Solo traveling in Thailand almost destroyed me | The Story
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- Опубликовано: 28 сен 2024
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I'm happy you exist! Thanks for being here cutie 💕
my ig: @anjaexists
hey just a heads up i would recommend you really look into better help because it has been in a lot of controversies and the "therapists" aren't certified or board approved pls, look into the allegations and the horrible things that better help has done ( like selling private information and personal info you talk about with therapists) before taking any more sponsors from them... or don't it your platform.
agree -- in addition they are an israeli owned and zionist company... so all around not a great company to work with
Certainly not helping Anja 😂😂
THANK YOU for saying this!!!
I paid for a whole month and the therapist kept having bad connection so our meetings would get cut short and they kept “forgetting” to send me homework they wanted me to work on. Basically talked for like an hour the whole allotted time and they refused to refund me and just said I could change therapists if I continue to pay. (which it’s not cheap 🥲) But I’m happy that it works for some people and they find therapist that help them! I suppose the company just needs to monitor things a bit more and be more consistent.
i tried using it and it consistently matched me with the exact opposite of the kind of therapist i wanted and it just seemed sketch
Anja I just wanna say that your videos have been giving me so much comfort for years now. Your spirit and kindness have such a special and beautiful energy you can literally feel through the screen. Everytime I watch your videos something inside of me heals and I appreciate you and your work so much. You deserve nothing but all the happiness in the world, thank you for your existence, I hope you know how happy you make the people around you and how special you are.
i tried solo traveling last summer (because of a breakup) and it opend so much. I loved it so muchhhh. and it is just a thing to escape from things for me
I'm an anthropology student and I think the questions you raise at the beginning are so worth exploring. I took a course called Anthropology & Travel at my university and we really focused on different elements of tourism and how they impacted the communities they're targeted at. It was an interesting look at travel that I didn't fully pay attention to until that moment.
Omg thanks for sharing your perspective on solo travelling! I recently been to Australia for a year and after some time I got really exhausted and felt a lack of security. Because of the missing deep connections or sense on what I'm doing. It feels so great to hear someone that felt the same while traveling.
I really resonate with what you´re mentioning at the start. I two years ago I was loving solo travelling because I had nothing pulling me home. Last year I went off on my own again expecting the same liberating feelings I had the year before. But since day one I was so homesick because now I had someone waiting for me back home, someone I just wanted to spend time with, no matter where that is. So now I am obviously very happy to have found my home-person but at the sime time I´m sad to not be able to enjoy solo-travelling any more :D
There is a difference between being alone and feeling loneliness. Also, you need to empty the garbage in your mind or the garbage will follow you even to paradise. At the the end we are the architects of our own hell. Enjoy the spectrum!
1:57 hit me where it hurts. For as long as I could remember I had dreams to solo travel. I went on a handful of solo trips and I already noticed that a lot of it (in my case) is running away from community and reality. Running away from self. It's an interesting realization to come to, especially when your only real dream was traveling. After my last adventure, I don't know if I can solo travel anymore. I start to feel lonely much more quickly these days and it's a little more difficult to cope with that. Thank you for being vulnerable in this
A life well lived is a life with people that you love around you.. that loves YOU BACK! Years ago i quitted all my friendships because they were all one-way friendships and they were consuming me. I was always the one giving, helping, just being there for them, being available always, making compromises, do things i didn't really like jut to be with them, and i felt so stupid because i never wanted or expected anything in return. At one point I didn't even know who I was or what I liked, I was completely lost.. I was so focused on loving other people that i forgot to love myself first. Alone I don't feel lonely like I did with others, and I don't miss someone to share my experience with. I feel like I am finally enjoying life
Girl, you're still young, you'll find your way x
I'm sorry but I don't really understand what happened at the restaurant, can someone explain it to me? :(
I didn’t understand either
Your hair color and style during narrating is a vibe as well as your whole outfit 🤙🏼
Thank you for sharing Anja, I truly feel like I have grown up with you watching your videos, as I have just come back from one of my solo trips myself and have been having some of the same thoughts you've just expressed, I really love watching your videos as I feel I am listening to a friend.
pausing 7 minutes in to say wow wow wow. I feel so understood. I recently solo traveled on my own, and long stayed in asia for about 2 months. and i struggled so much with all of these thoughts, emotions, and more. it really opened my eyes to "tourism" and escapism and even, as you said, modern-day colonialist fervor with which us young people are selfishly going out in search of purpose. It really immediately brings up so much hidden to your surface. I empathize so much Anja, love you and thank you for sharing this vulnerability 🤍
What happened 9:00 ? You never explained, there were tourists with shocked faces running around? I am so confused
ugh yes I just realized I didn't properly explain. I didn't go into full detail incase it could be too triggering but I'll explain it here. i witnessed the after effects of someone drowning in the resort pool :( The ambulance came with the AED and cpr but it was too late. This was very sad and I hold so much empathy and sadness for the family of this person ❤️
@@ANJAexists Shit, that must've been horrible. Even worse for the people who knew the person who drowned of course, but it must've been terrible for the rest of you too. Must have sucked to be travelling alone and experience something like that. I get that it's probably some time ago, but sending hugs.
