My first solo adventure (with friends tagging along later) took me to the vibrant heart of Asia, starting in Hong Kong. Now, anyone who knows me knows I’m a planner at heart—so naturally, I dove into a whirlwind of spreadsheets, mapping out the detail and logistics. Did I plan to a T? For the most part. Did everything go exactly as planned? Definitely not! But that’s all part of the adventure, right?

It’s always important to have an idea of where you want to go and a plan. Whether you go all-in or keep it minimal, it’s all about what feels right for you. And that’s one of the greatest joys of traveling solo: the freedom to create your own adventure. Some people love to land in a place and figure it out as they go, and honestly, there’s nothing wrong with that. I haven’t quite taken that leap yet… but yet is the key word! There’s always room to try something new, whether it’s sticking to a plan or embracing spontaneity.

For me, I kicked things off by doing what felt most comfortable: picking the countries and mapping out a rough route. Hong Kong was first on the list, chosen partly for its familiarity and partly because it had always intrigued me. From there, I ventured to Japan for cherry blossom season—because, who could resist? Next up was Korea, followed by Taiwan, and I wrapped up in Singapore (well, wrapped up for a week… before heading back out again!).

Now, my Asia adventures didn’t end there (more to share in upcoming blogs), but this was the very first step in the journey. In my mind, the plan was kick things off with East Asia and then slowly make my way over to Southeast Asia later in the year. East Asia was all about the cities, the hustle, and the modern vibes, while Southeast Asia was more about nature, adventure, and soaking in those tropical views.

That’s how I planned the first section of my travels!

The route was also shaped by countries my friends were eager to visit. After all, travel is a bit more fun when you can share it with others, right?

Now I absolutely love getting away with friends, but it’s not always a walk in the park—especially when you’re juggling multiple countries! Figuring out where we were going, which hotels to book, what flights to take… it definitely took a bit of brainpower. We spent ages having back-and-forth calls, researching, and cross-checking everything. And of course, it all went into one giant Excel spreadsheet (which I have a love-hate relationship with, if I’m being honest). But hey, if you’re anything like me—someone who doesn’t normally wait around to make decisions—there’s nothing wrong with just diving in and booking things yourself. As long as everyone’s on the same page, go ahead and take charge. The planning took a bit of time to nail down with my friends, but in the end, it all worked out!

I always find starting off with a list is always a great first step to start planning and figuring it out. Have a starting destination and decide how long you want to stay there for. Confirming what style of trip you have in mind, city, beach, hiking etc… the world is your oyster. Once you’ve got those ideas locked in, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and dive into the nitty-gritty—flights, accommodation, and, most importantly… the itinerary!. Or simply pin pointing on a map if you really prefer spontaneity!

In my next blog I will talk more about what I’m sure you prefer to hear about and that is the wonderful Hong Kong.

Thank you for reading my post—I hope you enjoyed.

Until my next post of intrepid tales on my trails…!