxury cruise. He goes quite deep into the whole "tourist experience"
hi! I am so sorry that you had to go through something that was clearly very disturbing and had a lasting effect on you. I won't ask you to explain more, but if anyone knows what it was or which video it is that explains the moment in 8:45 and would clear things up for me I would really appreciate it
omg yes! love your videos and how much connected I feel to the things you share. i’m honestly feeling the same way rn about solo traveling and about traveling in general!!!!!!! there’s so much complexity to it - it’s hard to find the way to travel that actually fulfills our soul and not just feeds the hurting inside and the capitalism outaide
I love 😍 solo travel no one to argue with no dramas you meet more people on your own and get to know your self better the way you are acting I would rather stick to solo travel you prove my point 😊
yesss so so true!! if you have the capacity, its the best! my first time solo traveling was so most rich experience of my life with meeting new people and exploring the world :)
I think your views on travel are very valid but that theres also another side to it. Yes tourism has changed the culture in some areas, but it has also provided for communities in a way that was not previously there. Yes solo travel can seem selfish if you view it from a 'I pay you serve' point of view, but if you look at it from a 'intentional reset' time it might seem less selfish. Absolutely consumerism has major ethical and moral issues but I think what you've actually discovered in all of this is that choosing HOW you travel and interact with tourism culture matters. Choosing places that aren't big tourist traps but instead share local culture, choosing to support local businesses and local cuisine/products, choosing to emerge yourself in another place instead of expecting that place to conform to your comfort levels - that all supports all the things you love and encourages growth in those communities, while also still supporting those communities with your travel. I would say the question is not 'is tourism right?' and rather 'what is the right way to tour a place?'.
I admire that you can have such lucid revelations while abroad, often it takes me weeks to process after going on a trip. Your observations of capitalism creating comfort abroad for tourists are really poignant and I agree that for all of the valuable things you can get out of travel, deep meaningful connection to place and people isn’t one of them. Unless you do workaway, which I would recommend for anyone. Otherwise even if you do a program or retreat somewhere and make great friends, most of the time those people are from all over the world and when the program ends, you may never see them again. I’m not sure I 100% agree with your criticism of solo travel, because for me it isn’t a lonely experience - in fact it’s one of the few times I can be alone and not feel lonely. There’s so much to do and see and I love being a mysterious stranger sometimes, looking out at the other mysterious strangers and imagining the possibilities. While not lonely, I do struggle with the ethics of solo travel, as it can be easier to leave a place than to put down roots somewhere and do the work to build a life. But since people usually don’t have the means to spend their whole life traveling, this is pretty much a moot point, and overall I think solo travel is one of the best ways to challenge yourself, learn what your limitations are and areas for growth, and improve certain skills like languages, photography, and cultural sensitivity and exchange. And like you said, a seemingly inconsequential meeting with someone or a new experience abroad can totally change the course of your life. You’ll never know if you don’t try it.
You are a wonderful person and you need to be around people you trust. There is nothing wrong about that. The pool story is really sad. There is nothing to say to make it any better. I saw similar things with bike drivers, so I'm glad you walked. Thailand is one of the most dangerous countries for tourists and it's not because of crime. But it's the county of smiles and that suits very good to you. So if I can wish something for you.. you can adopt everything from us Germans but never stop smiling or to be Anja. Even if it's just for people you trust 😉
I love the way you go through your various thought processes ❤️ I am big into the ways capitalism and tourism intertwine and you just collected all those thoughts beautifully
I resonate so much with this video. I felt so much guilt while solo traveling, on one side because I felt deep inside me like I was doing something wrong (a capitalism marionette, made to take pictures and go from attraction to attraction) and on the other hand I felt a huge pressure to enjoy it and be productive and felt guilty for not being able to appreciate the amazing places and cultures I was experiencing. When I came back home I told myself I would only travel with a purpose. I really felt the community thing. I’ve been trying to be completely independent for my whole life and have now realized that it’s a ridiculous pursuit. Being with supported and appreciated and loved by others feeds us and it enables us to grow. Independence doesn’t have to mean being alone!! Thank you so much Anja these were words I really needed to hear, I’ve been feeling very alone in my view of solo traveling.
