Exclusive Interview with Travel Influencer Ylenia Coco: Adventures in Sri Lanka | Learn From Her Experience 

Speaker: Mina

Hi there. My name is Mina from Clever Journey, and today we are going to talk about the hidden games of Sri Lanka, solo female traveling and the inspiring life of the Clore. I want use to, to my guest. Hi, how are you?

Speaker: Coco

Hi. Hello everyone. I am Millennia. I’m from Italy. I live in Milan and High 28. And, um, I’m a hardcore traveler.

Speaker: Mina

That sounds crazy. I’m so interested to ex to explain more about your life and your traveling experiences. So where are you right now?

Speaker: Coco

Right now I’m in Italy.

Speaker: Mina

Oh, nice.

Speaker: Coco

I came, Yeah, I came back last week from Sri Lanka. Mm-hmm. So that’s a few days here and I’m try to, you know, get day by day and yeah. Starting again with job and all my things. So yeah, it’s a little bit hard, but how we do it, I can feel it.

Speaker: Mina

Do you know what helps a lot to get back to the roots back to home. Is there one tip you can share with us? Like, is it with the hour? I think, Sri Lanka is about a couple of hours before Europe, so yeah. Does it take a lot of sleep for you to get back home?

Speaker: Coco

Uh, I mean, right now it’s just three hours now. Okay. so it’s not much, and yeah, absolutely. I mean, was a little bit hard to start again with the job and maybe wake up early and also dead leg and so on. but yeah, have a tip.

So when I came back to a trip, most of the time I’m searching and organizing another one just to be Yeah. You know, just to be focused on my things. But I know that have a goal and have another trip. So I’m more, excited and doing things with more energy because I know that in a few days I will live again.

Speaker: Mina

Oh, that’s a perfect idea. So as soon as you know, I have to go back home, you should think about which girl could be next, which, which destination could be next, and booking. So you have the goal. It’s much easier to come back home and be back to work and stuff like that. That’s a really good idea. And let me ask you, how did you get the idea of traveling to Sri Lanka? Why Sri Lanka?

Speaker: Coco

Uh, actually it was in my book at least first so long. And, actually when I travel, I prefer to travel to mosque, uh, remote and wild destination. I really love adventure. So, yeah, I choose for destination most remote, let’s say.

And, I went to Thailand the, the last year in December, and I spend one month and then I say, okay, I want to come back to Asia because I think it’s beautiful. And Sri Lanka was on my book at least, and I say, okay, maybe, that’s the right time to, to visit Sri Lanka. And yeah, it absolutely worth it and absolutely exceed my expectations.

And again, because I really love nature. I really love to feel in contact with nature. And, Sri Lanka is an incredible country with a lot of different landscapes. You can see jungle, ocean, mountains and whatever. So it’s the perfect destination for anyone lost nature and just be loose and explore and the adventure. Yeah.

Speaker: Mina

You already said it was much better than your expectations. So what’s the difference between your expectations before and afterwards?

Speaker: Coco

Um, actually I have, friends from Sri Lanka and they told me was a beautiful country, but just to take care because I was alone. And yeah, for sure, I’m a woman traveling alone, and maybe Sri Lanka was not the best country for traveling alone for a woman. So, I was a little bit scared about that and a little bit in ity before my, my trip, but later I absolutely have to say is absolutely safe. And I never, never, just feel afraid from something.

People are super welcoming, super kind, and that’s exceed my expectation because I was afraid and I was planning to go just in the most tourist places because I was afraid just to travel alone. But later, I start a trip and I start to visit the country, and I felt absolutely safe. So, I start to visit the most remote place as well. And I imagine, sri Lanka as a beautiful country because every time I travel, I’m planning the, the, the trip, by my home and I check all the places I want to visit.

And I saw a lot of pictures, you know, to now, nowadays we are full of pictures on Instagram, by travel bloggers and wherever. So, yeah, I saw picture and I say it’s, it’s amazing. But when you see it, it’s, it’s incredible. I mean, you can, you can realize you are here and you are watching for, the jungle or the beautiful, and the wonders Sri Lanka have.