@@ANJAexists aww that's so sad. I understand why it shook you so much now.. I appreciate you looking out for people that get triggered but in the end it is your story and the point of the trigger warning is to go into these uncomfortable topics (if you want to) without offending anyone, because you know.. you warned them. Very sad. But you are extremely eloquent in specific parts of the video I can't imagine you not finding the right words. Thanks for sharing! ❤
girl you spoke UP im so glad u did
It's incredible how introspective you are about your whole experience and solo traveling in general Anja 🙏 This is full of your fantastic and goofy humour but also filled with very important questions about travel, tourism and culture, I loved watching all of it!!
I'm still watching, so I might add on to this - but for now, unrelated to the topic: Anja, you are GLOWING! You look so good, shining from the inside out. I hope that's how you feel too :)
Wow you really brought up a new perspective I never thought about with solo traveling and the comfortable feeling of capitalism abroad. Oh Anja, I’ve missed your videos so much. They truly bring me so much joy and I wish I could find a friend like you
after almost finishing the video, i remember myself back in 2020 when i found your videos, and how different i am from the teenager i once was 💛
life and travel is what you make it - I really enjoy eating tropical fruit and swimming in warm water
hey you, i am a german girl living in the south. I was never alone while traveling and i have this feeling that i have to do it because everybody does it.. also i have never left europe. And its a real pressure to do it.. because of our society. And you know what.. i give a fuck, because i am actually very happy with my live and when i am ready to do stuff like this, i will do it!
xoxo lara
It’s like listening to a friend tell about their adventures when I watch your videos.
Hi anja, i never comment on videos, but I’m currently travelling south east asia, and i’ve had exactly the same feelings you had whilst travelling. Especially regarding the erasure of culture due to capitalism/the reality of tourism/the purpose of travelling. So hearing you talk about this, especially when its not really takes about (i feel like social media has such a big impact on driving the hype around tourism and glorifying the influencer lifestyle) reassured me a little that i’m not the only person seeing all the bullshit. I started really questioning all of this after reading an article by the new yorker called the case against travelling. I would recommend you read it, it doesn’t get too into capitalism and it’s impact, but it explores the facade around travelling culture. Love that you shared this, sending love from indonesia!!
i love you and your videos Anja! ive been following you for a long long time when you were just posting art videos haha and its been so fun to see your journey through life. i truly resonate with the things you talk about and it makes me happy :) i wish you the best!
thank you avaaaa❤ Just wait!! There’s lots of fun art content coming backkk hehe :)
It is food for thought how we love to travel to far-away 'exotic' places, yet when we get there we want them to be familiar, with people speaking a language we already understand, food we're used to, a tourism industry, etc. and how we thusly 'westernize' countries when we travel to them.
I want you to know how valuable you talking about these things is!!!! You make this world a better place one video at a time. Love you
I resonate with your message in this video. I found it really amazing you feel the same as me about caring for others and not using money to have connections with others.. it's almost if that experience was transactional.
You're a gem, your videos are a gift and I'm so glad you're in the world. Thank you.
Thanks for this video and sharing your thoughts. It makes so much sense. Solo traveling is not always easy and fun, there will be often days, where life just sucks. (It feels like a full time job, working on yourself and being outside of your comfort zone, alone by yourself). You made me realise a lot of things I didn't had words for that before
I sometimes feel that loneliness/sadness as well when travelling alone so I totally feel you🫶🏼❤️
Independence as a skill is nice. But community for me is what matters more, the connections of humans. 💕 I can be alone a few hours but also is humans are meant to be together. I’m happiest and most regulated with people I love and in the beautiful part of humanity.
Hey Anja!
Have you read the essay "A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again", by David Foster Wallace? It was all I could think about while watching the video. It's a really funny article Wallace wrote for a magazine covering 7 days on board of a luxury cruise. He goes quite deep into the whole "tourist experience"
Was NOT expecting this video to send me into a full 2 page writing of your questions brought up + answering them. Yeowza! Thank you!