New sub here. Love your videography, and your art is obviously pure genuine talent. Although capitalism is far from perfect, it has proven to be the most sustainable throughout time civilization-wise. While we here in the US philosophize every kind gesture, there are other countries with people who only hope for a means to survive one more hour. The best way to really understand is to live with them on the streets of a 3rd world country with no shelter, no phone, and no protection totally vulnerable. Survival skills will immediately be the only priority every second of every minute. It is dangerous, but sometimes, it is what it takes to genuinely change your perspective in the long run. I went through it unvoluntarily. Not fun
I have a question because i would like to be able to travel a lot someday. How do you fund your traveling? Do you use your youtube money, or somethung else?
I get what you mean by your life is meant to be lived with others, but also life doesn’t pause when others don’t want to go. Why do I solo travel? Because I don’t want to wait for others to go and I don’t expect my friends to live the same lifestyle only saving up to travel. I met some of my best friends abroad and I would not trade it for the world. I went through so much while I was alone traveling for months, but I learned so much resilience. I love you and your mindsets Anja, but for me and a lot of people I met it was out of necessity instead of choice
I'm an anthropology student and I think the questions you raise at the beginning are so worth exploring. I took a course called Anthropology & Travel at my university and we really focused on different elements of tourism and how they impacted the communities they're targeted at. It was an interesting look at travel that I didn't fully pay attention to until that moment.
hey just a heads up i would recommend you really look into better help because it has been in a lot of controversies and the "therapists" aren't certified or board approved pls, look into the allegations and the horrible things that better help has done ( like selling private information and personal info you talk about with therapists) before taking any more sponsors from them... or don't it your platform.
agree -- in addition they are an israeli owned and zionist company... so all around not a great company to work with
Certainly not helping Anja 😂😂
THANK YOU for saying this!!!
I paid for a whole month and the therapist kept having bad connection so our meetings would get cut short and they kept “forgetting” to send me homework they wanted me to work on. Basically talked for like an hour the whole allotted time and they refused to refund me and just said I could change therapists if I continue to pay. (which it’s not cheap 🥲) But I’m happy that it works for some people and they find therapist that help them! I suppose the company just needs to monitor things a bit more and be more consistent.
i tried using it and it consistently matched me with the exact opposite of the kind of therapist i wanted and it just seemed sketch
i am sobbing. as someone who has drove across the country and sat crying at the airport in costa rica looking for something inside. travel has brought me to the most wonderful people. it hurts to be home and away from community. we are meant to be together, truly meant for it :,( thank you for this video. i feel it immensely. every aspect. and the hug between you and ur sister. i hope one day to experience that hug again. ur vulnerability is important and this share is so special. thanku for being you.
This is my favorite video you have ever made. It’s remarkable how specific this was for things that I’ve experienced feeling but didn’t have words for and haven’t heard anyone else talk about! So much love to you, Anja ❤
Anja I just wanna say that your videos have been giving me so much comfort for years now. Your spirit and kindness have such a special and beautiful energy you can literally feel through the screen. Everytime I watch your videos something inside of me heals and I appreciate you and your work so much. You deserve nothing but all the happiness in the world, thank you for your existence, I hope you know how happy you make the people around you and how special you are.
i tried solo traveling last summer (because of a breakup) and it opend so much. I loved it so muchhhh. and it is just a thing to escape from things for me
1:57 hit me where it hurts. For as long as I could remember I had dreams to solo travel. I went on a handful of solo trips and I already noticed that a lot of it (in my case) is running away from community and reality. Running away from self. It's an interesting realization to come to, especially when your only real dream was traveling. After my last adventure, I don't know if I can solo travel anymore. I start to feel lonely much more quickly these days and it's a little more difficult to cope with that. Thank you for being vulnerable in this
A life well lived is a life with people that you love around you.. that loves YOU BACK! Years ago i quitted all my friendships because they were all one-way friendships and they were consuming me. I was always the one giving, helping, just being there for them, being available always, making compromises, do things i didn't really like jut to be with them, and i felt so stupid because i never wanted or expected anything in return. At one point I didn't even know who I was or what I liked, I was completely lost.. I was so focused on loving other people that i forgot to love myself first. Alone I don't feel lonely like I did with others, and I don't miss someone to share my experience with. I feel like I am finally enjoying life
Omg thanks for sharing your perspective on solo travelling! I recently been to Australia for a year and after some time I got really exhausted and felt a lack of security. Because of the missing deep connections or sense on what I'm doing. It feels so great to hear someone that felt the same while traveling.
