3 Scary Stories as a Solo Female Traveller

Medellín, Colombia

I walked into my hostel at midnight, and the security guard/receptionist asked me, “Did you just walk here?” I said yes. He very sternly told me to "never do that again" and that "I was lucky nothing had happened to me. Someone was just shot and killed on this street last month"

We continued talking about Medellin, life here, etc. He was a friendly guy who only spoke to me in Spanish to help me practice, despite speaking perfect english. We exchanged conversation the best I could, talking about ourselves, our families, everything in Spanish. I was grateful for the free lessons.

Then he asked if I wanted to go back to his room and watch a movie.

I politely declined. He was very handsome and charismatic, so I’m sure that line works most of the time.

I could tell he wasn’t used to being turned down, but he stayed polite about it and I went to bed.

I always shower before bed, so I said goodnight and went to the bathroom.

It was 1 a.m. I was alone in a large bathroom, that has individual shower stalls, but the water wasn’t getting hot. I turned it off so I could walk out and try a different shower stall.

As soon as I turned the water off, I heard rushed footsteps. Strange, it's late?

I'm surprised there's someone else in here at all.

I wrapped myself in a towel and walked to the next stall. I opened the door and saw the receptionist crouched behind the door, hiding.

I screamed bloody murder. He screamed too, and ran out without saying a word.

I took my shower, just trying to process what the f*** just happened. Made the deduction, he followed me to the shower, was watching me through the tiny crack, was startled when I ended my shower early and didn't have time to the leave the room so he hid in the next stall...obviously.

Later, he claimed he was “cleaning.” I left the hostel and reported him. I doubt he faced any consequences though.

Busan (Pusan), South Korea

This was my first-ever solo trip. I was 19 and turned 20 while I was there.

I left my hotel late in the day to hike Mount Geumjeongsan, which means “the mountain with a golden well.” Legend says a golden fish descended from the heavens on colorful clouds and swam in the well at the top, giving it magical properties, if you drink the water you may live forever. That’s why Beomeosa is called the “Temple of the Heavenly Fish.”

I didn’t tell anyone where I was going, not the hotel, not my mom.

I reached the top, I felt euphoric. I decided every year on my birthday I would hike a grand mountain and WOW how powerful AM I? So happy and proud of myself. I realized I was running out of time, I needed to get back down the mountain before dark, and catch the last bus out of the park. Will they shut the iron gate? How do I call a taxi? I don't have phone service? How could I get service? Ok I need to haul ass.

While running, I slipped, hit my head on the steps, and slid down moss-covered stone, at least 20 feet.

It hurt. I laid there and could feel the knot on the back of my head, my ankle expanding and my tailbone throbbing. I deduced it was too dangerous to keep going and I was planning how I was going to sleep in the forrest over night. "It's dark, my body hurts, I might injure myself again, I don't even know if I can stand up...I think I should just stay here and try again in the morning, it'll be safer that way"

I started thinking about how the animals will protect me if I stay and it'll be perfectly fine.

Then I realized I might be falling asleep or passing out? because that doesn't make any sense.

I asked God to save me. I stood up, ran down the mountain, and made it to the bus stop just as the last bus arrived. I never did no shit like that again.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Malaysia has three main ethnic groups: Malay, Indian, and Chinese. People couldn't really place my ethnicity, so sometimes people assumed I was Malay. Most Malays are Muslim, and Malaysia is a majority Muslim country.

One afternoon, I was on the train wearing shorts above the knee and a short-sleeve shirt, headed home. A man kept staring at me with pure contempt.

I immediately understood the issue. He either thought I was Malay or knew I was a foreigner — either way he clearly disapproved of what I was wearing. I'm just reading his thoughts "slut, whore, etc" I can feel his anger clear AS DAY.

I got off at a few stops earlier than my home, to get away from him.

He got off too. I started running. He started running.

He chased me around the block like a scene from a bad movie. I dodged through crowds while he sprinted after me. I ran around looking for a police officer, couldn't' find one, then hid in an alley. Wondering what does he want to do? yell at me? hit me? could I fight him? should I fight him? what if he tries to kill me? I'm going to scratch his eyes out. what if I go to jail? fuck. I just turned 21 by the way weeks prior.

I waited two hours before going home, mainly because I was lost after running in unknown directions and didn't know how to get back but also just in case he was still nearby and following me.

After that, I started covering my hair in public and stopped wearing shorts when I was alone.