By: Sarah Kiran
Ever caught yourself daydreaming about a solo getaway, only to let fear talk you out of it?
You are definitely not the only one. In Episode 4 of Beautiful Me, we sit down with content creator and solo hiker Alina Toh to chat all about the magic of travelling alone. The episode kicks off with a totally honest confession from our host. Even though he loves travelling, he has never actually taken a solo trip himself. It sets the perfect tone for a conversation that feels incredibly relatable, warm, and inspiring.
A Journey Born from Adversity
Alina openly shares that her solo travel journey began two years ago, during a particularly tough season of her life. As she puts it, “I lost both my job and my relationship”, and realised there was “no better time than now because, you know, I pretty much lost everything”.
Identifying as an ISTJ personality type, she admits she used to be a rigid planner whose itinerary was scheduled “down to the minute”. However, the unpredictability of solo travel shifted her perspective entirely. Alina discovered the beauty of flexibility, learning “to really take things as it comes”. By letting go of tight schedules, she noticed a profound change in how she handled the unexpected.
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The Night That Changed Everything
Alina’s pivot into hiking content wasn’t planned at all. In fact, it all started with an impromptu trip to Mount Rinjani. During the episode, she shares a deeply vulnerable story about her midnight summit push, recalling that “it was pitch black, very cold”.
At that point, she was so exhausted she wanted to quit, even telling her group to “just leave me here”. When they moved ahead and she was left alone in the dark, she actually started crying. But soon, the very practical side of her kicked in. She realised she had to keep moving to stay warm, making the firm decision to press on because, as she told herself, “I didn't come all the way here to give up.”
Then, unbelievably, 20 minutes later, an earthquake happened. Even so, she kept moving. In the end, her biggest takeaway for conquering both literal and metaphorical mountains is all about shifting your focus. “Instead of looking at the top,” she explains, the secret is to “just look at your feet and just go one step at a time.”
The Gift of Intentional Disconnection
When our host asks about the modern anxiety of losing Wi-Fi, Alina offers a refreshing perspective. She explains that during about 80% of mountain hikes, “you have no signal, you have no connection”, which means “you are forced to already disconnect from your devices”.
Rather than feeling anxious, she sees it as a “very intentional choice to disconnect”. Without the pressure to post updates on social media platforms, she says, “I forced myself to be present, enjoy that very moment”. With breathtaking views around her, she adds, “that's the best place to reflect”.
Taking the First Step
Trying something new can feel intimidating, especially when it comes to solo travel. And for many people, that fear often comes down to safety. As Alina explains, “the thing that's holding a lot of people back, the first thing is safety”. Her advice is simple and practical. She suggests, “just avoid places that are unsafe and do your research”.
So if this conversation resonates with you, be sure to tune in to Episode 4 of Beautiful Me to hear Alina’s full, heartfelt story and learn more about her journey.