I really resonate with what you´re mentioning at the start. I two years ago I was loving solo travelling because I had nothing pulling me home. Last year I went off on my own again expecting the same liberating feelings I had the year before. But since day one I was so homesick because now I had someone waiting for me back home, someone I just wanted to spend time with, no matter where that is. So now I am obviously very happy to have found my home-person but at the sime time I´m sad to not be able to enjoy solo-travelling any more :D
I solo traveled last summer and it was some of the most miserable moments of my life. I’m an extremely outgoing person yet still struggled to meet people and create connections, and when I did they wouldn’t last longer than a day. I fell into a really lonely and hard cycle and ultimately came home early. Knowing what I know now community and companionship take priority over travel in my life, fortunately I’ve figured out how to have both to a degree. An experience, for me, isn’t lived until it’s shared.
There is a difference between being alone and feeling loneliness. Also, you need to empty the garbage in your mind or the garbage will follow you even to paradise. At the the end we are the architects of our own hell. Enjoy the spectrum!
This entire video is exactly what ive been feeling and thinking, it honestly makes me feel much better to know I’m not alone in these thoughts and feelings. Thankyou for this video, really
Ι always find your videos when i need them the most 💛
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Anja I really resonate sm with you. I've lived in China for the past 10 months and I still have 14 more months ahead of me living here and it's been quite hard for me to realize that I have left my nest of deep rooted connections behind, it's felt quite lonely here, and I cannot wait to see my friends and family again. I also think that solo traveling is sometimes overrated and the way society and media sometimes is trying to push you into not needing anyone with all these, on my opinion, selfish unrealistic speeches about independency and focus on just making your money I find it quite sad and extremist. Your videos feel like a hug and is nice to see that others think similar to you and you're not alone. Thanks for this! 🧡
I just love your honesty and thought process on everything! You're the best Anja
I LOVE ur hair when ur talking to the camera!!! it's so pretty!!! and such an amazing video
hey you, i am a german girl living in the south. I was never alone while traveling and i have this feeling that i have to do it because everybody does it.. also i have never left europe. And its a real pressure to do it.. because of our society. And you know what.. i give a fuck, because i am actually very happy with my live and when i am ready to do stuff like this, i will do it!
xoxo lara
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on solo travel (especially Thailand!), I’ve had these exact thoughts while traveling south east asia solo for 7 months, but I felt so alone with this! At times I even felt really guilty bc of feeling depressed on a cool trip so many people would do anything for, this was beyond validating! Loads of love from berlin
this video touched me on so many levels. also I didn't watch it until today bc the the topic of solo traveling is stressing me lots since it is almost expected to be done by everyone in our generation. I really appreciate your honesty and different perspectives
What happened 9:00 ? You never explained, there were tourists with shocked faces running around? I am so confused
ugh yes I just realized I didn't properly explain. I didn't go into full detail incase it could be too triggering but I'll explain it here. i witnessed the after effects of someone drowning in the resort pool :( The ambulance came with the AED and cpr but it was too late. This was very sad and I hold so much empathy and sadness for the family of this person ❤️
@@ANJAexists Shit, that must've been horrible. Even worse for the people who knew the person who drowned of course, but it must've been terrible for the rest of you too. Must have sucked to be travelling alone and experience something like that. I get that it's probably some time ago, but sending hugs.