Speaker: Mina

Oh, wow. So where did you drip start? You start, you, I think you flew to Colombo, the main city of Sri Lanka. And how was your route? Which city was next?

Speaker: Coco

Yeah, I flew to Colombo, actually the direct flight third from to Colombo, or maybe they stop in, uh, r in Saudi Arabia. and then I start from Colombo and, was going to the South. Mm-hmm. I like, round trip for across the country, starting from the South Risa Valley Gama. That’s the best place, for surfers. So I use one, yeah, I do one week of surf classes and was amazing. yeah, explore the South.

All the beaches of the south are most, let’s say relaxing beaches for people. Just want to relax and make activities like surf, kayaking or, uh, wherever. And then, I went to the East Coast, to do more safari in the yellow park. Yellow National Park is very beautiful. Also, if you want to spot Leo parts, that’s uh, Oh, wow.

Speaker: Mina

Yeah.

Speaker: Coco

So I sew too, and I’m very, very lucky because it’s not easy to spot them. So it was amazing. And a lot of elephants and any kind of animals, and I really love animals, so it was beautiful. And then I went to the north, I mean moss center, uh, to Siia and Dam, and yeah, over their countryside over there. and my last, my last destination was twin, uh, actually, I didn’t plan to go there because was, far from the other cities. And also a lot of people say me, no, don’t, don’t go there, because, yeah, there are not tourists and it’s like a desert counterside, but was the, maybe the most beautiful place I saw with Sri Lanka.

King Kamaya is on the East Coast, on the north, and it’s beautiful. They are paradise beaches, yeah, I mean, no, not a lot of tourist. So you can enjoy, the culture and the locals, and it’s very beautiful. And then, came back to Colombo visit just one day in a gumbo and was also be, it’s a typical holiday over there. It’s a Buddhist holiday. So yeah, just enjoyed the last days in Colombo.

Speaker: Mina

Oh, wow. So you went to a spot where people said to you before, you shouldn’t go there alone. And Yes. How, what was in your mind when you decided to go there? Even if people told you before, you should not go there by yourself?

Speaker: Coco

Yeah, actually it was, I think the first time in my life I was a little bit afraid. Mm-hmm. a little bit, because yeah, I traveled a lot of time alone, and since many years, I’m, I’m doing it. And never, never, I felt scared about traveling. I mean, traveling is the best thing you can do. And also traveling alone for me, I really love it. and this was the first time I was scared because friends of mine, told me that was a little bit dangerous, so I trust them because they are friends.

So I said, okay, maybe this time I have to, be careful and take care about, about stuff and about, what’s around me. And yeah, I was scared. I was scared then that they maybe have to avoid some places or have to meet someone, stay in to meet people and maybe ask to older people to do things together, you know? And then again, I mean, I flew to Colombo.

I start my first day and I met a lot of people. People from Sri Lanka are super kind, super lovely, super welcoming, and it’s not true. It is, it’s dangerous because they try all the time to help you, and they ask it to you if you are spending a good time. yeah, they try to help you in every morning state that they can. And, and also they live for, for tourists. You know, that that’s a poor country. And the tourist, is very important for them. So they try all the time to take care about tourists. Mm-hmm. And they, they don’t want to, to cheat you or to maybe just sell things and nothing more. They all the time asking you, are you okay?

Speaker: Coco

Most of the time, gave them my, my telephone number, just for example, to book Safari or whatever. And then the day after they was, they were asking me, are you okay? do you need something? Please let me know if you reach the other, the other destination. And if you are safe and wherever you need, just ask me. They are very, very welcoming and very warmhearted. Yeah, absolutely. And another thing I, I want to say, it’s fine to be, to be scared of sometimes. I mean, it’s an, a remote country, a poor country, totally different from Europe. So, it’s right.

There are more, let’s say, dangerous things, you know, just the, the nature, the, the jungle be, being alone and explore the jungle or the ocean or whatever, climb mountains. and there are, not a lot of installations. So yeah, absolutely. It, it’s not, safe like Europe or let’s say quiet safe, like, like Europe. Um, but again, people will help you. So when I scared about something, and actually this was the first time I was scared about a trip, and it’s very strange. I always say, there is a sentence I say to myself, and I repeat to myself when I’m, I’m afraid or I’m scared of something, and I say, do it. And if you are scared, do it. Scared it. Mm-hmm. And, and that’s absolutely, right, because I was, in the airport and I was saying, oh my God, I’m afraid, I don’t know, what will happen. And yeah, I’m alone. And I was repeating to myself this sentence, and it help to me a lot, just do it. And you are scared. It’s fine to be scared.

