“I Come Alone” is the title of a book written by Michelle J. Coote about her travels in Thailand and India. On Sunday, August 11, she provided an interesting presentation to the Pattaya City Expats Club about her travel experiences in India. She said her title for the book was based on her often repeated response to locals she met while on the trip.
She said that after the question where do you come from, it was usually followed with, “you come alone?” Her response being, “Yes, I come alone.” A single woman traveling alone was an unusual event, especially in India. Michelle noted that since most Asians travel in groups, they had some difficulty fathoming why a person would travel alone; especially a woman.
Bruce Gordon, host of the Pattaya City Expat Club’s popular Mind Expansion Group, introduces PCEC’s speaker for the 11th August, Michelle Coote.
Michelle began by giving some of her background. She was born in Sydney, Australia. She graduated from Queensland University with an Economic Honor degree in 1991. She then joined the Queensland public service in 1992 working in the areas of budget control and project evaluation, reaching the level of middle management by 2002. In 2002, she took time off and spent five months traveling in Russia, Europe, Thailand, and Cambodia.
Upon her return, she found those travels had changed her perspective and came to realize she “really hated my job.” Further, the Queenslander house she bought in 1995 as a fixer-upper, had become a burden to upkeep; a “money pit.” So, in 2005, she quit her job, sold her house, and with her backpack holding her worldly possessions set out to travel.
The first six months she spent travelling in Thailand and India. She notes that Thailand offered peace, comfort, an easy lifestyle, and was easy to get around. However, India was completely different. At times she loved it and at other times hated it, and sometimes felt both those emotions at the same time.
She described her experiences and feelings when she first arrived in Mumbai in November 2005. She then listed what she considered to be the challenges one faces in traveling in India. The first is the poverty, the numerous people living in the crowded slums and the number of beggars; which seemed to especially target westerners. Another is the crowds of people and the horrendous traffic. She captioned a couple of other observations as, “How do you say maintenance in Hindi?” (something not often evident) and “Where is my gas mask?” (tremendous amount of air pollution). Michelle mentioned that traveling by train was quite an adventure (or was it a nightmare). She noted the train stations were extremely crowded and there was a general lack of signs giving directions – for getting tickets or finding the right train. However, with the help of others, it can be done; but not easily. She said one’s primary thought was, “Will I get there alive?”
Following Michelle’s talk, Tony Heron MC’eed the Open Forum, where members and guests can seek solutions to the many questions that arise when living in the ‘Land of Smiles’.
Michelle also commented on the apparent perception of Indians that if a woman is unmarried and has no children, she has no life. She also described some encounters with Indian men, especially from those that seemed to think her traveling alone made her fair game. She mentioned a small park in Mumbai whose name on the map was Horniman Park; which she said would aptly describe the male denizens that were there.
But, she said that there were also many great things about India that makes the challenges worth facing. Showing several pictures, Michelle described the “magic” of India such as its monuments & architecture, landscapes, spiritual pilgrimages & pathways, and friendly people. In describing its architecture and monuments, she pointed out that seeing pictures or videos of the Taj Mahal does not do it justice. The only way to appreciate its magnificence and beauty is to actually see it in person.
In conclusion, Michelle said that she could also call her trip to India “weight loss tourism” as she did drop several pounds during her travels there. Many in the audience asked questions about the best places to see and because of the difficulties she described in getting around, how much time to allow for getting to certain places as part of planning an itinerary.
Michelle now resides in Rayong and will be completing other books about some of her later travels. Her book, “I Come Alone” is available as an eBook and can be obtained from Amazon by visiting http://www.amazon.com/I-Come-Alone-Michelle-Coote/dp/1470178540.
After Michele’s presentation, Master of Ceremonies Roy Albiston brought everyone up to date on upcoming events, then called on Tony Heron to conduct the interesting and informative open forum where questioned are asked and answered about Expat living in Thailand.
For more information on the Club’s many activities, visit their website at www.pattayacityexpatsclub.com.
Following her initial trip, spending five months traveling in Russia, Europe, Thailand, and Cambodia, Michelle returned to Australia and sold up everything; now living in Thailand, and using it as a base for travels in Thailand and to India.
Australian Michelle was well set in Brisbane with house & a good government job – or so she thought she was, till she started travelling on her long service leave. She wrote a book about her experiences, called ‘I Come Alone’ after being asked the question many times.
Board member Lawrie presents Michelle with a Certificate of Appreciation for her very interesting presentation. Her book is available as an ebook on Amazon, for only $2.99.
