From Dream to Nightmare: My Solo Overnight Train Journey from Istanbul to Sofia

Join me on my journey as I embark on my first solo overnight train ride from Istanbul, Turkey to Sofia, Bulgaria! 🌍 Initially filled with excitement and anticipation, I was ready to challenge myself and fulfill my dream trip. But little did I know, the unexpected awaited me, turning my adventure into a nightmare I never want to relive. Watch to discover the highs, lows, and valuable lessons learned from this rollercoaster solo travel experience! #SoloTravel #TrainAdventure #NightmareTrip"
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== About Me ==
Hello! I'm Ashley, a travel enthusiast who loves to explore and share everything I learn along the way. I have traveled to over 70 countries and have made it my mission to dig into the culture, history, food, and language as much as I can. I not only want to share my passion for the world but also encourage my viewers to get out and experience it for themselves. I feel privileged to have the opportunity to inspire others to challenge their miss conceptions and step out of what makes them comfortable in hopes of trying or experience something new that may change their life forever.
Be sure to subscribe to my KZbin channel to catch all that I’m up to.

[@lioninwinter9316]

My Dad used to say, "At first, you're afraid you'll die. Then you're afraid you won't." Glad you pushed through. Thank you for the video.

[@jsturaveragedad]

part of the motion sickness crew here. sucks you got sick, but glad you toughed it out. I hate riding backwards.

[@HoneymoonAlways]

Its weird to give the video a thumbs up when we feel so bad you had such a rough travel day.

[@christinelamb1167]

I would love to visit Turkey someday! I've only been to the Istanbul airport for a stopover on my way to and back from India a few years ago. I had some really awesome turkish food at the airport, though (and a delicious coffee)! While in India, I took an overnight train ride from Udaipur back up to New Delhi (my trip starting and ending point). Wow, talk about an adventure! It was 2nd class, so it was an acceptable sleeping accomodation. There were 4 bunks in each "cabin", and I ended up on the upper bunk (not my favorite). I brought my own food to eat, so I didn't partake of any train food. They came around and passed out packages of sheets, a small pillow, and a thin blanket for each person, and you made up your own bed. The bed had a pretty thin sleeping surface (I wouldn't really call it a mattress!), but it was reasonably comfortable. I was glad I had a little throw blanket in my backpack, because the AC was on and it was a bit chilly. I slept ok, it wasn't my best sleep ever, but not terrible. Going to the restroom was a bit of a nightmare! It wasn't really very clean, and as I hovered over the toilet, my sandaled foot sunk down into a crack in the floor, into some water that who knows where it was coming from. My foot got wet, and I tried not to imagine that the water was coming directly from the toilet! All in all, it was a very interesting experience, and I'm glad I did it. 😊

[@monisha8732]

Hey Ashley, love your videos! Hope your future travels are sans sickness. Some unsolicited tips I would like to share with my fellow motion sick people.. So I get motion sickness often and things that my mom imparted to me and some things I realised that make me sick while in motion are: 1. staring at screen, especially smaller ones like phone constantly 2. I noticed u kept ur camera somewhere up and had to lift up ur neck quite a few times to talk into it (like at 8:00). Doing that aggravates the sickness. Basically, such neck movement. Keep a straight head, ig. 3. Do not be hungry. (I know Ashley had dinner) 4. Sleeplessness and tension Of course, one can still fall sick despite the above Wish we could teleport don't we, but isn't the journey the destination.. anyway.. I know this is a long comment, I'll stop now. Best wishes to all.

[@shawnsmith5498]

Thank you. We have missed you. ❤

[@ugur5855]

Hello Ashley, I just became aware of your new channel and started following it immediately. May your new channel bring you blessings. Keep traveling the world with you 📷🙃 from turkey

[@AndyKing1963]

Haven't been motion sick since I was kid, but when I was it was dreadful, so I can really sympathise with you Ash

[@whatsitlike6392]

I took my first Amtrak cross country trip last year and got so sick. The next trip I took the dramamine before I got on and things went much better. I can totally relate.

[@junebelcourt-suhaka1434]

That was some trip! Feeling sick is no fun!

[@louisewhite9152]

Hi Ash - I’ve just watched your Vlog/video and I felt so so sorry for you - I once had really bad sickness and an upset stomach on a plane back to England from Greece and I wanted to be anywhere else in the world apart from on that plane, I swear it was the ham and cheese croissant I got at the airport ~ I hope you’re having a lovely Easter weekend - sending loads of love and loads of hugs ~ Xxx Xxx

[@lynnnovak889]

Unfortunately this occasionally occurs. Thanks for keeping it real! Happy Easter ❤

[@JohnandCaraRetiredTravellers]

We remembered you get motion sickness. So sorry you got so sick! Sounds like it was more than motion sickness. ~Cara 🥰🥰

[@jimjensen9139]

So sorry about the motion sickness.

[@soxrox2574]

Sorry you had such a bad trip on the train 🚆. I'm not a fan of long train rides myself. Thanks for sharing Ash.

[@Booboonancy]

I have pretty bad motion sickness. I have actually “spoken” to large freezer ziplocks numerous times: planes, trains, buses,ferries, cars. Yes riding backwards make you sick 🤢. Coincidentally, I tried to replenish my Dramamine stash while in Istanbul but it wasn’t available without a prescription so a pharmacist suggested homeopathic ginger pills which I did buy but was extremely skeptical. I have now developed what works for me. Before getting on any transport that I suspect could make me dizzy/nauseous, I pop half a Dramamine 30-45 minutes prior then, if it’s a long haul ( like Istanbul to Mexico City - almost 15 hours ), I pop a “ginger” at take off, then I alternate every 3-4 hours. So far it has kept me from being even dizzy. I am very sensitive to any medication which is why I only do half but to be extra safe or if I am told it could be a bumpy ride, I’ll take a whole pill. This proved very useful on a very short but horribly turbulent flight once. It also prevented me from panicking ( it was that bad ). I’m writing this while playing your video because I can hardly stand to watch someone else be sick. I don’t know how you managed to film anything. You are my hero 🤗

[@jennyhammond9261]

I love the train outfit, super cute!