Speaker: Coco

I learned something because, traveling you, you can learn a lot. And I learned that be afraid in the right quantity is safe. I mean, help you a lot because will is not afraid about nothing. And since, since some years I was the typical person saying all the time, I’m not afraid about nothing. How will travel alone? And I’m independent, I don’t need anyone. And wherever, but be afraid, again, in the right quantity is say, can help you in some, let’s say moments to analyze what is surrounding you, what is happen, is happening, can help you to just be smarter. Mm-hmm. uh, uh, psychologist, a person, I mean it, she is very wise.

One day say to me, do you think you are smart to be not afraid of, of nothing? And I say, yeah, I’m strong. I mean, I, I feel powerful because I’m not afraid of nothing. And she say to me, no, maybe you’re stupid. You are not smart, uh, enough. Because again, when you are afraid, you are thinking about what is surrounding you, and you are thinking about what is happening. Mm-hmm. So, yeah, give you more, the possibility to, think fast and say, okay, what is happening, baby, this is not good. And find a solution.

Just escape to this, to this because it’s not good. And it, it happened to me a lot of things because I really trust people. I believe in the good all the time. And again, I really trust people. So, when I’m traveling and maybe to people offer to me to, I don’t know, discover a new place or see something new, I trust them and just, I love to, let’s say, just flow, you know?

Speaker: Coco

But sometimes it’s happened to me that, also, I found people, yeah, they, they were not too, too good. And I had to, to think fast and say, okay, that’s not right. I have to find something to avoid this, this moment, you know? Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. So that’s just do it. If you are scared, do it. Scared it. Yeah. And yeah, be afraid sometimes can save you.

Speaker: Mina

Is there a situation you remember when your intuition was right? for a case where you should not trust somebody, so is there, it’s the situation you remember, which was like, my gut feeling or my intuition says no, and afterwards my intuition was right. Yeah. Do you situation like this?

Speaker: Coco

Yeah, I, I’m very, empathic person. Mm-hmm. in my day by day, it happened to me to just think, maybe, I trust people, but yeah, I’m not very confident with someone, mm-hmm. I have the, the, capacity and be able to fast think and say, okay, this person, maybe it’s don’t have, I mean good ideas or, or something else. So yeah, traveling, it happens to me, for example, in Jordan. Mm-hmm.

Jordan is beautiful, but sometimes you have to take care because, I don’t want to scare anyone, but, maybe it is not, the safest country to travel alone for women because the culture is different. most of the time, for example, women can go out, starting from the afternoon and in the night, if you want to get out, you are alone. And just surrounding from men and mm-hmm. Yeah, it’s a beautiful country. But, I had some troubles, let’s say, and one day I ask it to, was a guide, I think, because all their tourists, suggested me to, to ride him and Ride. Yeah.

I wrote him because I wanted to cross the border and then go to Israel, and I was waiting for, this guy just to take me and bring me to the border. And he started to drive. I mean, Jordan, in, in the streets, he’s full of people. I mean, cars everywhere, but it start to go in most, deserts streets. Mm-hmm. And I was thinking like, uh, I don’t know, there is something I feel that is not going well mm-hmm. and I was asking him, but that’s the right way. Because I think to go to the border, to go to Israel, you have to take the main street, you know, also, I check it in Google Maps, let’s say.

Speaker: Coco

And it, it didn’t talk English very well, so I dunno, I was a little bit scared, and I feel something was not going well. And yeah, I started to, made him questions like, do you know, he’s in the border, I have to show documents, or something like that. And I realized that yeah, really something was not going well because he, it didn’t bring me to the border. Oh. So yeah, maybe it was the worst thing, happened to me traveling mm-hmm. And, but there, you have to think and find a solution fast, you know? So, I started to say him, I think we are not going the right way.