This was a really interesting view of travel, which I had never really considered. as someone who is considering going travelling potentially on my own for the first time. thanks for another Interesting video that challenges my perceptions of the world. It be tough out here but I'm glad to see you making an attempt to thrive :)
It is important to acknowledge that the tourism sector is important for these people that had to have an income. Yes it is unfair that it often is their only way but I would not put that on the travelers but the nations letting and have let this happen. The realistic thing to do is to unite and fight against these problematic areas!
I am now solo travelling in Vietnam. Let me tell you....I am strugglinggggg.
I loooove your brain!!!!!!!! Thank you for showing this aspect of solo traveling!!!
omg yes! love your videos and how much connected I feel to the things you share. i’m honestly feeling the same way rn about solo traveling and about traveling in general!!!!!!! there’s so much complexity to it - it’s hard to find the way to travel that actually fulfills our soul and not just feeds the hurting inside and the capitalism outaide
You are a wonderful person and you need to be around people you trust. There is nothing wrong about that.
The pool story is really sad. There is nothing to say to make it any better.
I saw similar things with bike drivers, so I'm glad you walked. Thailand is one of the most dangerous countries for tourists and it's not because of crime. But it's the county of smiles and that suits very good to you. So if I can wish something for you.. you can adopt everything from us Germans but never stop smiling or to be Anja. Even if it's just for people you trust 😉
Still having better help as sponsor after the controversey…. .
Maybe she's contract-bound for a certain period.
Wait what controversy
you give me hope
just wanna say i love your nails
yeyyy omg thank you!!! i feel so fun with them :)
“Gotta have the opposites dark and light, light and dark in a painting. It’s like in life. Gots to have a little sadness once in a while so you know when the good times come. I’m waiting on the good times now.” Bob Ross
thank you for this video anja!!! may i ask which nail polish colours you are using? love the pink and purple!
Anja, I'm soo in love with your Videos :)) and just wanted to share that something of the sound quality ist a little weird. sending love!!
Oh thank you!!!
I love the way you go through your various thought processes ❤️ I am big into the ways capitalism and tourism intertwine and you just collected all those thoughts beautifully
You went for 3 weeks? 😮
this was wonderful. i'm thinking about so much.
also im very curious about this painting behind u w the green ladies
Cool videos. You're a beautiful person. Made me laugh a few times
I think your views on travel are very valid but that theres also another side to it. Yes tourism has changed the culture in some areas, but it has also provided for communities in a way that was not previously there. Yes solo travel can seem selfish if you view it from a 'I pay you serve' point of view, but if you look at it from a 'intentional reset' time it might seem less selfish. Absolutely consumerism has major ethical and moral issues but I think what you've actually discovered in all of this is that choosing HOW you travel and interact with tourism culture matters.
Choosing places that aren't big tourist traps but instead share local culture, choosing to support local businesses and local cuisine/products, choosing to emerge yourself in another place instead of expecting that place to conform to your comfort levels - that all supports all the things you love and encourages growth in those communities, while also still supporting those communities with your travel.
I would say the question is not 'is tourism right?' and rather 'what is the right way to tour a place?'.
solo travel has always ruined me so lets plan a trip sometime :)
I resonate so much with this video. I felt so much guilt while solo traveling, on one side because I felt deep inside me like I was doing something wrong (a capitalism marionette, made to take pictures and go from attraction to attraction) and on the other hand I felt a huge pressure to enjoy it and be productive and felt guilty for not being able to appreciate the amazing places and cultures I was experiencing.
When I came back home I told myself I would only travel with a purpose.
I really felt the community thing. I’ve been trying to be completely independent for my whole life and have now realized that it’s a ridiculous pursuit. Being with supported and appreciated and loved by others feeds us and it enables us to grow. Independence doesn’t have to mean being alone!!
Thank you so much Anja these were words I really needed to hear, I’ve been feeling very alone in my view of solo traveling.
I have a question because i would like to be able to travel a lot someday. How do you fund your traveling? Do you use your youtube money, or somethung else?
hi! I am so sorry that you had to go through something that was clearly very disturbing and had a lasting effect on you. I won't ask you to explain more, but if anyone knows what it was or which video it is that explains the moment in 8:45 and would clear things up for me I would really appreciate it
Someone drowned in the resort pool 😔
@@josie6027 thank you for telling me
What's the name of the song in the very last minute? :)
Hey by any chance did you find the song?
Love you too !!!!!
Also, really relate to a lot of your moral dilemmas + painful realizations about capitalism, thank u for sharing your thoughts with us i wish more people spoke on things like that
I’m gonna skip over all the deep stuff this time just to say you look GORGEOUS! ✨
I love you
Ok am I stupid but what actually happened at 8:30?
