Solo traveling in Thailand almost destroyed me | The Story 

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.

Thought you might like this quote from Vonnegut, Palm Sunday: “What should young people do with their lives today? Many things, obviously. But the most daring thing is to create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured.”

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

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 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.

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 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

I just love your honesty and thought process on everything! You're the best Anja

You're a gem, your videos are a gift and I'm so glad you're in the world. Thank you.

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

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!

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! 🧡

Your videos being tears to my eyes. So beautiful and raw. You’re an inspiration 💕

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.

an Anja video is all i need rn!

Your hair color and style during narrating is a vibe as well as your whole outfit 🤙🏼

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

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

Always a good day when the queen uploads ❤️

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

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!

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

girl you spoke UP im so glad u did

Ι always find your videos when i need them the most 💛

I LOVE ur hair when ur talking to the camera!!! it's so pretty!!! and such an amazing video

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

Was NOT expecting this video to send me into a full 2 page writing of your questions brought up + answering them. Yeowza! Thank you!

thank you for this video anja!!! may i ask which nail polish colours you are using? love the pink and purple!

Tahnk you for this video and for sharing your realisazions with us! It was very eyeopening and comforting at the same time

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 🤍

It’s like listening to a friend tell about their adventures when I watch your videos.

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

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 :)

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!

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

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

thank you so so much for this ❤❤❤❤

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.

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.

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 💛

omg PERFECT TIMING i just made food 🤭

I loooove your brain!!!!!!!! Thank you for showing this aspect of solo traveling!!!

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 sorry but I don't really understand what happened at the restaurant, can someone explain it to me? :(

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

you give me hope

life and travel is what you make it - I really enjoy eating tropical fruit and swimming in warm water

Everthing is a part of being...even the bad things. Accept them! You will grow the most about them!

i fr did not understand what happened in that live footage?

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

this is a masterpiece

What happened 9:00 ? You never explained, there were tourists with shocked faces running around? I am so confused

This video sums up all the thoughts I had on my last vacation!

I just love you so much

I sometimes feel that loneliness/sadness as well when travelling alone so I totally feel you🫶🏼❤️

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!!

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

Hello:) Love the video & your point of view! I just wanted to ask what kind of retreat you made:) thanks for helping me!

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...

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

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.

te amo Anja

loved this video! also, where can i get that beautiful necklace?

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!!

Girl, you're still young, you'll find your way x

this was wonderful. i'm thinking about so much.

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"

Lots of wisdom here Anja

This is a good one yoh

You are so wise ❤

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 am now solo travelling in Vietnam. Let me tell you....I am strugglinggggg.

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 😉

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.

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?

Thanks for this video! I can totally relate with your thoughts and struggled a lot with that feeling of guild while travelling

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.

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

Next you should go to Bali, Indonesia.

I mean i do travel alone to be „alone“. 90% of the atime i travel around I do that by myself and I want it that way. But i also get what you mean

I have a free room here, but it's in the surroundings of Potsdam and probably a bit too far from berlin i guess

Love you too !!!!!

“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

Still having better help as sponsor after the controversey…. .

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!

solo travel has always ruined me so lets plan a trip sometime :)

just wanna say i love your nails

I’m gonna skip over all the deep stuff this time just to say you look GORGEOUS! ✨

❤❤❤

Hi Anja, your videos are so well edited, what editing tool do you use?

I love you

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

seu cabelo está combinando com você

What's the name of the song in the very last minute? :)

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.

สวัสดี ขอต้อนรับเข้าสู่ประเทศไทย

Having a traveling buddy is essential… but also solo traveling helps you learn so much about the world and yourself. Watching the video now xx