So maybe, I can ask someone was a local I met during my trouble and say, maybe I have to call him and you can talk with him in your language, and maybe he can’t suggest the right way, or just bring me again to the city place. And I call a local that, I met traveling, I think was an north from Mano, where I stayed. And he, he told Arabic. So he, he told to him to bring me back to the city, because if not, just he, he called the police, uh, wherever. But, yeah, he was very, let’s say street insane, just bring her again to the city and I will bring her, her to the border. Yeah. And then just, I was very, very lucky because this person was super kind and convince, him to, bring me again to the city. And then I started to cry because I was completely, I mean, I was dying and say, okay, that’s the last day of my life.

Speaker: Coco

Yeah. And the other guy, the host from the hostel boat meal, like, an ice cream, because ice cream in Jordan bogged me an ice cream and say, no, please don’t cry. Are you safe? Now I will bring you to the bird there. You know, there are not a lot of men that are not, the good ones. So, but also there are good people. And finally, I was very, very lucky, and I found an angel that saved me this case. Yeah.

Speaker: Mina

And you have been brave enough to think clearly to find a solution that’s so good. I think that’s the main thing you should do in this situation, to be like, okay, let’s make one step back and think about a situation right now, which possibilities are there.

Speaker: Coco

And I, you have no choice. You know, that like, uh, you have to think, okay, or, maybe I will die or, find a solution to save yourself. Yes. that’s, that’s why I think for anyone, maybe your brain, uh, started to think fast and to, find something to be safe. Mm-hmm.

Speaker: Mina

Oh, what an adventure. Yeah.

Speaker: Coco

Yeah. It was part of danger.

Speaker: Mina

But it’s a lot to tell afterwards. If you trust chilling on the beach, I think that’s nothing to talk about a lot. So if nothing would happen, your mindset would not grow. So I think travel experiences and, let’s say growing your mindset is about experience, whether I, whether it’s good or not. So I think that makes the travel mindset better.

Speaker: Coco

Absolutely. I think in the moment you are scared and you maybe you think I will not travel alone anymore. Mm-hmm. then, I mean, you can, you can tell to everyone your experience. And it is crazy when I, I mean, I tell to people this kind of stories, they are like, you’re crazy.

Speaker: Mina

Yeah.

Speaker: Coco

The best one, I don’t know, how do you do it? But, uh, yeah, just staying relaxing at the beach maybe, this kind of things don’t, don’t happen to you, and you just, can’t tell people. Yeah, I was traveling, just relaxing at the beach, but, you know, I Know.

Speaker: Mina

Well, that’s, that’s cool. It’s a good time. But sometimes you should go out of your comfort zone, even if you are in another country. So you can explore way more than trust, chilling on the beach. So, but I think it’s a part of it. Do you have a system? Like how much is relaxing and how much is like exploring and adventure stuff like this?

Speaker: Coco

Yeah, actually, I’m not for relaxing. Okay. But my day by day in my daily life, or when I’m traveling, I don’t like to relax. It’s impossible for me. That’s why I travel alone because maybe, uh, my friends, or when I have two people to travel with me, they say, no, Helena, I mean, you are too much. You are a lot of energies, and I want to relax sometimes. And you are all the time want to exploring and go there and there and there and do things, and it’s too much. So this, the, the first reason maybe, why here I travel alone and I don’t like to relax because when I other country and I’m relaxing and I’m staying at the beach, I say, okay, I’m staying at the beach. I’m spending time at the beach, and there are other thousand of places I can’t see and maybe have just one, one time. It’s once on a life I will, visit this country. So I don’t want to spend time relaxing. I will relax when I will be at home.

And let’s say, I always say, I’ll relax when I, I will die. So, yeah, I like this kind of trips just to relax. I mean, it’s important. Okay. Because maybe it is too much to do, like me all the time. I mean, I wake up super Healy in the morning and I go to sleep very late in the night. and I’m all the time doing things I want to discover and see places and, I assume that that’s too much for some people, but I want to miss anything, you know? Mm-hmm. new country. There are a lot of things that, uh, I don’t know, never seen in my life.

