4 months solo backpacking, 9 countries, 26 cities Europe to South Asia
Hello friends,
I’m finally taking a moment to reflect on my backpacking trip thus far. Since August 15, 2018, I’ve made it to 9 countries, visited 26 cities and am maybe a quarter of the way through my journey. You can see where I’ve been (and continue to follow me) on my Polar Steps map.
Where have I been?
I started my backpacking trip in Portugal and have made my way to India. I spent about a month and a half in Europe and then a month in Nepal and about two months in India. So far I’ve been to:
Europe
Lisbon, Portugal
Porto, Portugal
Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Bilbao, Spain
San Sebastian, Spain
Barcelona, Spain
Aix-en-Provence, France
Marseille, France
Rome, Italy
Florence, Italy
Fiesole, Italy
Sorrento, Italy
Bari, Italy
Durres, Albania
Tirana, Albania
Berat, Albania
Kalampaka (Meteora), Greece
Athens, Greece
Istanbul, Turkey
South Asia
Kathmandu, Nepal
Fikkal, Nepal
Pokhara, Nepal
Annapurna Sanctuary, Nepal
New Delhi, India
Mumbai, India
Goa, India
Mysore, India
How have I gotten around?
In Europe I traveled mostly by bus. I recommend Flix Bus, a relative newcomer to the budget travel options in Europe. It was almost always the cheapest, offered many travel times, was reliable, had easy-to-find pick up locations, was comfortable and had wifi on every bus. And I often used Go Euro to compare prices for buses, trains, flights, etc.
With my parents in Italy I traveled by train with Trenitalia, the national railway system, which is a bit pricier but convenient and faster than bus. You do have to plan ahead usually as the cheaper tickets sell out quickly. Booking a month or more in advance, especially during peak season, is necessary to ensure you get the train you want.
I took one night ferry from Bari, Italy to Durres, Albania. I had one flight from Athens, Greece to Istanbul, Turkey (Aegean Airlines) and another flight from Istanbul to Kathmandu, Nepal (Turkish Airlines) and another from Kathmandu to Mumbai via New Delhi (Air India). I had really great luck with Turkish Airlines when my flight was overbooked by 30+ people, and I was bumped to the following day. As a result, they had to credit me €700 ($800), put me up in a 5-star hotel near the airport, give me meal vouchers for breakfast, lunch and dinner and a free shuttle to and from the airport…it was pretty sweet.
In Nepal I traveled by bus (mostly local buses but one “tourist” bus) and in India I’ve traveled by bus and train. Like in Italy, in India, you have to plan ahead to get the train or bus you want because they fill up quickly. I’ve been using the website Yatra to check trains and buses, but I have to book trains at stations directly because I haven’t been able to successfully make an account with India Rail. I use redBus to find and book buses, but you have to have an Indian phone number to sign up for the app.
What have I done?
I’ve done many new things, met new people, eaten new food, seen new countries, heard new languages, struggled with new alphabets, gotten lost and been helped by kind strangers. I’ve felt frustrated, elated, afraid, empowered, uncertain, childlike, exasperated, intrigued, skeptical, liberated and many other feelings I can’t think to name. But more specifically, here are some highlights:
Wandering around Lisbon and Porto in Portugal, the country from which my great grandparents immigrated to the U.S. in the early 20th century :)
Returning to Spain, a country where I lived for 9 months in 2011–2012 to finally visit some cities in the north
Hiking and camping at Montagne Sainte-Victoire near Aix-en-Provence with friends
Visiting Rome, Florence and Sorrento with my parents for 11 days in September
Spending 5 days in Albania on a whim…and finding an incredibly unique country untarnished by mass tourism and filled with kind, helpful people!
Seeing the monasteries built atop the protruding boulders in Meteora, Greece…and the sunset hike!
Sweating my way along the streets of Athens with the Acropolis always in sight
Meeting friends in Istanbul and discovering the many “Turkish delights” of the sprawling metropolis that spans the European and Asian continents
Harvesting tea leaves for two weeks in the far east of Nepal with a host family and other volunteers!
Waking before dawn to watch the sunrise color the Annapurna Mountains at Poon Hill with hundreds of other trekkers
Paragliding high above Lake Fewa in Pokhara, Nepal
Understanding the beauty of Kathamandu’s dusty, chaotic streets and its many temples
Lazing around Anjuna and Vagator beaches (with the cows) in Goa
A 300-hour Intermediate Ashtanga Yoga TTC for 5 weeks in Mysore
Where to next?
Next stops include Hampi, India, a reputed “hippie haven” with rock-hewn temples and hikes to sunset views over the river before going to Tamil Nadu. And finally, I’ll say farewell to India and fly to Sri Lanka for 3 weeks before I head into southeast Asia via Bangkok…
Until I make time to write again…you can follow me on instagram: instagram.com/niadazauba
Happy New Year!