[@AfterCoffeeWithJess]

oh gosh, this reminds me of my overnight ferry last year in greece. ptsd watching this lol. sorry you went through this rough travel day but glad it is in the past now!

[@jj-if6it]

Never noticed that detail on stamps before, cool

[@gwynethglas-brown9171]

Sounds like The Norovirus. Yes its awful being sick when traveling. Happend to me before too . You looked exhausted hope you picked up managed to get your Flights back .

[@amiejaneleavitt]

Just wanted to add ..I subscribed because of the realness of this video!!

[@Em280483]

I can’t handle watching something if I’m feeling nauseous. I just have to shut my eyes, preferably lay down & try to sleep so I don’t know how sick I feel.

[@amiejaneleavitt]

Being sick while traveling is absolutely miserable.. Thanks for sharing the real story..

[@jj-if6it]

They have a fridge, that's so good!

[@celso6780]

Legal ver você bem. Desejo tudo de bom pra você.

[@tonys1636]

Long distance train is my favourite way to travel in Europe, they are generally excellent and often have full catering facilities on board but the price you paid may have only been some vending machines. The attendant would have made up the bed if asked. The stop and no power was a locomotive change, often occurs at borders outside of the EU. Far less hassle than flying and often dearer but does save the cost of an Hotel for a night or two, even longer when transcontinental. I suffer from severe vertigo so flying is out nowadays. Think you may have picked up a virus or a bacterial infection.

[@6360carolyn]

Okay solo train ride we get it.

[@duanewhitacre5995]

So sorry! I have never had motion sickness since a very young age. I'm sure it was miserable. 🤮😨🤢🙏

[@toobydude41]

UGH so sorry this happened to you Ash

[@Ma.TeresaAMendoza]

Greetings

[@jj-if6it]

Yeah if you have diarrhea and a fever it sounds more like food poisoning or a virus than motion sickness, although that probably didn't help. The worst!

[@hollyjohnson1966]

Being sick at any point in time is not fun but especially not fun when you are traveling. Sounds like you possibly had the flu but going along the lines of your mentioning you know you have issues with motion sickness, a word of advice, any time you know you're going to be in motion such as a train or a boat or a plane (if you're subject to it on a plane as well) you should take your Dramamine before you start moving. I have issues with motion sickness on boats so I put a patch behind my ear before I even board the boat/ship. If you're already sick before you take your motion sickness medicine it's going to take even longer for you to feel well. Remember that tip in the future and you should be able to handle it better.

[@wendy-moore]

Wow, what a trip! Sorry about that,

[@jj-if6it]

I would love to travel across Turkey by train one day!

[@dee_ewell_pierce]

I always get motion sickness. I've pretty much thrown up in everyone from Church's car (or outside it!)

[@jj-if6it]

Whenever I book a train ticket I try to make sure I'm facing forward, if they show that seating option on the seat map. A whole journey backwards with motion sickness would suck! I get dizzy but don't throw up too often thankfully

[@BrianAlt]

Poor Ash. 😥

[@wherearewe-yt]

Nothing worse than getting sick on a travel day. That sucks! 😫

[@jeanallan8106]

I had no idea I could get motion sickness unless I sat backwards on a train as an adult. Thank goodness you didn’t have it out the other end with the squat toilets though! I figured out that I can handle rough rides, even rough seas as long as I can watch the direction of travel. I won’t even look at my phone and I always book the window seat on a plane. I don’t think I would even book a train trip if I couldn’t guarantee a forward facing seat. Also, have you seen some new plane configurations that have backwards facing seats? Why 🤢

[@jj-if6it]

I would assume they have western style toilets on the train as well, there's usually both options. I would struggle lol

[@jj-if6it]

The problem with doing the whole journey overnight is you don't get to see any of the scenery!

[@Mel.H_]

Hugs, that sucks! And I also dislike moving backwards. Yuck lol

[@peterhoz]

Lack of sleep is like a hangover without alcohol. It's a shame there's not a lounge to sit in. Sofia is nice tho. A shame you were too crook to see it. I've had food poisoning from a dodgy hotdog at the footy, followed a few hours later by a 22 hour bus/coach trip from Melbourne to Sydney. Thank goodness for the on board toilet. I feel your pain 😢 The plane trips wouldn't have been much fun.

[@jj-if6it]

Surely they could check everyone's passports when you get off the train, and not wake you up at 3am?!

[@yuceler77]

Bus would be better option for you. They are much faster and you don't wait for the stupid train officers. Trains are owned & operated by the state. You would be forward facing in the bus. And you would probably not eat a lot in the bus as it is not very convenient. So It would save you from the sickness. Anyways. I hope you are better now.

[@nclon11]

Bad experience makes you sturdier

[@jj-if6it]

Yean to combat the going backwards problem, you can sit cross legged on the seat, or I would even sit on the ground! It's not ideal but better than nothing. Also travelling during the day is probably better as you can look outside and orientate yourself better

[@jj-if6it]

You can't buy tickets online? How annoying and outdated!

[@sierramist0789]

Please consider blurring faces of those who did not give you consent to film. Besides privacy, there may be other reasons people don’t need to be seen traveling. ☮️