Speaker: Coco

So I wa just, I want to to discover, and it’s important to relax because obviously you are, going out here, day by day and just maybe you need to rest sometimes. Yeah. But also it’s once in a life maybe. So yeah, I want to enjoy it 100%. And, all the time, my travel gift, all, all my energies, all my hundred percent. And I always say, I came back home and I need another holiday just to rest from here, from the trip.

Speaker: Mina

That was my another my next question. So how is it for you to realize what you experienced? Is it like, I need time at home to talk about it, to look through the pictures you took? Or is it like coming back one day afterwards, you realized everything? How long does it take for you to realize all these adventures?

Speaker: Coco

Just a few days. Yeah. I mean, yeah, I, I have to say, I really love the feeling, that stay at the airport or just relaxing the plane coming back home and say, okay, I will make, again, my friends, my family, I will talk, I will tell them, my experience, my adventure, and I want to share with them all my feelings and how much I’m happy and I’m excited about life, about traveling, and yeah, just tell them all the things happened to me. But, maybe it was just a few days, nice the first day that, I met my family and my friends, and I started to tell them that was amazing. I show the, pictures and on, and then I’m just ready to another one and I want to escape again. And just go out growing up to, my comfort zone, that that’s, that’s something, uh, I really need. I really need, because again, I’m a person full of energy. So just staying, at home, working on doing, I do a lot of things in my daily life as well, but sometimes I’m getting boring and I really need to get out the comfort zone and explore and see and learn by traveling.

So it’s absolutely amazing to come back home. And I think one of the best thing to, traveling is, just knowing there is someone at home that’s, it’s waiting for you. And that’s beautiful because I’m very lucky. I’m surrounded by amazing people, all the time. Ride me, uh, we miss you. we really love you and you are doing crazy things. We are very happy. You are enjoying life, but we miss you, you know? And, and that’s amazing, and I like it.

Speaker: Coco

But yeah, again, it last just few days. I really need them in my life. I really need to share with them, all my adventures. But again, just in a few days, maybe just one month and I need again to, to travel.

Speaker: Mina

I feel it. So you already mentioned your family and friends, and while you are traveling, how is your contact? Are you like FaceTiming every day, or is it better for you to have this distance and tell them once a week what happens? how much do you need?

Speaker: Coco

Yeah. Actually, I think my mother suffered because when I travel, I had to disconnect. Yeah. And again, I really love my family. I really love my friends, and, I assume that it’s complicated for them, to understand my point of view and to understand that I don’t want to talk with them day by day or, just share, my daily trip with them, you know? yeah, I assume it’s complicated to understand. But yeah, again, I’m very lucky because they understand me and I don’t like to share all the things during at all, because I want to, feel this feeling to tell them all when I came back mm-hmm. what it’s like to, uh, remember again the trip and, my adventure, because if I am, all the time writing you, I see this and I do this, and it happened to me, this and all other things, you came back home and you have nothing to, to tell them.

So, I love just to disconnect. It’s, I mean, basically, day by day, I, I say to my mom, I’m safe, don’t work. Okay. and whatever, sometimes my friends write to me and I, again, I say, yeah, I’m, I’m safe, don’t worry. Or I send some pictures, but not a lot. Mm-hmm. Uh, also in Instagram, for example, in the social network, I don’t like to share all the things I’m doing. Mm-hmm. I want just to keep something from just keep something to tell later to my friends, to my, my family. But it’s, um, a way to disconnect and stay all the time telling people I’m doing this, this and this, or sharing the social network. Uh, maybe you, you miss or you keep the focus that it’s disconnect to, get out your comfort zone to, just enjoy it because you are all the time with your phone or, maybe, calling your friends and doing FaceTime.

Speaker: Coco

Maybe you are not enjoying a lot. I really like to and love to, stay deeply, with locals and share things with other travelers. And then when I come back home, I will tell them, oh yeah, Oh yeah.

Speaker: Mina

Many people who are traveling or starting to travel are scared to be really lonely or feel lonely. So what would you say? Is it easy to find friends or travels? Or is it like, you can choose if you wanna travel by yourself or you wanna meet somebody?