@@ANJAexists aww that's so sad. I understand why it shook you so much now.. I appreciate you looking out for people that get triggered but in the end it is your story and the point of the trigger warning is to go into these uncomfortable topics (if you want to) without offending anyone, because you know.. you warned them. Very sad. But you are extremely eloquent in specific parts of the video I can't imagine you not finding the right words. Thanks for sharing! ❤
Girl, you're still young, you'll find your way x
i love you and your videos Anja! ive been following you for a long long time when you were just posting art videos haha and its been so fun to see your journey through life. i truly resonate with the things you talk about and it makes me happy :) i wish you the best!
thank you avaaaa❤ Just wait!! There’s lots of fun art content coming backkk hehe :)
Thank you for sharing Anja, I truly feel like I have grown up with you watching your videos, as I have just come back from one of my solo trips myself and have been having some of the same thoughts you've just expressed, I really love watching your videos as I feel I am listening to a friend.
girl you spoke UP im so glad u did
my view on your experience on solo travel is that you were not in the 'right' mindset for it. you just had a sort of break-up or started a ldr and you were feeling kinda down and that, to my eyes, affected your mood, and your views on it...
i fr did not understand what happened in that live footage?
maybe I missed it too but I don't think she explained it?!
hiii :) ah! your right :/ I didn’t fully explain because last second I decided it might be too sensitive of a topic to talk about here. But I responded to another comment explaining what I saw :(😢
It's incredible how introspective you are about your whole experience and solo traveling in general Anja 🙏 This is full of your fantastic and goofy humour but also filled with very important questions about travel, tourism and culture, I loved watching all of it!!
thank u so much for sharing this perspective on traveling it’s SO important and genuine and not talked abt
Anja, I understand what you are saying. I went to the Wim Hof expedition on February and its something that I had been wanting to do for ever, since I started ice bathing years back. So this year I finally went and I felt like I finally had find my sense of community so I experienced much healing and growth. However, after the five days I was there I still didn't want to come back because I was running away from my life. It felt like I had met my tribe and the PUFF was gone. So I stayed in Europe jumping around between people I knew. However, everyone was still living their lives and I was wondering around them. I did get a lot out of it because I was still around friends and family but still lost in a way. I always wanted to solo travel but the one time I did it I didn't like that feeling of being alone and the unknown of where my life was heading. This year a lot of things did clear up for me. That I would travel but only in community-based environments and with projects that gave me the sense of purpose of why I was doing it in the first place. I think this video is very valuable for people that want to solo travel to understand the pros and cons and to always source for community because its the one thing that really matters at the end. There are people in this world built to solo travel, I follow some youtube bloggers like Eva Zubeck and I believe that for people like her it does actually work. Most of us do indeed have the need to feel like we are a part of tribe or we will feel anxious and lost. Nomads back in the time used to travel, but always in tribe. I believe that our ancestors had many things right that we as a society do not anymore. Sending loves. Keep it up!
an Anja video is all i need rn!
pausing 7 minutes in to say wow wow wow. I feel so understood. I recently solo traveled on my own, and long stayed in asia for about 2 months. and i struggled so much with all of these thoughts, emotions, and more. it really opened my eyes to "tourism" and escapism and even, as you said, modern-day colonialist fervor with which us young people are selfishly going out in search of purpose. It really immediately brings up so much hidden to your surface. I empathize so much Anja, love you and thank you for sharing this vulnerability 🤍
Your hair color and style during narrating is a vibe as well as your whole outfit 🤙🏼
It’s like listening to a friend tell about their adventures when I watch your videos.
Thank you Anja for speaking so honestly about Solo Traveling! A lot of what you mentioned i have already thought about and it is nice to hear somebody have the same thoughts!
It is food for thought how we love to travel to far-away 'exotic' places, yet when we get there we want them to be familiar, with people speaking a language we already understand, food we're used to, a tourism industry, etc. and how we thusly 'westernize' countries when we travel to them.
