A solo traveler warns other female globetrotters by revealing three crucial mistakes she made during her travels.
Cherlynn Ng, Assistant Digital Editor of the Singaporean newspaper The new paperrecently wrote an article entitled “Things I (shouldn’t) have done as a solo female traveler,” in which she candidly reflects on her experiences and the lessons she learned.
Cherlynn has spent most of her life in Singapore. She started traveling independently at the age of 22. Since then, she has explored several countries including Greece, Turkey, Japan, Nepal, Vietnam and Thailand.
While she describes her solo adventures as liberating, a recent tragedy involving another Singaporean traveler left her reevaluating the safety precautions she takes abroad.
Cherlynn is particularly drawn to the case of Audrey Fang Dirou, a 39-year-old tourist from Singapore who was found murdered in the Spanish region of Murcia earlier this year.
Audrey’s death, which involved 30 stab wounds, led to the arrest of 43-year-old Mitchell Ong, a tourist from Singapore, who is now awaiting trial, the report said. Channel News Asia.
In her article, Cherlynn describes three major mistakes she made that could have jeopardized her safety, and the strategies she now uses to protect herself.
Cherlynn Ng, assistant editor of Singapore’s digital newspaper The New Times, recently wrote an article titled “Things I (shouldn’t) have done as a solo female traveler”
1. Do not share the location with loved ones
Cherlynn admits that her need for privacy often leads her to keep her whereabouts secret, even from her closest family members.
She writes: “The consensus is that you should share your travel itinerary with your loved ones back home or notify them of your location regularly.”
However, she explains: ‘I am a private person and that means that I do not tell others where I am when I am abroad.’
This habit has led her to stop publishing her real-time location on social media.
In 2019, Cherlynn even went so far as to fool her mother about the true nature of her trip, claiming she was going on a relaxing vacation when in fact she was planning to go to Everest Base Camp.
“Not my wisest decision,” she admits, adding that her mother had figured out her plans anyway.
This experience made Cherlynn think about the importance of informing her loved ones for her own safety.
In 2019, Cherlynn lied to her mother about the true nature of her trip to Everest Base Camp in Nepal, but she has since warned other solo travelers against sharing their location with their loved ones.
2. Walking alone on the streets at night
Cherlynn likes to make the most of her time when she travels, often staying away longer than she should.
She writes, “This may sound like a resounding no-no, but hear me out.”
She admits that growing up in Singapore, one of the safest and most walkable countries in the world, may have contributed to her sense of complacency.
Despite her habit of researching areas in advance and avoiding high-crime spots, Cherlynn recognizes the inherent risks of walking alone at night in unfamiliar cities.
“So far, I haven’t had any unpleasant encounters,” she notes, stressing the importance of ignoring unwanted attention from touts or catcallers.
However, her love for walking has taught her to be more cautious in unfamiliar environments.
Cherlynn is someone who likes to make the most of her time when traveling. She often stays away longer than she should, like here in Greece. However, she warns solo travelers to remain vigilant.
3. Meeting Strangers
While some may find it risky to meet strangers while traveling, Cherlynn sees it as an opportunity to experience a destination more authentically.
Cherlynn emphasizes that while she would never travel specifically to meet someone for the first time, she is open to making new friends abroad.
She tells of a time when she accepted an invitation from a local in Istanbul, which led to an unforgettable evening exploring parts of the city she would otherwise never have discovered.
She writes: ‘When I was in Istanbul last September, a local asked me out and I said yes because it seemed like a nice way to spend my last night in Turkey.
‘Not only did I see a side of the city that I would otherwise never have known, but I also had experiences that you don’t often find on a tourist map.
“It was a fun night and I made a new friend,” she muses, though she admits her mother may not approve of her decision.
Her experience underscores the importance of being cautious, trusting your instincts and setting clear boundaries when dealing with strangers.
While some may find meeting strangers when traveling solo risky, Cherlynn sees it as an opportunity to experience a destination – like Turkey – more authentically