Speaker: Coco

Sure, you can decide. And I want to say, it’s not easy to travel alone, you know, because it can seems from how I can, I can talk in, or sometimes people say, yeah, traveling alone is amazing, and it is, I agree, but it’s not easy. Mm-hmm. you are lot of moments when you feel alone and you are asking yourself why I did it. Mm-hmm. I mean, you are obligated yourself to stay alone. And I say, you are not alone. You are staying with yourself. Mm-hmm. And that’s more complicated, you know? so it’s not easy sometimes feel alone and say, I mean, why I decide to, to do it. So that’s amazing. And, more, uh, more moreover, when you are maybe seeing something amazing and you are alone and say, oh my God, I want to share this with someone. And just to comment and say, oh, are you looking that, that’s amazing saying, or whatever.

So sometimes you feel alone, sometimes you feel alone. Sometimes you have to stay with yourself and, you know, with your thinkings. And that’s not easy. It’s not at all. But you can decide as you told. You can decide because we are very like gen lucky generation because we are, let’s say a back bakers generation, a generation of travelers. So, we are lucky because nowadays a lot of people are changing, uh, their mind and they are traveling. So if you want to meet people, you can, because sometimes people saying to me, how do you do it? You travel alone and then you post all the time stories with a lot of people, and you are doing France all over the world. How you do, are you doing? And just if you want it, you can do it.

Speaker: Coco

That, I mean, the first, way is to stay in als mm-hmm. for bakers, it’s full all over the world. Yeah, there you can meet a lot of people, and then you can decide, for example, there are a lot of activities, most of the time the hostel, proposed to you and say, do you want to do this with older, with a group, with old people? You can say, yes, I will share this activity with a group of people or not, I want to do this alone. You know? So I think you, you can find a balance.

For example, in my trip to Sri Lanka, I was alone and actually, was an exercise to me, because, sometimes I searching to be alone, but later I don’t be able to stay, to stay alone because I’m very friendly, I’m very talk, I’m all the time meeting people. It’s impossible to, to be alone. So I say, okay, this time, because I did the, the same in Thailand and then I met thousands of people. I did a lot of friends and was amazing because I think one of the best thing to travel is meet people, meet people, and doing friends. And I’m very lucky because right now I can say that I have friends all over the world, and when I travel, just send a message to someone and say, I’m visiting your country, you know? And I’m feeling like I have home no parts of the world, and that’s amazing. And so I say, okay, this time I have to be quiet and just spend more time alone. And then, I mean, I was all the time surrounding by people and I met a guy who was very, very nice.

Speaker: Coco

And we did most of the trip together. And yeah, maybe the only time I stayed alone, I decide to stay alone. For example, in Twink was, where there are not a lot of tourists and they say, okay, this, that’s the time to spend some time alone. Mm-hmm. and again, because I was spending all the trip with other people enjoying the beautiful escapes of Sri Lanka and doing activities all the day. So I was like, okay, now I’m alone in a desert country style, what I will do. And you have a lot of time to think, to think about your life and that that’s not easy. That’s not easy. But yeah. I mean, I always say when you are traveling alone, you are never, never alone I’m trying all the time to do it, to be alone, and I don’t please to stay alone if there’s always a Possibility to meet someone.

Speaker: Mina

That’s so nice. So You stay the most Time in hosts or Yeah.

Speaker: Coco

Yeah. I mean, again, when I want to meet people, I know that going in Australia is the best way to, to meet people and also to, just be safe because they are older So the travelers that understand you if, something happen and wherever you are, the possibility they, offer to you a lot of activities. So if you want to do all the time, something, is the best way to, to travel alone, I think. And then other times when I want to spend just some time alone, or also it’s not easy.

You spend a lot of energies and staying in austel and dormitory is not easy. You have to share, that with other people and it’s no, and whatever. So sometimes if you travel for a long time, for example, I was traveling for one month, sometimes, I needed to, just take a private room and say, okay, tonight I want to sleep and I want to rest. Because yeah, traveling for one month in a remote place is not easy. So, most of the time I stay, no. And when I, I feel I need it, just take a private room and I stay alone.

Speaker: Mina

That makes sense. Yeah. So, but if you are really alone, like not in a hustler and you don’t have the possibility to meet someone or you don’t wanna meet new people, because as you tell us, it’s not that easy, it’s socializing can be really hard and stressful. So if you decide to stay alone and there is a situation where you feel lonely, do you have something what helped you that you don’t feel lonely again?