I mean i do travel alone to be „alone“. 90% of the atime i travel around I do that by myself and I want it that way. But i also get what you mean
seu cabelo está combinando com você
Come to India! You're welcome
holy shit lmao it aint that deep. Watching a clearly privileged person dramatize every aspect of their life while they are vacationing makes me feel gross. The dichotomy of "please feel sorry for me I'm so lonely" and "here's this awesome experience I got to have", all while creating a sponsored video out of it in order to profit is absolutely dizzying. I subbed for the bob ross wall paintings but I am definitely not the target demographic of these videos anymore lmao.
Hii I appreciate the criticism. I’m sorry to come across this way :/ I wanted to share my experience with those that want to hear😊 If you subbed for art content I’ll be making lots more! as for the sponsor, RUclips is my only source of income. So yes, my videos will be sponsored so i can survive like you and everybody else. Ideally, I’d love to set up a Patreon one day, so I’m not 100% reliant on sponsors to make money. I definitely acknowledge the privilege of being able to travel, and I’m veryyyy grateful for this! I think it’s important to point out the downside so people can be aware and not be fooled by all the romanticized videos out there✨
@@ANJAexists There's nothing wrong with sponsored videos in particular. It's the combination of all these factors that rubs me the wrong way.
Take awesome vacation most will never get to experience? ✅
Show off awesome vacation on the internet? ✅
Be sad on said vacation for sympathy points? ✅
Decry capitalism so people at least know I feel guilty? ✅
Oh and monetization + sponsorship to profit monetarily off the whole thing ✅
It's like quintuple dipping in self indulgence. It's not unique to you, this is pretty standard for influencer culture. You have it so much easier than 99% of the world population but your obsessed with the aesthetic of struggling to survive. I'm not questioning the authenticity of your mental health struggles. But to sympathy bait in a video showcasing your vacation is tone deaf, at best. A lot of people are out there with identical struggles on top of so much else that an internet influencer is isolated from. You got the golden ticket and you want to use it to buy the sympathy of those less fortunate. Ugh.
I see it as someone, an individual, sharing their personal struggles and the ups and downs in life and sharing complicated feelings that maybe others can relate to the experience of. It's genuine and often times in the moment. We reflect constantly (or should) she's just basically live journaling it all for us to see, rather than picking and choosing what to share like most of us do. I could see this being very helpful for others and as she grows so might her perspectives change, which is an incredible thing to be able to do as a human (we can be one thing and believe one thing ine moment and shift perspective the next after a bit of self reflection, nobody should feel bad for that). Nobody has to cater to anyone else's desires, this is her life and her journey through it. Not JUST a show to entertain everyone
"I subbed for the bob ross wall paintings but I am definitely not the target demographic of these videos anymore lmao."
No, doesn't sound like it. Way too many people make "My perfect life" videos. I personally really appreciate that Anja shares her insecurities, clutter, reflections, etc. Something about this one seems to have rubbed you the wrong way for some reason.
@@drewp17 wow, you sound like a miserable person who should practice some empathy. i'm one of the "less fortunate" and i struggle with loneliness and mental health every single day. it didn't come across as "sympathy bait", it came across as authentic and relatable to see a person sharing their actual real life experiences and feelings and being vulnerable in front of thousands of people (only for some of them to decide to be assholes when that is 100% unnecessary, just move on if you don't want to see this content). not only is it relatable but actually quite helpful to hear someone voice the things you're struggling with on a daily basis. i'm sure you have your own share of struggles that would elicit such a response but maybe deal with them in therapy instead of saying hurtful shit to others to make yourself feel better
wait what happened where the friends were scared in the restaurant?
Hi Anja, your videos are so well edited, what editing tool do you use?
Hi
you know a trigger warning only functions when you say why you give it, if you only say trigger warning and people dont know why it makes no sense
I hear everything you're saying on tourism, but I also really believe that there's a difference between being a "tourist" and being a "traveler." I think the fact that you ask yourselves these questions points to you being a traveler. I don't think it's wrong to feel guilt and examine how your behavior might contribute to world issues and reflect on these questions. But I also don't think that you need to feel guilt in those times that you DO need to take a break and just be on a beach or party and let off some steam. Anyway, this video is really interesting and brings up some great subjects, but that's just my two cents!
But again traveling and supporting the local shops is also contributing to flurish their economy, there is small cities and villages that are fully supporting themselves with tourism. So you are contributing by giving them a living.
this was fu'ed up
I'm so confused... What was the trigger warning about? Why were the group of friends staring open mouthed? What happened that broke you down in the moment before you started talking about capitalism?
