Today I want to tell you something I never imagined I’d share with so many people, but which has become the essence of who I am and what I do. This is my story of how quitting my dream job led me to discover my true purpose, and how traveling alone as a woman to India not only changed my life, but became my mission: to help other women achieve their dreams without fear.
The Day My Body Said "Enough"
Have you ever felt like you’re exactly where you should be, but your body is screaming at you to get out? That happened to me.
I had the job I thought was perfect. It was the position that would propel me to the places I wanted to be in the world. On paper, everything looked incredible. But my body had other plans.
The immeasurable stress took its toll. I couldn’t go to work consistently. My body was literally preventing me from continuing. And there I was, facing the most painful decision of my professional life: to quit.
Heartbroken, I let that job go. Not because I wanted to, but because my body was sending me a message I could no longer ignore. Sometimes, the best decisions in our lives come disguised as the hardest.
The secret journey: Why I didn't tell anyone until I arrived in Delhi
When I decided that India would be my home away from home , I made a radical decision: I didn’t tell anyone until I landed there. Does that sound extreme? Perhaps. But I did it for a very clear reason: I didn’t want someone else’s fear to affect my ability to experience life .
I knew exactly what the comments would be: “You’re going to get mugged,” “You’re going to get raped,” “You don’t have a man to protect you,” “Those countries are dangerous for women . ” We already know the script. The world tries to protect us through fear, but that fear often paralyzes us and prevents us from fulfilling our dreams. I received those comments, yes, but I was already on Indian soil. There was no turning back.
India: A mirror of a thousand faces, flavors and spirituality
Immersing myself in Indian culture was a unique experience. I encountered a civilization completely foreign to my own, full of incredible and respectful human beings with a vision of spirituality that made me question everything I knew. India is a land of vibrant colors and contrasting mindsets, where chaos and peace coexist in the same corner.
Life at the Ashram and the Taj Mahal
I lived in an ashram , one of the purest experiences of my trip. My routine began at 5:00 AM with the alarm bell, followed by silent meditation and fire puja (devotional ceremonies). There I learned that true wealth is simplicity: eating sattvic food (vegetarian, without garlic or onions), practicing yoga, and disconnecting from external noise to listen to the inner voice.
I visited the Taj Mahal and watched it transform before my eyes. In the early morning, the white marble shimmers with a soft pink hue; at midday, it’s a dazzling white, like a jewel, and under the moon, it sparkles like a pearl. Walking on its cool marble floors while the scent of jasmine from the gardens envelops you is something that cannot be described in words, only felt.
From Kerala to Ladakh: The contrasts
I traveled across India from end to end. In Kerala , the lush, tropical south, I got lost in the backwaters aboard a houseboat (rice barges converted into floating hotels). The air smelled of cardamom, black pepper, and damp earth. I discovered that Kerala is the “Little Venice” of India, with a matrilineal culture where names and property are passed down from mother to daughter—something that blew my mind.
Then I went up to Ladakh in the Himalayas. It’s the “land of the high passes ,” a cold desert at 3,500 meters where the air is thin and the silence is absolute. There, prayer flags flutter from the bridges, scattering blessings on the wind, and Buddhist monasteries cling to the cliffs as if they were part of the rock. Ladakh taught me that nature is greater than we are and that accepting this is the first step to finding peace of mind.
The birth of Experience Designer:
From "My List" to your adventure
I returned home with a long list. What I did, what I wished I had done, and, most importantly, what no one should do. It was a guide made for me, for my healing. When a friend asked me for my guide to help her plan her trip, at first I didn’t want to give it to her. It had taken me time and effort to build that wisdom.
But then I understood something: she had the same fears I did. She had received the same negative comments about traveling alone as a woman. I wanted to empower her and help her fulfill her dream, so I gave her my guidebook. She returned thrilled, with a transformed outlook on life. She told her friends, they told others, and that’s how my agency was born. We started by organizing trips to India exclusively for women, and today we are Experience Designer , a boutique agency that designs tailor-made trips to the most exotic destinations in the world.
13 Tips for traveling alone (or with friends) and conquering the world
As an experienced traveler and experience designer, these are my “must-haves” to make your trip safe, transformative, and free from unnecessary fears.
| # | Golden Advice | Why it’s vital for your experience |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Don’t wait for anyone | If you wait for someone else to be ready, you might never leave. Go solo and discover a side of yourself you didn’t even know existed. |
| 2 | Enjoy your freedom | The independence of deciding when to wake up, what to eat, and where to go is priceless. It’s the ultimate act of self-love. |
| 3 | Reputable accommodation | Don’t compromise on rest and safety. Stay in well-reviewed, reputable places. Avoid hostels without clear references; your peace of mind is worth more. |
| 4 | Detailed itinerary | Be prepared. Carry your documents and a detailed itinerary. Having a clear plan will prevent logistical issues and boost your confidence. |
| 5 | Meet local people | Take time to talk to the people around you. They’re different from you, with a different spirituality, and there’s a lot to learn from those differences. |
| 6 | Leave room for spontaneity | While planning is key, leave free time. The best stories happen when there are no plans: an unexpected tea with a local or a market that wasn’t on the map. |
| 7 | Connect with other female travelers | You’re not alone in this. Use blogs and women travelers’ groups to share tips and feel part of a global community. |
| 8 | Research the culture and dress appropriately | Respecting local culture doesn’t mean losing your independence or your feminist values. It means being smart and empathetic. Dress modestly if the country requires it—you’ll move more freely. |
| 9 | Keep a travel journal | Writing your daily experiences by hand is almost a lost art. Do it. Your words will be the greatest treasure you bring back. |
| 10 | "Do not overshare" | Be friendly, but keep sensitive information private. Don’t reveal exactly where you’re staying or deep personal details to strangers. |
| 11 | The wedding ring trick | If you want to avoid unwanted attention from men with the wrong intentions, wear a wedding ring. It’s an effective psychological barrier in many cultures. |
| 12 | Disconnect from your phone | Stop using your phone for everything. Enjoy the scenery with your eyes, not just your camera. Keep memories just for you, without instantly sharing them on Instagram. |
| 13 | Stay connected with an eSIM | Enjoying your trip doesn’t mean living in the 1800s. Use Holafly or Airalo to always have mobile data available. Connectivity is safety. |
Are you ready to design your own story?
My story began with a painful resignation and evolved into a lifestyle I now share with hundreds of women. Don’t let fear instilled by others hold you back. The world is so much kinder and brighter than the news portrays.
If you’re ready to leave stress behind and immerse yourself in the exotic, at Experience Designer we’re ready to take your hand and create that trip that will be your “before and after”.
Because traveling alone isn’t just about changing locations; it’s about changing the way you see yourself.
With love, Ari Garduño, Experience Designer
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