Girl who travels around the world for dating reveals she will come to Vietnam

Last year, a few days after arriving in London, she swiped on Tinder and met a dual British-French traveler . A few beers with him at a pub near Tower Bridge turned into a five-hour dinner date and endless conversations about past trips.

She never saw the man again. But that's how her journey began — one with no specific itinerary in mind. Over the past year, James says she's used Tinder, Hinge and Bumble to go on 34 dates in 19 countries.

James at Tulun Mosque, Cairo

There was a 13-hour date in Cairo, Egypt, during Ramadan—her first with a Muslim—who charmed her with his dazzling smile. Her next date was with another Egyptian man in Alexandria, who blurted out that he was engaged and spent the date yearning for love.

"He clearly needed someone to listen and I was that safe place," James said. "I had incredibly intimate and vulnerable conversations with people. There's something special that happens when people know they're never going to see you again."

Had a date in the Italian city of Verona with a classical musician who drove her around on a scooter and took her on a night tour of many of the city's historic sites.

There was also a disastrous date in Türkiye when the man became angry at her rejection of his physical advances and left her in a strange place.

James on his journey across the dark continent, in Namibia

Her most recent date was with a South African man in Cape Town.

But James, 40, says even the bad dates were memorable - and they all taught her valuable lessons.

"Before, I took success or failure at dating seriously. If I went on a date with someone and it didn't end with a kiss goodnight, or it didn't end with a date, I considered it a failure. I don't think about it anymore. Now I realize the value of dating and I'm so grateful that someone opened up and took the time to talk to you, shared their story with you," James said.

"I've learned that romance comes in many forms. It doesn't have to be expensive and there's no set formula for what makes it romantic. For me, it's about connection and intention. It's about someone who listens to you, who finds a way to make you feel special, who wants to bring a smile to your face with a thoughtful gesture, and who wants to know what you think and tries to really get to know you."

James, who has no family, began saving for her trip two years before her mother died in October 2021. She moved from Seattle to Spokane, Washington, renting a cheaper apartment and getting a roommate. She then sold all her belongings and moved in with her parents to spend time with her ailing mother in her final days.

While it's not uncommon for solo travelers to find romance and friendship, it's rare to date someone in every country you visit.

But James threw himself into the experience and embraced both the good and the bad.

James insists she tells the men in advance about her dating goals in each country she visits. She promised to keep them anonymous, and other than sharing a few photos, she declined to provide CNN with their contact information.

James's selfie in the Sahara desert

Perhaps her most memorable experience was a 13-hour date last year with a Muslim man in Cairo. They shared conversations about everything from online dating to Muslim culture and arranged marriages. Because it was Ramadan, they shared iftar—the Muslim meal that breaks after sundown.

A man in Zurich picked her up in a luxury car, took her to dinner at an expensive restaurant despite her protests and ordered her food, along with an $84 glass of Chablis. He then asked to split the bill, blowing her weekly budget.

James hasn't been back to the US since she left in the spring of 2022 and plans to explore Africa for a few more months before heading to Asia, Australia and South America.

Sharing with Thanh Nien about his plans to visit Vietnam, James said: "I plan to visit Vietnam on my upcoming journey to explore Asia . I have dreamed of visiting your country for many years and cannot wait. I am currently in Africa and will be here for a few months on my cross-continental trip."

James hopes to turn his around-the-world adventures into a book that is both entertaining and educational.

“Maybe someone won’t pick up a book about Egypt, Namibia or Tunisia. But maybe they’ll be intrigued by my dating story, and if they happen to learn other things about the country in that dating story, then I consider that a huge bonus,” she says.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/co-gai-du-lich-vong-quanh-the-gioi-de-hen-ho-tho-lo-se-toi-viet-nam-185230514023245589.htm