Wow holy cow you at minute 15 freaking stunning 😳😍
What exactly you want to explain........you need someone in your life to walk further in your life with happiness....???
I are really very alone internally......
Something is missing very big in your life.....
Better help … seriously?! It is already known for having some of the most unethical practices in the therapy world…. But more importantly, supporting an Israeli company, that has partnered with the State of Israel during this war, is really a bad, out of touch, look for you. Please consider doing some research ❤️
Jesus is the best therapist! He loves you!
This amount of adverts really not good... :(
if overthinking and anxiety were a video, this would be it
Did you join a socialist cult in Berlin? 😂 let’s blame it all on capitalism 😅
I get what you mean by your life is meant to be lived with others, but also life doesn’t pause when others don’t want to go. Why do I solo travel? Because I don’t want to wait for others to go and I don’t expect my friends to live the same lifestyle only saving up to travel. I met some of my best friends abroad and I would not trade it for the world. I went through so much while I was alone traveling for months, but I learned so much resilience. I love you and your mindsets Anja, but for me and a lot of people I met it was out of necessity instead of choice
Hi
Thought you might like this quote from Vonnegut, Palm Sunday:
“What should young people do with their lives today? Many things, obviously. But the most daring thing is to create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured.”
This is my favorite video you have ever made. It’s remarkable how specific this was for things that I’ve experienced feeling but didn’t have words for and haven’t heard anyone else talk about! So much love to you, Anja ❤
i am sobbing. as someone who has drove across the country and sat crying at the airport in costa rica looking for something inside. travel has brought me to the most wonderful people. it hurts to be home and away from community. we are meant to be together, truly meant for it :,( thank you for this video. i feel it immensely. every aspect. and the hug between you and ur sister. i hope one day to experience that hug again. ur vulnerability is important and this share is so special. thanku for being you.
i fr did not understand what happened in that live footage?
maybe I missed it too but I don't think she explained it?!
hiii :) ah! your right :/ I didn’t fully explain because last second I decided it might be too sensitive of a topic to talk about here. But I responded to another comment explaining what I saw :(😢
my view on your experience on solo travel is that you were not in the 'right' mindset for it. you just had a sort of break-up or started a ldr and you were feeling kinda down and that, to my eyes, affected your mood, and your views on it...
Ι always find your videos when i need them the most 💛
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on solo travel (especially Thailand!), I’ve had these exact thoughts while traveling south east asia solo for 7 months, but I felt so alone with this! At times I even felt really guilty bc of feeling depressed on a cool trip so many people would do anything for, this was beyond validating! Loads of love from berlin
omg PERFECT TIMING i just made food 🤭
thanks for talking about colonialism while travelling
i do relate to one of your point ..... at first the way for me to travel was Erasmus projects and volunteerings ... and once i had my own money to go and travel it was just soo fake and didn't enjoy that much
I LOVE ur hair when ur talking to the camera!!! it's so pretty!!! and such an amazing video
I just love your honesty and thought process on everything! You're the best Anja
I solo traveled last summer and it was some of the most miserable moments of my life. I’m an extremely outgoing person yet still struggled to meet people and create connections, and when I did they wouldn’t last longer than a day. I fell into a really lonely and hard cycle and ultimately came home early. Knowing what I know now community and companionship take priority over travel in my life, fortunately I’ve figured out how to have both to a degree. An experience, for me, isn’t lived until it’s shared.
Anja I really resonate sm with you. I've lived in China for the past 10 months and I still have 14 more months ahead of me living here and it's been quite hard for me to realize that I have left my nest of deep rooted connections behind, it's felt quite lonely here, and I cannot wait to see my friends and family again. I also think that solo traveling is sometimes overrated and the way society and media sometimes is trying to push you into not needing anyone with all these, on my opinion, selfish unrealistic speeches about independency and focus on just making your money I find it quite sad and extremist. Your videos feel like a hug and is nice to see that others think similar to you and you're not alone. Thanks for this! 🧡
an Anja video is all i need rn!
Always a good day when the queen uploads ❤️
Hahah cutie, you respond to so many comments - i hope negativity doesn‘t ever get you down.
I really appreciate your sincere videos and to hear about your view on life
It‘s nice listening to you and I resonate with a lot of things that you share.
You go girl, live your artsy cute little life and figure out what it‘s all about for u - i love hearing about it :D
I always save your videos for a special moment where I‘m calm and can really enjoy it, if that makes sense :) it‘s like a treat hehe
Aw thank you for your kind comment!! ❤let’s live our cute lil artsy livesss hehehehe
This entire video is exactly what ive been feeling and thinking, it honestly makes me feel much better to know I’m not alone in these thoughts and feelings. Thankyou for this video, really