Thanks Bele, nice to get a negative on the hair dying/cutting front. Yep, just going to learn to live with it. listen to my gut and not let it get to me. perspective is everything!

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I second the change in hair...

I have dark hair and I still get a lot of attention but I also get confused as an Asian or and India - Just the other day I got asked how India was at the Rwanda border crossing! He had my passport in his hand!

I am sorry to hear about the screwdriver incident! I would have done what you did and I would have felt safe in a busy place. It took balls to stand up to him and not give him the phone. Well done!

About 8 months ago, I meet a solo motorcyclist guy and fell hopelessly in love with him, now I am dragging him back the way he actually came - so i am no longer travelling on my own anymore, but I have to admit, there is a huge difference when travelling with a man especially because we decided that he does all the money transactions. In a nutshell, it is SO MUCH EASIER! and you get a lot less hassles!

I am actually going to write an article about this change because it is so different, some for the good like love! hehehe and respect because the locals think you are married and I am travelling the way women are supposed too - silly traditions! They never understood why I wasn't with my family or husband when I was alone.

Take care and be safe!

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In some respects risk is about frame of mind and acceptance that certain situations are best avoided whether your male or female. Infact although men are unlikely to suffer rape they are much much more likely to suffer viloent crime than women. personally i think the victim culture has alot to answer for. we spend alot of lives acting as if we are victims and this attracts trouble. Its hard but when travelling alone i think the best approach is to banish all thoughts of weakness, hold your head high and go as you are. accepting that there are inherant risks in being away from home, that the horror stories are not the norm and in reality most humans are well meaning. Unless youve been daft, and put yourself in a vulnerable position, most bad encounters are a matter of bad luck and being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I was badly beaten up once for no reason, it took me many years to realise that the only way to get over the fear was to accept that i was just unfortunate. shit happens and when i travel and camp on my own i deal with this in 2 ways.

1: i accept that there is an inherent risk and that im choosing to take it
2: worrying about it doesnt help it attracts trouble and makes you look like an easy victim

I completely agree with Hewby swallow the fear, tell yourself you can do it and 99% of the time you can, the other 1% is chance. The only other addition i would have is dont indulge in the victim culture. Mass media spreads fear, women are constantly told (and tell each other) they cant do things because of their vulnerability, This a terrible dis-empowering lie. Dont believe the hype, if enough people dont it ceases to exist.

"there is a huge difference when travelling with a man especially because we decided that he does all the money transactions. In a nutshell, it is SO MUCH EASIER! and you get a lot less hassles"

I couldn't disagree more! In truth, I would say it all depends on the two people. And perhaps when that initial love phase wears off. (Hope it doesn't for you!) One of the huge benefits of traveling as a solo women traveler in the Middle East, especially as a photographer/writer, is you have access to both world - men and women. With the two men I traveled with, I was the one who had more experience, which translated to me doing double the work as a solo traveler. Sure, delegation was needed more. But it can be very tiring 'taking care' of a second person. I do think in my experiences we were mis-matched, so stay-tuned to see if I have better luck with Door Number Three. ;-)

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