Wow you really brought up a new perspective I never thought about with solo traveling and the comfortable feeling of capitalism abroad. Oh Anja, I’ve missed your videos so much. They truly bring me so much joy and I wish I could find a friend like you
Always a good day when the queen uploads ❤️
after almost finishing the video, i remember myself back in 2020 when i found your videos, and how different i am from the teenager i once was 💛
I want you to know how valuable you talking about these things is!!!! You make this world a better place one video at a time. Love you
Living in my country for people who are single, under 40 and not from wealthy families is insanely hard and expensive to the point where even if you have a degree and a decent wage, you'll still live in a crime infested dump, paycheck to paycheck with no way out. The system where i live has been made so that anyone that isn't a part of the few that own most the wealth will be working just to survive and their wages will go into the pockets of those insanely wealthy... I'm an introvert, being around people drains me even though i like almost everyone i meet but sadly the only way i can save is to share accommodation, which is extremely stressful. If I spend my vacation pay overseas, while doing some remote work I can be alone, relax, recharge and the rent in most places is 1/20th of what i'd pay to get the same in my home, food is also a lot cheaper so i end up overall saving. So yes, travel is escape for me, but it's also the only time i get 100% to myself. Once i've recharged i have the energy to interact with the locals and I've never had a bad experience so far and i've travelled to 16 countries. My country is greedy and the older gens hold most the wealth, their kids are just as selfish and entitled as them so i'm done being a slave to the landlord boomers of my country. I've always tried to promote positive ideas and even worked in many different charities but all seem to lead to some rich horrible person abusing the kindness of anyone involved. So yeah, i'm done. life is too short to be a slave. All my savings will go into travel and working abroad until I find a place that truly feels like home, then i will most likely move there. I think I've found it in Lebanon and I'm now going through the process of getting a visa to stay and work there for at least a year. The way I see it, with this level of greed, no real community can exist. So i'm finding a community in a place with nearly no wealth, where the people have been though so much and yet still push to help one another. Seeing you with your sister makes me want a family or to be in a community even more. - Sorry english is not my first language. I hope you all watching this video find what it is that you need in life and please dont be so hard on yourselves. Times are tough and you're here, you'll get through what it is you need to get through and things can always get better
Your videos being tears to my eyes. So beautiful and raw. You’re an inspiration 💕
I'm sorry but I don't really understand what happened at the restaurant, can someone explain it to me? :(
I didn’t understand either
hey idk if you're still looking for this answer 7 months later, but she had witnessed the aftermath of someone drowning in the resort pool
“Gotta have the opposites dark and light, light and dark in a painting. It’s like in life. Gots to have a little sadness once in a while so you know when the good times come. I’m waiting on the good times now.” Bob Ross
I also did solo travelling 2017 to Indonesia. Felt mostly super alone and isolated. struggled a lot. had a boyfriend at home, but he kept stopping our communication. Didnt watch yet the video until the end, but felt already super related to it. It was a learning, but also quite harsh.
You're a gem, your videos are a gift and I'm so glad you're in the world. Thank you.
watching this and weird to recognize Koh Tao!! I understand this video as I have been travelling through Thailand. Although I will say it is a huge privilege to be able to go to a new place and experience the culture, and trying to make it authentic for yourself is the only way through.
Hi anja, i never comment on videos, but I’m currently travelling south east asia, and i’ve had exactly the same feelings you had whilst travelling. Especially regarding the erasure of culture due to capitalism/the reality of tourism/the purpose of travelling. So hearing you talk about this, especially when its not really takes about (i feel like social media has such a big impact on driving the hype around tourism and glorifying the influencer lifestyle) reassured me a little that i’m not the only person seeing all the bullshit. I started really questioning all of this after reading an article by the new yorker called the case against travelling. I would recommend you read it, it doesn’t get too into capitalism and it’s impact, but it explores the facade around travelling culture. Love that you shared this, sending love from indonesia!!
i do relate to one of your point ..... at first the way for me to travel was Erasmus projects and volunteerings ... and once i had my own money to go and travel it was just soo fake and didn't enjoy that much
Independence as a skill is nice. But community for me is what matters more, the connections of humans. 💕 I can be alone a few hours but also is humans are meant to be together. I’m happiest and most regulated with people I love and in the beautiful part of humanity.
Hahah cutie, you respond to so many comments - i hope negativity doesn‘t ever get you down.
I really appreciate your sincere videos and to hear about your view on life
It‘s nice listening to you and I resonate with a lot of things that you share.
You go girl, live your artsy cute little life and figure out what it‘s all about for u - i love hearing about it :D
I always save your videos for a special moment where I‘m calm and can really enjoy it, if that makes sense :) it‘s like a treat hehe
Aw thank you for your kind comment!! ❤let’s live our cute lil artsy livesss hehehehe
It is important to acknowledge that the tourism sector is important for these people that had to have an income. Yes it is unfair that it often is their only way but I would not put that on the travelers but the nations letting and have let this happen. The realistic thing to do is to unite and fight against these problematic areas!
