Navigating Noise as a Solo Traveler (Part 1)
In January of 2023, I departed for my solo trip in South East Asia. I had dreamed of taking a yearlong sabbatical and started putting a plan together a few years prior. At that point, I had already traveled extensively as an adult (both solo and with others) and had lived in major cities around the world. I was so accustomed to pushing my preference for quiet, orderly settings aside that being uncomfortable was part of my daily life. Needless to say, this sabbatical helped me learn new ways to navigate not only noise, but also chaotic and stressful situations as a solo female traveler. It all started with trying to cross the street.
Part 1: Excessive motorbike traffic and road noise
I started off the year in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. While I knew that it was the largest city in the country, I was not prepared for the sheer amount of motorbikes on the road at any given time. There were often hundreds of motorbikes going in every direction and no traffic lights. The din coming from engines, horns, and radios was deafening. Simply crossing the street seemed to require heroics beyond most travelers' imaginations. After a few days, I eventually gained my footing by literally crossing the road and learned how to manage the anxiety that came with it. Here are my suggestions for dealing with motorbike traffic and road noise:
Take an introductory motorcycle course in your home country prior to your trip (or take it a step further and get your license). I got my license by completing a Learn to Ride course in my home state in the US. In some states, the course is actually free. Even though I had no intention of driving a motorbike by myself on my trip, I knew I would likely take a motorbike taxi or be a passenger at some point. I wanted to have the skills to drive in case of an emergency. Also, having my license helped me feel calmer around motorbikes as a pedestrian. Since I had understood how they operated, maneuvered, and sounded, I eventually felt more comfortable crossing the road and processing the noise altogether.
Book a local motorbike tour on the first day. It is much nicer to ease your way into a crowded place by having a local guide show you the ropes. You can easily find these on sites like Tripadvisor or you can ask your hotel for a local company. While riding as a passenger, you can observe how the traffic flows and how pedestrians cross the street. Plus, you can ask your guide for tips on how to navigate the roads. I was able to observe the rhythm of the traffic and see how a motorbike views a pedestrian crossing the street.
Try meditation and breathing exercises. Meditation takes a lot of practice and can be difficult for many people. I recommend starting a simple meditation practice by doing some guided breathing exercises with a free app like Insight Timer. You can start practicing long before your trip, or try it for the first time in your hotel room. With time, you will gain more tools in your mental toolbox to help you process different situations.