What Traveling Alone Taught Me About Slowing Down - As-Salaam-Alaikum

I used to be that traveler who tried to cram everything into one week. You know the type - early flights, back-to-back sightseeing and an itinerary so tight it might snap. But on a solo trip to Vietnam last year something shifted, and it changed how I travel for good. It began in Hoi An. I planned only two days there, just enough for photos of the lanterns and the Old Town. On my second morning, sipping strong coffee at a riverside cafe, I met a local tailor named Lan. We chatted for hours about her craft, family life and how tourism has shaped the city. That unexpected conversation made me realize I wasn't really traveling - I was just rushing through places. When I finally slowed down, I learned a few things: * Depth matters more than distance: I started staying longer in smaller towns, wandering side streets, joining a community cooking class, or simply watching daily life from a bench. The moments I found were richer than any checklist. * Conversations are the truest souvenirs: Talking to locals opened doors I wouldn’t have found otherwise. From fishermen in Kerala to guesthouse owners in Prague, every story added a new perspective. * Silence teaches more than WiFi: I took long walks without music or podcasts - just the city sounds or the waves. Funny how you begin to hear yourself when you stop filling the quiet. * You don’t have to document everything: Some moments are better kept between you and Allah. I chased fewer perfect photos and more sunsets that didn’t need proof. Since then I plan differently: * I give at least three full days to each place unless it’s just a transit stop. * I pick an “anchor activity” - a local hike, a communal meal, or volunteer work - something that connects me to the people and the place. * I leave some free days to cook simple meals or just be spontaneous. That’s often when the best memories happen. Travel now feels less like escaping life and more like noticing it. Every journey is a slow, humble conversation between me and the world. If you’ve traveled alone, did you ever reach a point where rushing didn’t make sense anymore? I’d love to hear how slowing down (or not) has shaped your trips.