Hi, I'm Ummi
When I think of a solo traveler, I’d picture someone who is:
Fearless
Tough
Sporty
Chatty
Sociable
Alert
Sharp
Outdoorsy
Smart
Confident
Resourceful
Fun at parties
Good at reading maps
I am NONE of the above.
I’m an introvert who would rather bury my head in a book than make small talk. I can’t catch a ball, can’t drive, and can’t swim. I have a fear of every little thing — from water, to speed, to reptiles, to heights. And I have zero sense of direction.
Yet, through all my blunders, I have managed to visit 61 countries over 4 continents. I’m writing this blog to share my stories that I hope can help and inspire you to travel solo — even if you don’t think you’re cut out for it.
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Who am I?
I’m a solo traveler from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. If you’re not sure where that is, I don’t blame you.
It’s that country between Thailand and Singapore that people only visit when their Thai visa is expiring or when their Air Asia flights transit there on their way to Bali.
I’m also a published short-story writer, with several works featured in local and international publications. Check out my Author Page on Goodreads for more info.
When did I start traveling solo?
I didn’t own a passport until I was 20.
Growing up, I was taught that money was only for bare necessities. Travel was not one of them. I remember listening in wonder as my wealthier classmates told stories of their month-long family vacations in Europe.
Even in those early years, I had already accepted that there were things in this world that only people with money could do.
That belief stayed with me well into adulthood. If I had any dream of traveling at all, it had long since retreated into the far back of my mind. In the meantime, I had other priorities to take care of — like clothes, makeup, and boyfriends.
But when I turned 20, a friend of mine invited me on a weekend trip to Thailand. That first trip abroad was a steep learning curve. But it also turned out to be an eye-opener.
I learnt how to check myself in at the airport, board the plane, and survive in a foreign country. And I realized that hey, this wasn’t too difficult! It was perfectly doable on my own, and didn’t have to be expensive at all. Most importantly, it gave me a certain high that no clothes or makeup or boyfriend ever could.
So that was the story of how I caught the travel bug.
But it wasn’t until after a breakup (it’s always a breakup, isn’t it?) that I finally took the plunge. Three days before my 21st birthday, I booked a train ticket to Singapore as a gift for myself.
It was just a day trip because I was still nervous about staying in a hotel room alone (not that I could afford to anyway), but it was enough to get me hooked. From that point on, I was unstoppable.
What do I do for a living?
Ah, the dreaded question.
First, I should probably mention my university education — I had none.
Well, I quit during the first semester, but that’s another long story. Suffice to say that the experience taught me to always put myself first, and that if something does more harm than good to my mental well-being, it’s not worth it.
Many people slave away for years doing something they don’t particularly enjoy — until something monumental happens in their life, and they suddenly realize that’s not how they want to live.
I’m just glad I came to that realization earlier on.
So while you often hear stories of other travel bloggers who quit their jobs after having spent a huge chunk of their lives in the corporate world, I was never there in the first place.
I didn’t sell my house and my car to fund my travels because well, I didn’t have a house or a car to sell.
I have, however, created a form of financial stability that allows me to keep traveling while being technically unemployed (most of the time). When my money runs low, I take on odd jobs in restaurants, bars, and bookstores, but only for as long as I enjoy them. I always make sure I know when it’s time to call it quits.
How do I afford travel?
I wish I could say that I’m earning enough money from this blog to fund my travels. Well, that’s the dream anyway, but blogging is a long-term investment, and I’m not a particularly dedicated investor, so it will probably take awhile, if it happens at all.
Currently, I’m working on an article about how I afford travel despite only working minimum-wage jobs and being unemployed most of the time. I’ll post the link here once it’s done. Keep checking this space!
In the meantime, if you’d like to support my work, you can buy me a coffee (it’ll only cost you $2, but it would mean the world to me).
What made me start this blog?
I live with depression. It has pretty much been a fixture in my life, on and off since I was 14.
After a rough period in 2013, I started a bucket-list blog to give me a reason to get out of bed every morning, and found that it made a tremendous difference.
Writing felt therapeutic, but not only that — the bucket list itself gave me a sense of purpose and achievement. It helped me practice self-care (which involved a lot of traveling).
However, I didn’t publicize it much, because I wrote what I liked, and not always in the most politically correct way. It could probably even land me in jail.