Speaker: Coco

Actually I don’t know how it happens, but, for example, inal as well, there weren’t, not hostels and they weren’t tourists. most of the tourists were families and, was not easy to, find someone. But I think there are a, nowadays, there are a lot of ways to searching someone, for example, I dunno if you know it, but there are a lot of WhatsApp groups mm-hmm. for and there was one just dedicated to Sri Lanka, and I spent three days alone and I wasn’t enjoying it because I, I was traveling all the time with people, so I said, okay, these are my last days and I want to stay alone. But it last just two days. And then I needed to, to just to, find someone, meet someone, and yeah, I wrote to this group, if, someone was in Twin Alaya as well, and just to take a beer or enjoy the beaches and wherever, but where I’m completely alone, yeah, maybe that’s the moment where I share mostly with my friends or my family. Yeah.

For example, I was all the time in, uh, during my trip in Sri Lanka, not sharing a lot in the social media because I was all the time doing things, meeting people, talking with people, and, and I didn’t have a lot of time to do it. So when I’m, I, I’m alone, I try to share more with them to, for example, was the first time I called my friends and did a FaceTime with my mom and, uh, share more in the social media because, you know, you can interact with other people and it’s, uh, I think it’s a way to not feeling a lot alone.

Speaker: Mina

That helps a lot to know if there is somebody at home and you can reach them whenever you want to. That’s so, that’s amazing. So in channel, how do you travel? Do you already plan every stop you’re gonna take? Or is it like, I live from one day to the other and just go with the flow?

Speaker: Coco

Yeah, yeah, absolutely. I think go with the flow is the best way. Yeah. yeah, I mean, mostly, most of the time when I, I’m traveling alone, when I’m traveling with friends, I try to organize all the trips. So I really like to planning things, organize the trip. I think it is one of the best thing of the trip,

Speaker: Mina

Um, we talked about being lonely, being solo, traveling, and now planning your trip. That planning can be exciting as well. So looking forward to all the stops you have in your mind and about Sri Lanka. How long was the trip in channel?

Speaker: Coco

Was 25 days.

Speaker: Mina

Okay.

Speaker: Coco

Yeah, 25. And actually I was saying like, um, I love to plant things that when I’m traveling alone, I, I don’t organize nothing and, just like to go with the flow. And I always take, um, the, the flights round trip and no more, maybe only the, also for the first night. And then, yeah, good with the flow because you know, when you are traveling, you can meet people and have suggestions, tip about what is better to visit or to see. Or sometimes if you plan something and you say, okay, have 25 days in Sri Lankan, I want to travel across the country and see this and this and this and this. Yeah, absolutely. Uh, it’s good to have a plan.

But sometimes, for example, you visit a place and you feel that you just, you want to stay there more, spend there more time and stay there. More days, for example. Yeah, I plan to stay in chink just one day, and then I spent one week because, uh, I really liked it. And, I was feeling like, I was in peace and I really like the feeling and the atmosphere. So I say, okay, I mean, I will skip other things. Uh, I was planning to see and just go with the flow and, enjoy this feeling so you can plan it. And if you are all the time planning things like bucket hostels or every, or everything, you can’t have the po you have to, let’s say follow the plan because you have the Austal booked and whatever.

So I prefer to just buy the flights and then go with the flow. Also if you, if you like to talk with Locus, they will give you a lot of tips and you can discover places that maybe you can check it in internet, because nowadays we are lucky because you can check cold in internet, all the places there are not remote places because now tourist start all over the world, Everywhere Yeah, Sure.

Speaker: Coco

But sometimes if you just talk with locals and you like to go deeply in the culture, you can discover also places that are not so much spotted, but are beautiful as well. So, I prefer just to go and see, and again, go with the flow.

Speaker: Mina

So When you start this trip to Lanka, you already knew that you will fly back at the day?

