Georgia

{The Beginning of a Dream
In 2017, I took a step that changed the way I saw the world — and myself.

After years of imagining what it would feel like to travel the world, I finally made it happen. I booked my first ever international solo trip, and the destination I chose was Georgia — a small country between Europe and Asia that I knew little about, but felt drawn to in a way I couldn’t explain.

The decision wasn’t random. Georgia had been showing up in travel groups I followed. People spoke of its natural beauty, its ancient charm, the warmth of its people, and how easy it was on the wallet. But deep inside, I wasn’t looking for just a holiday — I was looking for something more. I wanted to face my fear of traveling alone. I wanted to feel free. I wanted to discover myself outside the routine of work, home, and daily life.

I didn’t have any fancy camera or travel gear. I didn’t stay in luxury hotels. My plan was simple: get there, stay within my small budget, and experience the country as it came. I packed light, kept my expectations low, and carried one thing heavier than my bag — hope.

When the plane touched down in Tbilisi, I felt it — nervousness, excitement, disbelief. I was really here. In a country I had never visited, with no one waiting for me, no familiar faces around, and no concrete plan. Just me.

And somehow, that felt amazing.

Falling in Love With Tbilisi
Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, greeted me with a cold breeze, cloudy skies, and a charm that I had never seen in any city before. There was something raw and real about it — the mix of old and new, chaos and calm, colors and culture.

I walked around without a map, letting the streets guide me. I wandered through Old Tbilisi’s cobbled alleys, spotted churches that stood tall for centuries, and crossed the beautifully lit Peace Bridge at night. I climbed to the Narikala Fortress and stood there silently, taking in the view of the whole city. It felt like I was watching a living postcard.

I spent hours just observing — children playing in squares, elders chatting in cafés, street musicians performing in hidden corners. Even though I didn’t know a word of Georgian, I communicated with smiles, nods, and the occasional help of Google Translate. The people were incredibly warm. Strangers helped me with directions, suggested places to eat, and even posed for selfies when they learned I was a solo traveler.

One evening, I visited the famous sulfur baths. It was a completely new experience — the warmth of the water, the scent of the minerals, the way it relaxed my body after a cold day of walking. It felt like therapy — not just for the body, but for the mind.

For meals, I skipped tourist restaurants and chose local bakeries and small family-run eateries. That’s where I truly connected with the culture. I tried Khachapuri — hot, cheesy bread with egg, and Khinkali — juicy dumplings that you eat by hand. The food was soulful, honest, and comforting — just like the people.

In every corner of Tbilisi, I found something to love. It wasn’t a city trying to impress — it was a city that made you feel like you belonged.


Into the Mountains — Finding Myself
While the city gave me culture and connection, the mountains gave me something even deeper — clarity.

I joined a small day tour heading toward the Caucasus Mountains. We passed through winding roads, icy rivers, and endless snow-covered valleys. I had never seen snow before — and now, I was surrounded by it. White landscapes stretched endlessly on both sides, as if nature had painted a dream.

In Gudauri, I stood on a hilltop, alone, with the wind in my face and snow falling gently around me. There was complete silence. No traffic, no voices, no notifications. Just mountains and sky.

In Kazbegi, we reached Gergeti Trinity Church — a tiny, ancient structure sitting above the clouds. From there, the view looked infinite. That was the moment it hit me: I had made it. I had come this far, alone, without anyone’s help. The fear I carried before the trip had completely melted away in that freezing air.

I was no longer afraid of getting lost. I was excited to be lost — because that’s where discovery lives.

I made friends with fellow travelers on the road, shared tea with a local family, and took photos not to impress anyone — but just to remember that I was here. This was my moment.

That evening, as we drove back to Tbilisi, I watched the sunset over the snowy hills and whispered to myself: “I can do this. I can travel. I can go anywhere I dream of.”

That feeling stayed with me long after I left Georgia.

What Georgia Gave Me — And What Came After
I spent just three days and four nights in Georgia, but those days changed my life. I didn’t just come back with photos and souvenirs — I came back with courage.

After Georgia, I no longer needed someone to tell me I could travel. I already knew. That small country gave me something bigger than any tourist attraction: the belief that I could explore the world on my own.

And I decided right then — I would travel on my own terms. I never wanted to follow a fixed group schedule or be told where to go and when. I didn’t want to rely on travel agents or pre-set tour packages. I just wanted to explore freely — to plan my own path, follow my own rhythm, and allow each journey to unfold naturally. That’s how I truly connect with a place — raw, unscripted, and real.

That trip was the turning point. Since then, I’ve explored over 28 countries — many of them solo. I’ve walked through night markets in Vietnam, climbed hills in Sri Lanka, crossed lakes in Armenia, and met strangers who became friends for life.

But Georgia? Georgia will always be
my beginning.

The place where I felt snow for the first time.
The place where I healed in silence.
The place where I stopped surviving
and started living.

To anyone reading this, especially if you’ve been afraid to take your first solo trip — let me tell you: just go.

You don’t need to have all the answers. You don’t need to be brave all the time. You just need to take that first step — and the rest will follow.

If you’re looking for the perfect first destination, I can’t think of a better one than Georgia. It’s affordable, safe, beautiful, and full of surprises. But more than that, it’s a place that gently opens you up to the world.

And once you take that first trip, there’s no going back — because you’ll never see life the same way again.}