Female Safety with Negin Samadzadeh!

Negin with Golden Eagle in Kazakhstan.

My name is Negin. I'm from Iran and am 26 years old. I currently live in Oman. I have a bachelors in environmental engineering and a masters in conservation biology. I currently work as an executive manager for a private company. I am also an avid reader and a bit of a bookworm.

I've been traveling with my parents ever since I was a small child, and as I got older my curiosity stemmed into solo travel.

Negin recently embarked on a solo journey to Uzbekistan. Here's what she had to say about it.

In April I traveled to Uzbekistan. Unfortunately I didn't have much time there, but fell in love with the country during the little time I spent there. I don't think many people know about this country, and when they do hear about it they presume it is unsafe because it's one of the "stans". But let me tell you this, I have traveled to many countries, most of them in Europe and the West- and none of them were as safe as Uzbekistan. I've discovered that most of the Central Asian countries I've been to were extremely safe, especially for solo female travelers.

People there are very friendly and hospitable, although not many speak English - they still try to communicate with you with google translate. This place was the first Islamic country I traveled to where unlike others, you didn't have to wear a Hijab in the mosques. As an Islamic country it's fine to wear whatever you want but it's better to be respectful and not to wear something too revealing.

The food there was also amazing! Although I think that depends on each persons taste buds. They are very accommodating to vegetarians.

I spent 3 days in Samarkand and 2 days in Bukhara. This is more than enough for both places because the cities aren't that big and all the historical sites are near each other, so you can just walk around the city. There's also Khiva which I didn't get the time to visit but heard many great things about it.

I got around using the trains. I noticed they were the fastest and cheapest option for commuting around the cities.

These are the places that felt safest for Negin as a solo female traveler;

Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Oman, Singapore, Slovenia, and Croatia.

The reason behind each country is a bit different, but what they all have in common is the low rate of theft and assaults (at least in my experience). Also in most Central Asian places, the fact that the local people care about you and they really try to help you out, is a huge relief. It's very seldom that you see any drunk people on the streets late at night, which for a female solo traveler is an advantage if she feels like taking a walk in the evening.

What are some safety precautions you take to ensure you aren’t in danger?

• Always use labeled taxi cars!

• Don't put all of your money in the same place, always try to hide it in different places so if you get robbed or lose it, you will have back up.

• Don't go out at night alone, if you have to go out at night, go in a group.

• Never get drunk especially if you're alone.

• If you're going somewhere, inform someone.

• Try to blend in as much as possible.

• Do not take your valuables or jewelry with you, and don't wear your designer outfits because it might make you a target.

• Never drink what someone gives you, get your own drinks.

• And the most important one: LISTEN TO YOUR GUT

How do you handle scary situations while traveling alone?

I always try to think clearly and not get emotional in the moment, because there are times for sure that you will feel endangered. When I'm walking and feel that someone is following me, I will make it look like someone is waiting for me just around the corner. I do the same when I hop into a taxi and feel weird about it. I make it look like someone knows where I am and they're expecting me soon. I fake a phone call (or even make an actual call) and say on the phone that now I'm in this specific place and I will arrive in X amount of minutes.

Something else you can do is if you're walking and feel in danger, as soon as you see a shop go inside and wait it out. You can also request a taxi to stop at a shop if you feel that the driver is sketchy. It never hurts to keep sharp objects like a key or even a pencil in your hand (as small as the gesture, at least you feel a bit of security).

Where is your favorite place you’ve visited so far?

I have so many favorite places it's hard to name just one! I would say Italy, well because of just everything. Kazakhstan, because it's still remote and has beautiful nature and lovely people. Nepal because I had a great time and would love to go again to try the Everest base camp. Kenya, for safaris of course. Russia has unique architecture and tons of history. Then of course my own country Iran. Whenever I travel there I feel the warmth of the people and it's just a beautiful place to be. I know Iran gets a bad rep in America, but it truly is a remarkable place. If you don't believe me, do some research of other people who have been there. DO NOT BELIEVE EVERYTHING THE MEDIA SHOWS YOU. Do your own research.

What advice would you give to women who want to solo travel but are afraid to?

I always get so many questions like: aren't you afraid of traveling alone? Or doesn't it get lonely?

And my answer is, at least once in a lifetime a woman needs to travel alone because it shows you how big and diverse the world is and how small you and your problems are and no matter what, life will go on.

Solo travel pushes you out of your comfort zone and shows you that you are capable of so much more than you thought. It shows you how strong you are and how to depend on yourself.

I've solo traveled a lot and it's actually my preferred form of travel, it never becomes lonely. When I solo travel I usually go to hostels which is where I always find so many like-minded people who are traveling alone too. This is wonderful because you become friends and can explore cities together.

"My advice to those women who are afraid to do it is to just.. book the flight and hit the road! Experience the beautiful and big wide world that's waiting for you out there."

Safety is crucial when venturing the world on your own. Please always make sure you are prepared for what can happen and aware of your surroundings. If you need any help regarding safety, please don't hesitate to reach out.

If you are interested in getting to know more of Negins adventures- connect with her on Instagram.