Someone once asked me, ‘are you not scared? To be on your own and travel by yourself?’. And I’ll tell you the same thing I told her. Absolutely. Of course I am. But not in the ways that most think would be scary. As I write this, I have just landed in Fairbanks, Alaska, a plan that was made mere weeks ago. A plan that began with whales and has now landed me in an interior part of a place, close to the Arctic circle, that is also in the middle of winter. But, I do love the snow; there’s something so pristine and calming about staring through a veil of white and watching it gentle blanket over all that surrenders to the snowfall.

The excited murmuring of my fellow passengers on the flight somehow quieted around me, or maybe I was just completely lost in the moment of what I noticed out the window.  Flying over mountains covered in a thick mantle of snow, and the whitest clouds I have ever seen, was surreal to say the very least. Completely enamoured by the view, the excitement for not having to be in the tropics anymore started to set in. And then so did this thought - I was on my way to a place that only existed to me in books and that I have spent hours daydreaming about, a place I had no intentions at all to visit up until weeks ago. Unbeknownst to me, the adventure that lay ahead was one that I would never forget. 

“Honey, we’re here” I heard someone whisper, rather close to me. But it was the sweet, older lady I had befriended on the flight, who kindly took it upon herself to help me exit my dream state. I seem to have fallen asleep looking out the window and now I couldn’t tell if what I had seen was real or a dream. Dazed, tired and hungry as per usual, the turbulence distracted me in the minutes prior to landing and that’s when it really hit me. I had just travelled over 10,000 kilometers and have now landed in Alaska, a world far from the familiarity of my own.   For a slight moment, I almost doubted my decision and wondered whether I had enough to protect me from the wrath of a potential blizzard. 

So, am I scared? Yes. Terrified; of being so unbelievably comfortable with being on my own and not needing anyone else. Friends, a partner. Now, I know this sounds horrible but I don’t mean for it to. You know I love people close to me with the very depths of my being and I will do anything for them. But this is the gift and curse of being a solo traveller; you love being on your own but almost to the point of not wanting to let people in, especially romantically. BUT I digress a bit. And again, got a tad bit distracted by trying to trudge through the airport in my new snow boots. 

My time in the States has begun in the coldest way possible; literally - we’re at minus 27 degrees celsius. I decided to come here because I thought it would be an extremely exciting adventure idea to travel from the north all the way down to Mexico, following the western coastline. And I intend to see that plan through. But it’s going to be a long two weeks here in Alaska. As of now, I’ve just about managed to figure out the time zones/time difference without losing whatever little is left of my sanity. It doesn’t help that during this time of year, Alaska has only, well, roughly four and a half hours of daylight. 

Time becomes an illusion when I’m travelling. Which makes no sense considering I work across every timezone possible. In saying that, I am glad I got here in the afternoon - I’m also really glad that Alaska Airlines offered to check in both my bags for free, a gesture much appreciated by a budget traveller who has just crossed literal oceans to be there. As I said, this wasn’t part of my plan. But rarely do I have a plan. And when I do, it’s even rarer for me to actually stick to it. 

I managed to find the one Uber that’s operating in this town and she’s almost here. And it has started snowing as if I’m not already in the most magickal daze. Either that or the two days of travel is starting the delusion party off early. But I am truly amazed that I made it all the way here. What a dream. And this? Is just the beginning.

Time for a cup of tea and to explore new lands. 

Be back in a bit 

M.M