5 reasons you should travel alone at least once

When I went into Nationwide to upgrade my savings account last week, I (inevitably) ended up talking about my travels with the lady who helped me out. Once I'd outlined my plans for the next 18 months, she asked who I was going with, to which I answered: "myself". To which she responded: "Oh, bless you!"

Eh? Hang on a tick - why the sympathy? Travelling solo is one of the best decisions I've made! Maybe it's because I'm small and look about 5 years below my real age; maybe she thought I had no friends; or perhaps she was vocalising worry for my welfare overseas. I appreciate the concern but it's quite unnecessary: once you get used to requesting a table for 1 in the evenings, going it alone is not only a breeze but also heaps of fun and often ten times easier than gallivanting around the globe with someone else in tow.

In pics: What I miss on the road

Or, more correctly, what I realise I missed when I get home after a few months away. I don't have a particularly strong yearning for any sort of home comfort when I'm travelling (except for tea, obviously) - you learn to make do with what you have and what's at your disposal in a new city or country, and generally it's enough to see you comfortably through your visit.

However, there are always a few items that get reluctantly left behind or are simply impossible to take with you on your travels. Here are some of the things I make a beeline for when I touch down on home soil:

Crime dodging in Cape Town: is it safe to travel?

"See my friend over there?"

We don't look. This is a well-known pick-pocketing technique; instead we fix our gaze in the direction we're walking. Just another guy pestering tourists for money.

"Don't run or he'll shoot."

Or not. I freeze and look at Matt, unsure whether we should give the guy everything we've got, ignore him or make a run for it.

"Give me your phones and money."

Shit. I have my iPhone and several hundred rand.

Hermanus hideout: 3 day sea life retreat

Hermanus might not have a lot going for it above ground, but what it lacks on dry land it certainly makes up for in marine life. Here's how I spent my time there:

Onshore whale watching

With lookout points, carefully positioned benches and even its own whale crier, the cliff path along the Hermanus coastline is designed for watching the Southern Right whales which frequent the area between June and November each year. We were initially a bit worried we wouldn't see much as someone working behind reception said they'd seen just one whale all morning, but we went out armed with binoculars and cameras anyway, and oh...my gosh. 

Keeping busy in Cape Town: things to do

It's safe to say that Cape Town is one of my favourite places so far, up there with New York and Rio de Janeiro. CT is such a beautiful city: lush green landscapes, dazzling whitewashed houses, bright white sand, shimmering blue seas and iconic mountains - what else do you need? It's going to be a struggle boarding my plane home...  

The plan was to recuperate after nine day's worth of camping, squat toilets and bumpy bus rides, so I've spent two full days on the gorgeous beaches down the West coast. On the days I've managed to tear myself away from the sand, here's what I've been up to: