Inspired by The Solo Girl’s Travel Guide to Bali by Alexa West
I first discovered Alexa West through her book The Solo Girl’s Travel Guide: Bali. My two best girlfriends and I were searching for a spiritual retreat to close out 2024 when a quote from Alexa’s book stopped us in our tracks:
“Ubud is where you come to swim in hidden waterfalls, walk through rice terraces at sunrise, explore an ancient forest full of monkeys, bathe in holy water temples, and connect to your spirituality all in one week. Oh, and food. To stuff your face with food.”
We looked at each other, laughed, and said, “We’re going to Bali!”
Alexa’s book wasn’t the usual “Lonely Planet” list of cafés and tourist traps. It was raw, funny, and written like a memoir — equal parts guidebook and love letter to the solo female traveler. It felt like a friend whispering, You can do this. Go find your freedom.
So, we did. We booked a trip to Bali, three women in search of something deeper — and found so much more than we expected.
Little did I know that a trip inspired by a book we found on Amazon would alter the course of my life so much that I’d tattoo its author’s brand on my arm nine months later!
Am I crazy? Or did I just meet the best group of women I could ever have asked for? Maybe a little bit of both. A little bit of “magic.” 
The Call of the River
Fast forward to August 2025. Alexa announced her guided white-water rafting trip down Oregon’s Rogue River — and there was one remaining spot.
Every day I checked the website, wondering, Is this spot meant for me? Half afraid it would disappear, half afraid it wouldn’t. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was calling me.
So I said yes.
That single “yes” turned into one of the most magical weeks of my life. I joined twelve incredible women for a journey of wilderness glamping, white-water rafting, kayaking, stargazing, bear-spotting, laughter, eating the most amazing food, and late-night card games. We shared stories, books, dreams, our history, our fears — and somewhere between the river rapids and the Oregon stars, I found something I didn’t know I’d been searching for: sisterhood.
The Meaning of the North Star
When Alexa later revealed her North Star branding, it stayed with me for days and weeks upon returning home. The North Star — constant, luminous, and guiding travelers home — became a reflection of everything I’d found on that river:
- Sisterhood: twelve women who lifted each other higher.
- Confidence: the quiet kind that comes from saying yes to the unknown.
- Direction: a reminder to trust my own path.
- Hope: that bright, unwavering light in the dark.
So yes, I got the tattoo. A small North Star on my wrist — a symbol of the journey that led me here and the women who became my tribe.
While I may be single, love traveling solo, and thrive in independence, I’ve also found a new kind of love — the sisterhood that forms when women meet as strangers and leave as soul family.
I found my people.
And somewhere along the way, I found myself too.
“The Solo Girl’s Travel Guide” didn’t just take me to Bali — it led me back to myself.
About Kim, our Traveler of the Month
Kimberly Robinson is a film and television finance executive, children’s author, and creative storyteller based in Los Angeles. After a sudden seizure at work in 2024 led to the discovery of a brain tumor and emergency surgery, Kimberly spent months in recovery — rediscovering her creativity, courage, and sense of purpose.
Through her journey of healing, she created BeBe the Not So Brave Butterfly, a children’s book about change, resilience, and transformation. When she’s not balancing film budgets or writing stories, Kimberly can be found chasing sunsets, exploring new destinations, and saying yes to adventures that remind her how strong — and connected — we truly are.
Follow her adventures on Instagram @kimberlyjumps