But as the blog grew, I realized that some of the content could be truly helpful to others too. I needed a bigger platform so I could help more people. Hence, the birth of Ummi Goes Where?
Since then, I’ve also been lucky enough to see my work published in local and international publications, win a few awards, and collaborate with brands and tourism boards — none of which would’ve happened without the people who read and support my work. Thank you for being part of this journey.
If you’re curious, I’ve listed some of these on my Portfolio & Press page.
Why "Ummi Goes Where?"
When choosing my destinations, I generally gravitate toward places that are less popular. Places that nobody (in my social circle, at least) has heard of. The more obscure, the better.
Or it could be places that are seen as weird or simply “unappealing” as travel destinations because they have a reputation of being dirty or “unsafe”, for example.
I enjoy watching people’s perplexed expressions as they ask, “You’re going WHERE?“, sometimes followed by an even more perplexed “WHY?”
Gives me a kick every time. It’s just a weird flex of mine, I guess. And that’s how this blog got its name.
Other F.A.Q.
(Real questions people have asked me)
I started out as a backpacker, roughing it out, sleeping in airports, bus stations, train stations and parking lots (this was before I discovered Couchsurfing). I still consider myself a backpacker, but now that I can afford to, I allow myself some luxuries when I feel like it, although I still try to keep my budget as low as I can.
I’m a very light packer. I don’t carry a tent or sleeping bag with me. For a typical trip (ranging from 4 days to 4 weeks), I only carry a 25L backpack and a small sling bag. I never check in my luggage. I have never owned a suitcase.
I also don’t travel full-time or for very long periods, because I will miss nasi lemak and Malaysian weather, so it’s usually around 3-5 weeks each time.
I like staying at home. No scratch that — I love staying at home. There are just so many things to do that I don’t understand why people keep asking me how I don’t get bored.
I’d have several projects going on at the same time — cross-stitch, knitting, drawing, calligraphy, scrapbooking, 1000-piece jigsaw puzzles, succulents, handmade candles. I also have a ukulele and a foldable keyboard piano that have been sitting in the corner for years because I haven’t had time to learn them.
Recently I learnt to bake (because we ran out of cooking gas, and I had to resort to using the electric oven). But mostly, I love reading and writing. Sometimes I force myself to go running to keep fit.
I often ask myself this question too. And I think it all boils down to three reasons:
- Pride. My pride has always been bigger than my a**. I want to be able to say that I went to all those countries on my own, and with my own money — not on any sponsored trip, business trip, family trip, and not for any airline company.
- Lack of freedom. I don’t like being told what to do or when to do it, especially during my travels. So I don’t think I would enjoy it very much if I don’t get to decide which cities I’m flying to, or how long I get to stay in each place. The reason I like traveling solo is because I can be the sole decision maker, and I get to do everything on my own — from the planning stage and booking the tickets, to figuring out how the public transportation works, and finding my way around town. I don’t like being chauffeured around in a car from one expensive hotel to another. Believe me, I have traveled with people who tried to impress me with all those. I did not enjoy it one bit.
- (And probably the most important reason of all): I don’t think I would have made it past the first stage of the selection process anyway. ;-D
No, I’m the cartel chief. Why should I transport my own goods when I could pay people to do it for me?
Yah, your dad was a regular.
It’s “oo-mee”, not “you-me”, or “yummy”. Not many people get this right, so thank you for asking.
I didn’t. I still have a fear of flying. I still get nervous when I’m on my own in a foreign place. And that’s fine. Being nervous is normal. Even experienced performers get nervous each time they need step into the spotlight. It’s a sign that you care and that you don’t let your guard down.
Click here to see the 8 common fears of solo travel and how to overcome them.
I killed all of them for asking stupid questions.
Does my phone camera count? I’m currently using a Samsung S22, a Vivo X70 Pro for backup, and an Insta360 X2.
This changes every year. It used to be Thailand, because green curry. Then, India and Indonesia because of the diversity. Now, it’s China, because their technology is just so impressive.
Well, the dream is of course to visit every nation on earth. But for now, I would really love to visit Iceland, Morocco, Ireland, and South America, particularly Argentina, Peru and Chile.
Yes, I’m waiting for your husband to propose to me.
Do you have any other question you’d like me to answer? Ask me anything >>here<<.