Speaker: Coco

Expect, Yeah. This time, yes, because, for sure I’m, I’m working mm-hmm. So, yeah, unfortunately, I can’t like stay, for indefinitely time. But this year I want to, to do it. Maybe I will do it again in to Asia will, plan, I mean round trip without, taking the flights to coming back home because, I want to feel the, the feeling to don’t have a date of, of come back and just enjoy and, and see and wherever spend, yeah, spend more time and like, just feel, how, how it is to living for, maybe for a time for, um, yeah, for a time in a, in a place. So, I mean that’s different from having, a date of return.

Speaker: Mina

So would you say 25 days? I think 25 days. Was it in Sri Lanka, wasn’t it?

Speaker: Coco

Many people say he’s too much.

Speaker: Mina

Okay.

Speaker: Coco

Yeah. But it depends. Mm-hmm. for example, again, if you want to, uh, I mean if you spend just two weeks, maybe it’s enough to see the most spotted places, the most important things of the country. I think in all the countries, mostly like that. Two weeks are enough to see the best places and all the tourists places. So, but again, if you want to enjoy and stay in what place for more time, for sure, you have to, have more, more time to spend in the country.

For example, yes, spend one week in twin Kamaya or spend spending one week in the south, maybe it’s too much mm-hmm. but we didn’t want to do activities. You need more time. And also think that, it’s really worth it to spend more time in Sri Lanka. Many people stay just one week or, at maximum two weeks. But there are a lot of things to, to see, to do, and it’s absolutely worth it to spend more time. And I recommend to stay more than two weeks, just for enjoy, deeply the, the country. And for example, again, I really love the nature doing activities like surf, like safaris, like whale watching or sea animals or whatever.

And for this, sometimes you need time because, it depends from the weather and it depends, for example, to spotted animals, it depends from how much like is yard and whatever. So I think it’s a destination for anyone because you have all, if you want to stay at beach, relaxing, you can do it. If you want to do activities, you can do it. If you prefer the mountain, you have the mountain. And if you prefer, just like, beaches activities, you have a lot.

Speaker: Coco

And yeah, I think it’s worth to spend more time.

Speaker: Mina

That sounds like a wonderful experience. Now I wanna go to Sri Lanka immediately, so this should be the next step. thank you so much for sharing your adventures. Is there something you wanna say or tell the people at the last sequence?

Speaker: Coco

Just to say that, uh, really traveling, it is worth it. It’s amazing. Can change your mind, can open your mind. I always say when I come back to a trip that my eyes are full of beauty because really the word is insane. Mm-hmm. there are a lot of wonders that’s worth it to be, to be seen. And that my, my mind is inspired because really you can, you can meet people, incredible people that will inspire you and that’s really worth, really worth it in your day by day. So absolutely, do it if you are not already started, just do it starting from something. I mean, just choose a destination and travel because it is the most, beautiful thing you can do. And yeah, absolutely.

You learn a lot traveling and really, I think that it’s a gift from, from God, from the word, from life, whatever you want, but it’s a gift. Uh, this word is gift and it’s really worth it to, to visit it, to see the wonders of this world and just traveling. Just do it.

Speaker: Mina
Thank you. Is there a channel where we can see what you’re doing, where people can follow your next trips?

Speaker: Coco

I mean, next one, planning organ, just, I borrow the flights, is Cuba. I will go to Cuba on August, maybe before I will do some, uh, little trips next week I will go to Spain and then to Sicily again. And, but the bigger biggest one will be Cuba on August. And then will return, I will come back to Asia in December to spend out, I told you more time. So I’ll go to, indonesia, I think.

Speaker: Mina
Yeah, That sounds good. How is, uh, do you wanna share your name on Instagram so people can follow your next trips?

Speaker: Coco

Sure. I’m Elaine.

Speaker: Mina
I mean, I’ll say for the spelling, I think we will text it somewhere here, but, in, how is your short name that maybe it’s in, in our mind if we hear it.

Speaker: Millennia
Okay. It’s Coco and I don’t know to say the, uh, trade. Like, Oh, the line Underline The line Underline, yeah. Okay. I’ll say again, Coco.

Speaker: Mina
Okay, perfect. Thank you so much for sharing all your amazing trips and have fun. Take care. And I will, looking forward to follow your next trips. And how are you doing?

Speaker: Millennia
You’re so kind and hope you are doing well. And thank you again for.

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