I resonate with your message in this video. I found it really amazing you feel the same as me about caring for others and not using money to have connections with others.. it's almost if that experience was transactional.
Thanks for this video and sharing your thoughts. It makes so much sense. Solo traveling is not always easy and fun, there will be often days, where life just sucks. (It feels like a full time job, working on yourself and being outside of your comfort zone, alone by yourself). You made me realise a lot of things I didn't had words for that before
This was a really interesting view of travel, which I had never really considered. as someone who is considering going travelling potentially on my own for the first time. thanks for another Interesting video that challenges my perceptions of the world. It be tough out here but I'm glad to see you making an attempt to thrive :)
I am now solo travelling in Vietnam. Let me tell you....I am strugglinggggg.
hii!!! can you share which group you did the retreat through? ❤❤❤
I sometimes feel that loneliness/sadness as well when travelling alone so I totally feel you🫶🏼❤️
I loooove your brain!!!!!!!! Thank you for showing this aspect of solo traveling!!!
Everthing is a part of being...even the bad things. Accept them! You will grow the most about them!
Was NOT expecting this video to send me into a full 2 page writing of your questions brought up + answering them. Yeowza! Thank you!
omg PERFECT TIMING i just made food 🤭
wow your beautiful 💔 peace and safety to you on your travels
I'm still watching, so I might add on to this - but for now, unrelated to the topic: Anja, you are GLOWING! You look so good, shining from the inside out. I hope that's how you feel too :)
life and travel is what you make it - I really enjoy eating tropical fruit and swimming in warm water
Still having better help as sponsor after the controversey…. .
Maybe she's contract-bound for a certain period.
Wait what controversy
Hey Anja!
Have you read the essay "A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again", by David Foster Wallace? It was all I could think about while watching the video. It's a really funny article Wallace wrote for a magazine covering 7 days on board of a luxury cruise. He goes quite deep into the whole "tourist experience"
thank you so so much for this ❤❤❤❤
hi! I am so sorry that you had to go through something that was clearly very disturbing and had a lasting effect on you. I won't ask you to explain more, but if anyone knows what it was or which video it is that explains the moment in 8:45 and would clear things up for me I would really appreciate it
Someone drowned in the resort pool 😔
@@josie6027 thank you for telling me
omg yes! love your videos and how much connected I feel to the things you share. i’m honestly feeling the same way rn about solo traveling and about traveling in general!!!!!!! there’s so much complexity to it - it’s hard to find the way to travel that actually fulfills our soul and not just feeds the hurting inside and the capitalism outaide
I love 😍 solo travel no one to argue with no dramas you meet more people on your own and get to know your self better the way you are acting I would rather stick to solo travel you prove my point 😊
yesss so so true!! if you have the capacity, its the best! my first time solo traveling was so most rich experience of my life with meeting new people and exploring the world :)
thank you for this video anja!!! may i ask which nail polish colours you are using? love the pink and purple!
you give me hope
this is a masterpiece
Tahnk you for this video and for sharing your realisazions with us! It was very eyeopening and comforting at the same time
I think your views on travel are very valid but that theres also another side to it. Yes tourism has changed the culture in some areas, but it has also provided for communities in a way that was not previously there. Yes solo travel can seem selfish if you view it from a 'I pay you serve' point of view, but if you look at it from a 'intentional reset' time it might seem less selfish. Absolutely consumerism has major ethical and moral issues but I think what you've actually discovered in all of this is that choosing HOW you travel and interact with tourism culture matters.
Choosing places that aren't big tourist traps but instead share local culture, choosing to support local businesses and local cuisine/products, choosing to emerge yourself in another place instead of expecting that place to conform to your comfort levels - that all supports all the things you love and encourages growth in those communities, while also still supporting those communities with your travel.
I would say the question is not 'is tourism right?' and rather 'what is the right way to tour a place?'.
