Author in Florida, USA on her solo trip

I wouldn't consider my work trip to the US as a solo trip even though technically I travel alone but I have friends over here (so, not alone!). Just like the most of us, I have been wondering on when I'm going to be able to do a solo trip abroad. It might seem easy for guys, but for girls like me and the readers out there, solo trip might seem like a high target.

Why? Because as a female, being alone on your trip in a foreign land will bring out the first issue - safety. We fear for our safety. Being alone, helpless in the middle of a foreign land will demotivate your dream for solo travelling. This fear will encorouge you to Google stuff like "crime rate in....", "female solo traveller...". Don;t be ashamed as I have done the same.

So, what did I do to convince my dear self to venture out on my own? Let's be honest, your yearning curiosity is not enough just like many times before, we (including myself) actually gone through the recycle phase - plan, research, confidence, staring at airline website contemplating, research again, looking for logistics, second thoughts and in the end ended up not going.

It is normal. We need a push to go through something new, a leap of faith some might say. This time, for me, it's the phrase "now, or never" that keep on haunting me. I hate a wasted opportunity. In fact, I am still in doubt until the moment I board my plane to Florida.

1. If safety is your main concern - as would I; start asking around. There might be some friends that have done some solo travelling to some city around you. I did ask around, asked my colleagues (local and Malaysians) about what city is okay for solo travelling, what do they think. I was planning to go to San Francisco initially and Orlando came to a close second. So, I asked my friends about those city. One colleague actually did not encourage me to go to NY alone since yeah, you rely on Subway there and he got mugged.

2. Flight tickets is important. Like I mentioned, I was keen to go to San Francisco but the flight ticket was ridiculously expensive when I finally decided to buy it. So, I went to Orlando instead. I made a late decision and I regret it since SF is my top destination! I use Google Flights and the monthly Skyscanner search even before it got viral on Facebook. Again - ask around won't hurt.

3. If you are indeed solo travelling, please make sure you are at your hotel by night, not midnight. Plan ahead your day/night at the city. Choose a family friendly hotel or a backpackers. I stayed at a very decent hotel in Orlando.

4. Where to go? Up to you entirely! If you want to go to the usual touristy spot or you want a side local adventure like me, go ahead and do what you are comfortable with.


5. Drive or Public transport? This is up to you and also influenced by the place you actually go. I recommend you Uber rather than cab hailing. In Orlando, I choose to drive myself since it is easy, I love driving and Im going to a place outside of the city itself.

6. Make sure you have connection to the outside World. Call your service provider to ensure your line is not being barred (I'm looking at you Celcom, the incompetent Customer Service) and make sure you have your online map ready. Download the offline map for the said city before hand (this is my lesson learnt). Keep in touch with your friends or family letting them know where you are.

7. If you are unlucky to get stuck with Celcom as I did, there is always free Wifi at the airport, Starbucks, Walmart and McDonald's.

8. If you get lost, do not panic. Just went out to the nearest exit, trace yourself back to the airport (if you are going to the attraction) or exited the freeway and look for free Wifi spot. (story to be told in future post)

9. Crowd Control - Party people or no? This applicable for Spring Break season. If you are there for the parties, take precautions and be safe. If you are avoiding those crowds, like myself, research properly on the area where the Spring Break parties will be held.

10. Loosen Up and enjoy! This is the most important thing in solo travelling. The bliss is you are on your own schedule and you are on a journey for self exploration. You just chill, follow your own pace and keep on exploring. Embrace it. Be proud that you have made the journey.

Solo travelling is fun and full of adventure. For us girls, it will be a little bit challenging but it was very rewarding. I came back from my solo trip being more confident, independent and discover new things about my ownself. If you are able to plan your own vacation with family/friends, solo travelling is just the same, with lesser participant - just you.

Since I was very little, I was always interested in the aerospace field. I remember watching Apollo 13 on the TV and feel connected to the story. Space somehow holds a special place in my heart. One of the nation that co-owns the ISS is the United States. From we are little, the name of NASA are very familiar to us. It represents the cool-ness of space explorations.

One of the operating space centre in the US is the Johnson Space Center located in Houston. Well, it is not entirely in Houston city, it was rather situated near to the coast. The space center has become one of the sought after attraction to visitors and even the locals.

I bought a Houston City pass which includes 5 attractions tickets for $50. The site also offered other city pass such as the San Francisco city pass. We move in one car and traffic was really bad near the exit to the space centre. From Spring, we move through I45 then taking the route to Galveston thru the downtown area.

