Solo travel gives us the gift of people. Getting to know others, a least to a small and temporary extent, is a major part of traveling alone. From chararacters so entertaining they leave us with impressions that will last a lifetime to individuals so bland we forget about them even while we’re conversing. From overwhelmingly friendly people with endless charm to grumpy ogres we’d like to kick. The good people of the world overpower the bad.
Traveling alone seems to inspire some of the people I meet to leave me with a little something to remind me of them. As a result, I have many small gifts which I have gathered while traveling solo. Every one is so special it brings back acute memories each time I look at it. Israeli airport security once took such an interest in my gifts they detained me for hours. Perhaps you too will find some of my gifts interesting. If not for hours, then hopefully for a few seconds.
My name forever memorialized in hieroglyphics on the cover of the very first issue of Afar magazine, courtesy of Mahmoud, who sat next to me at a whirling dervish performance in Cairo
A pepper, handed to me by a young boy who followed me for an hour or so while pushing a small wooden wagon, on the streets of Nablus in Israel’s West Bank
A magnet in the shape of the country of Romania, given to me by a man named Romulus, a resident of the aforementioned country, after we chatted on a nighttime Lufthansa flight
Earrings, unintentionally gifted to me by a jeweler named Mahmoud in Jerusalem’s Old City, when he made them for me thinking I would buy them and…well, I didn’t.
A pelican, given to me by Jess, my new friend in Australia, after we went to watch a pelican feeding at the The Entrance in New South Wales
Thumbnail gift photo by by MarcinMoga / Lolek
What a fabulous post! I have a few small things from my travels, but I never thought to document them.
JoAnna´s last [type] ..Standing on a Corner in Winslow- Arizona
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
July 14th, 2010 at 17:05
Thank you, JoAnna! It’s always more interesting to bring home gifts rather than things you buy yourself.
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Love this ! You still haulin’ that pepper around?
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
July 14th, 2010 at 17:05
Yes, I am still holding it in my hand. I just can’t let it go.
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Haha, what Mike said. You’ve met some lovely people out there.
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
July 14th, 2010 at 17:06
Yes, I really do meet some intriguing people.
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That’s terrific, Sabina. Those are nice mementos to have to remind you of those people.
Gray´s last [type] ..Solo Dining Aboard the Norwegian Epic
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
July 14th, 2010 at 17:06
They are – far better than photos or non-tangible memories.
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[...] we talk about The Gifts of Solo Travel, most of us generally talk about the intangibles we draw from the experience, the things we learn [...]
What a touching, personal post, Sabina. Thanks for sharing this!
Nick´s last [type] ..Do you see what I see
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 17:53
Hi, Nick! Thank you.
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I have never experienced traveling alone. It seems a nice idea especially when you like to contemplate.
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
September 26th, 2010 at 15:09
It is. I love it.
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I’m definitely more willing to talk to strangers when I travel solo. I met lasting friends on my 2 month solo trip through western Europe. I wish I had some cool gifts like you do, though. Thanks for sharing!
Christy – Ordinary Traveler´s last [type] ..Three Million Motorbikes and Counting – North Vietnam
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
September 26th, 2010 at 15:11
Hi, Christy, It’s true – if you’re with other people you’re probably only going to be talking to them. I’m sure you’ll get some gifts some day
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I don’t actually have that many gifts from my travels now I think about it. Lots of photos and scribbled notes, but nothing else. How sad!!
Natalie – Turkish Travel Blog´s last [type] ..Turkish Men – Why Your Holiday Romance Is Doomed
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
September 26th, 2010 at 15:12
Hi Natalie – Not sad! Scribbled notes are great
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Some lovely memories there Sabina!
Nancie´s last [type] ..Through the Sandbox Lens 15 &8212 Female Taiko Drummer in Tokyo
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
October 17th, 2010 at 13:41
Thank you, Nancie! A gift can speak a thousand words.
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Awww… cute.
I travel solo & all I ever got was a sickle from a Malaysian rice farmer (and I had to give it up when I left my gig on the rice farm). Next time I’m demanding presents from everyone I meet!
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
October 17th, 2010 at 13:42
Hi, Sally. I never knew your real name! And a sickle?! I’ve never gotten anything quite that…remarkable.
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I like picture pelican , hehehe it is nice statue
malaysia luxury hotels´s last [type] ..Sunway 5 Star Resort Hotel & Spa in Malaysia
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This is one of the best posts I’ve looked at in a long, long time!
Seeing all of these totems that people have given you is absolutely amazing. Traveling alone is the BEST way to travel in my opinion. It literally forces you to embrace the culture.
I remember when I left Alaska, my homeland, to come to the West Coast and I hitchhiked it for 64 days straight by myself, up and down. It was such an amazing experience, even within the same country, just the experiences were astounding.
From a house of tranny druids to the crazy party of floating statues, to getting screwed over in Vegas by crazy car dealers to being saved to by a ticket back home during the gospel hour of a church in SLC while people were muttering and falling all around me.
The stories are crazy, but that is the beauty of life, cause life is crazy and sometimes we just need some earrings that some merchant thought we were going to buy to remind us of that.
(I have a golden pope head somewhere from a similar incident to your earrings from when I was in Rome haha)
To life,
-Gregory
Gregory Elfrink´s last [type] ..How You Know You are Doing Something Special
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
November 15th, 2010 at 11:04
Hi Gregory, it sounds like you have had way, way more adventures than I have, without leaving the States. Good for you!!
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I loved this post!!! I was just talking to someone about how amazing solo travel is, how nothing helps you grow more as a person. I should have also added that you get gifts along the way as well!
Andi´s last [type] ..Cuba Day 8 Part 1
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
December 6th, 2010 at 09:30
Hi, Andi! Yes, the gifts are a real and thoroughly unexpected perk of traveling alone. I remember all of them.
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It’s great that you’ve kept all of these things. It’s a lovely way to remember your travels. I wish I was more sentimental. I tend to not keep things like this and then regret it later on but I’m going to try to make more of an effort to document stuff like this!
Laura´s last [type] ..Travel Snapshot- Pretty Campeche
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Interesting posts. Question what do I bring to people that I’m staying with in Germany, Holland & Switerzland?? I’m from Canada, not back packing but want to bring something not to big and heavy. Any ideas????
Oh yeah about 6 kids under the age of 5 (5 girls & 1 boy).
Gift ideas?? Yikes???
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Travel becomes more interesting with memories/trinkets like these picked up along the way (gifts from people you meet during your trips). I wish I could be like you too, it is really a beautiful experience:D
Christy´s last [type] ..Places to Visit in Hong Kong- Po Lin Monastery
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Sabina Reply:
May 25th, 2011 at 14:12
Hi, Christy – It really is nice to look at gifts, no matter where you receive them, and feel the memories that they bring back.
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Last month I also got some free earrings in the market in Jerusalem. The shopkeeper came out of his shop and said that he had earrings that matched my eyes…he didn’t even try and sell me anything.
Love the random travel gifts!
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Sabina Reply:
August 3rd, 2011 at 08:22
Hey, Jenni
I want to meet that shopkeeper!
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I love travelling alone, since I remember I was always alone and I prefer it like that. I like your gifts so different. However for me it will be the first time travelling abroad, and need a few handy tips. I am going to Dubai. I visited Ghana Accra earlier this year, and even thoug alone , my company arranged all very well…..
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