I admire that you can have such lucid revelations while abroad, often it takes me weeks to process after going on a trip. Your observations of capitalism creating comfort abroad for tourists are really poignant and I agree that for all of the valuable things you can get out of travel, deep meaningful connection to place and people isn’t one of them. Unless you do workaway, which I would recommend for anyone. Otherwise even if you do a program or retreat somewhere and make great friends, most of the time those people are from all over the world and when the program ends, you may never see them again. I’m not sure I 100% agree with your criticism of solo travel, because for me it isn’t a lonely experience - in fact it’s one of the few times I can be alone and not feel lonely. There’s so much to do and see and I love being a mysterious stranger sometimes, looking out at the other mysterious strangers and imagining the possibilities. While not lonely, I do struggle with the ethics of solo travel, as it can be easier to leave a place than to put down roots somewhere and do the work to build a life. But since people usually don’t have the means to spend their whole life traveling, this is pretty much a moot point, and overall I think solo travel is one of the best ways to challenge yourself, learn what your limitations are and areas for growth, and improve certain skills like languages, photography, and cultural sensitivity and exchange. And like you said, a seemingly inconsequential meeting with someone or a new experience abroad can totally change the course of your life. You’ll never know if you don’t try it.
this was wonderful. i'm thinking about so much.
also im very curious about this painting behind u w the green ladies
Lots of wisdom here Anja
solo travel has always ruined me so lets plan a trip sometime :)
She wasn't in the frame of mibd because her mind was still w him. She allowed him to steal her enetgy.
yesss this is very true! one of the most profound and beautiful lessons i learned from last year
You are a wonderful person and you need to be around people you trust. There is nothing wrong about that.
The pool story is really sad. There is nothing to say to make it any better.
I saw similar things with bike drivers, so I'm glad you walked. Thailand is one of the most dangerous countries for tourists and it's not because of crime. But it's the county of smiles and that suits very good to you. So if I can wish something for you.. you can adopt everything from us Germans but never stop smiling or to be Anja. Even if it's just for people you trust 😉
This video sums up all the thoughts I had on my last vacation!
You went for 3 weeks? 😮
just wanna say i love your nails
yeyyy omg thank you!!! i feel so fun with them :)
I love the way you go through your various thought processes ❤️ I am big into the ways capitalism and tourism intertwine and you just collected all those thoughts beautifully
Anja, I'm soo in love with your Videos :)) and just wanted to share that something of the sound quality ist a little weird. sending love!!
Oh thank you!!!
I resonate so much with this video. I felt so much guilt while solo traveling, on one side because I felt deep inside me like I was doing something wrong (a capitalism marionette, made to take pictures and go from attraction to attraction) and on the other hand I felt a huge pressure to enjoy it and be productive and felt guilty for not being able to appreciate the amazing places and cultures I was experiencing.
When I came back home I told myself I would only travel with a purpose.
I really felt the community thing. I’ve been trying to be completely independent for my whole life and have now realized that it’s a ridiculous pursuit. Being with supported and appreciated and loved by others feeds us and it enables us to grow. Independence doesn’t have to mean being alone!!
Thank you so much Anja these were words I really needed to hear, I’ve been feeling very alone in my view of solo traveling.
loved this video! also, where can i get that beautiful necklace?
I just love you so much
You are so wise ❤
New sub here. Love your videography, and your art is obviously pure genuine talent. Although capitalism is far from perfect, it has proven to be the most sustainable throughout time civilization-wise. While we here in the US philosophize every kind gesture, there are other countries with people who only hope for a means to survive one more hour. The best way to really understand is to live with them on the streets of a 3rd world country with no shelter, no phone, and no protection totally vulnerable. Survival skills will immediately be the only priority every second of every minute. It is dangerous, but sometimes, it is what it takes to genuinely change your perspective in the long run. I went through it unvoluntarily. Not fun
Thanks for this video! I can totally relate with your thoughts and struggled a lot with that feeling of guild while travelling
Cool videos. You're a beautiful person. Made me laugh a few times
Ok am I stupid but what actually happened at 8:30?
Hello:)
Love the video & your point of view! I just wanted to ask what kind of retreat you made:) thanks for helping me!
Next you should go to Bali, Indonesia.
you know a trigger warning only functions when you say why you give it, if you only say trigger warning and people dont know why it makes no sense
I have a question because i would like to be able to travel a lot someday. How do you fund your traveling? Do you use your youtube money, or somethung else?