Using the City Pass print out, the guy at the ticket counter exchange the printout to a booklet that holds all tickets. I understand that at the Space Centre there are 2 tram lines - Blue and Red that took to different area. If you are an adult, I strongly recommend you go to both of the tram tours.

Saturn V rocket inside the hangar

The Blue line took you to the rocket park, where you can see the Saturn V rocket inside the building. There are commentary provided in the tram. Then, they will took you to the Mission Control Center (yes, it is operating 24/7). Here, you can see actual NASA mission control staff working, monitoring the ISS. You can even see where is the ISS currently located in the World.

The actual Mission Control Center for the ISS

The Red line took you to the Astronaut Training Facility. Here, you can see different console of the ISS or mock-up in the huge garage as part of a practical training for the astronauts. The rocket park is the place of several rockets used by NASA in their lunar mission. In the main building, you can enter the Independence Space Shuttle and there are a theatre presenting the history of man space travel throughout the years.

ISS module mock-up for training

We have lunch at a nearby McDonald's and stop for prayer at the Clear Lake Islamic Society building. We then went to the Kemah Boardwalk situated about 15 minutes from the Space Center. It was a weekend, so everyone was out to Kemah that day. We choose to park at a $7 per entry parking space next to the Boardwalk Bullet.

McDonald's near NASA even acknowledge it's proximity to the Space Centre

I am a big fan for rides so I am very excited. The City Pass allows you to board all rides at the Kemah Boardwalk. Otherwise, you can pay per ride tickets at the counter near the entrance. All of us decided to ride the Boardwalk Bullet. This is one of the fastest wooden roller coaster in USA, fastest in Texas itself.

Kemah Boardwalk at sunset

Boardwalk Bullet

I underestimated this ride. It was really fast that I got tired screaming. When we were on the ride, it was sunset and since this is winter, it is really cold. I rode the swing ride and the Boardwalk Tower overlooking Kemah.

If you got the chance to go to the NASA Johnson Space Centre, make sure you go for both tram tours and head out to Kemah Boardwalk for a fun evening out.

Several colleagues were planning to go to the Natural Bridge Caverns located in San Antonio. They then extend the invitation to me to join. I was actually planning to go here.

San Antonio is about 3 hours drive from Houston. We depart at 6.30 a.m and stop for breakfast in the middle of the highway. The day was cloudy and I was worried that it might actually rain throughout the day. I did not drive this time as one my colleague drive us.

We had breakfast at Whataburger which is a big fast food joint in the US. I ate an overly-sweet cinnamon roll. I bet my sugar level sky rocketed that morning. We reached the caverns by 11.00 a.m just in time for the 11.30 a.m tour.

The ticket costs around $24 incuding the tour that will took 90 minutes. It was drizzling lightly and the temperature began to drop. We took the normal tour and at the entrance, the tour guide actually adviced us to take off our jacket because the cave is actually humid and hot to preserve all the formation. He said that the humidity of the cavern is at 99%. Way worst than KL.

Outside this cave is a natural bridge - hence the name. This cave is 188 feet deep and was discovered around the 60s. They have multiple chambers inside the cavern with the biggest one is called the White Room. At the entrance, it was okay but few meters down the passage, you can feel the humidity and the heat crawling into your skin. It feels like a stuffy room. There is no climbing requirement as they have build a descent passageways for visitors. Lighting is sufficient but you guys have to be careful of the slippery passageways.

Outside the caverns, the tour operators even set up a few little shops selling rocks, formation to the visitors. They even have an on-air obstacle course and flying fox for the kids with an additional fee. Fun part is that the area has another attraction which is the Safari Drive Thru next door.

The King's Throne

The safari enable you to drive your own car to the vicinity of the open safari. Price for admission is $25 including a large bag of animal food. This safari is about 5 miles long and yes, it was packed with cars that day. Can you imagine a traffic in the safari? Quite ironic right?

Inside we were greeted by a mountain goat and we proceed to see other animals from our car. We even attempt to get the animals to come near our car for the food with no avail. Perhaps they are fully fed since morning. We had no luck with the zebras and we finish the course by successfully feeding the llama. The llama was too friendly that it almost get his head in our car.



Nevertheless, it was an okay trip for a short weekend. It will be a perfect spot for young kids. In Malaysia, you don't have a drive thru safari (that I know of) and this is fun.