How do you prefer travelling? Do you choose to sit down and read books that open the doors of the world to you? Do you prefer travelling with friends/family or solo? Is the thought of travelling alone terrifying or liberating? You could never be sure unless you try, could you? But one thing is certain: once you dare to go alone, you would be more vigilant of your surroundings, the time and even other people. By being observant, you could easily write travelogues and walk the readers through your trip with images, personal experiences and genuine emotions.
Like always, these solo trips don’t have to be to far-off geographical destinations; they could be as simple as going to the supermarket, the park or even the local library. And after taking the solo trip, who wouldn’t love to brag about their travel experience? But remember, we need to use something that would help us organise what we went through so that our travelogue will have a smooth flow. This is where a variety of linking words can help you.
In order to tell an impressive story about your solo trip, in the first place, learn to use some ‘linking words’ that help you form a coherent narrative and make your listeners enjoy it as a story. Did you notice the various linking words used here? Listening to someone's daily routine with repeated use of 'then' is tedious: ‘I start my day at...then...then...then...then…’(although there is nothing grammatically wrong with it).
With that being mentioned, how to describe a solo trip to the supermarket?
The just-risen sun shone through my window curtains and cast shadows of doubt on my already troubled mind. I was tired of depending on others to get my school supplies; I always had to wait till my older siblings or parents were available to accompany me. Though I knew the drill: make a list, get ready, take the essentials, cross the road carefully, shop and return safely; I never considered doing it alone. However, as the new day dawned on me with new aspirations to travel solo, I was willing to give it a shot. It’s always the first time that is very hard. But I guess, because of the good weather, my mother allowed me (although reluctantly) to go to the neighbourhood supermarket to buy some fresh fruits and school supplies.
With my bag pack ready, I set out sticking to the lane that I had always travelled, but nothing felt familiar. I was engulfed by a sense of being watched by every person that passed by. The boundary walls looked unusually large and the road seemed to stretch on for miles; I tried to walk tall, as much as my neck and height would allow. Moreover, people eyed me suspiciously fearing that I might be lost or up to no good. Although the sense of being peered upon by millions of eyes from above was overwhelming, I reverted their gapes with a determined stance, a focused stare and a confident smile. I had to take this trip. I had convinced my mind and no speck of doubt would be allowed to creep in.
Finally, I reached the traffic light crossing: the only major obstacle that now stood between me and the welcoming doors of the supermarket. Fortunately, there was a large group of commuters who wanted to cross the road along with me. Nobody seemed to notice the fly in the soup as I blended in with the group. As the signal turned green, I was carried along with the wave and safely plodded onto the pavement across the street. The group then disbanded in different directions. I felt elated as I skipped forward to close the gap between my destination and me. I entered as the automatic doors opened up for me.
A gush of cold wind, along with different smells ranging from fresh baked goods and sweet fruit invaded my senses. I was enthralled by the endless aisles of household and grocery items. To check out items from my list, I darted straight to the fruits and vegetable section. I was deluged by the vibrant colours that seemed like eye candy: kiwis, bananas, oranges, tomatoes, cucumbers and others were all in one area of the store. Carefully, I picked a bunch of cherries and felt their springy, smooth flesh; I got my pick. After that, I darted towards the soft, fuzzy skin of peaches; they all looked succulent, but I wasn’t sure whether they would be juicy and ripe inside. I could barely resist having a bite out of these luscious fruits.
Afterwards, I went to the stationery aisle. Surprisingly, the aisle was jammed with parents and children picking up back-to-school items. Though I would have loved to strip the entire shelf of its colourful and captivating contents, I restrained myself as too many things meant I had to calculate a lot and balance it out with the money I had. With my shopping done, I entered the checkout lane that wound like a snake. I hated this part the most because of the monotonous, shrill beep the scanner made as it read an item's barcode. At last, my turn came and I was billed out. I stuffed my backpack with my purchases and walked back home the same way I had come. The walls and the lanes didn’t seem weird on the return trip. I reached home and unloaded my backpack and my recount of the day to my parents. My parent’s faces lit up like the morning sun, pleased that their youngest child too could create orbits of her own.
My trip to the supermarket taught me a valuable lesson: there is nothing a child cannot master if they are willing to observe and wait for their turn to perform. Besides, never take any initiative for granted. In short, it’s ok to be scared, but with one step at a time, you will get the hang of it.
Likewise, when writing a travelogue, you need to ensure that the narration is well structured. Do not exaggerate your thoughts and feelings, but do write in a way that makes your readers a part of your journey. Keeping your narrative chronological with appropriate linking words, interspersing it with genuine feelings and summarising significant events is a good way to stay on track.