What it’s like to travel as a Muslim woman in a hijab

Traveling As is a column in Travel + Leisure that features interviews with travelers. We asked them about their experiences of traveling the world from their own unique perspective. We talked with Nazma Begum, YouTuber who chronicles her adventures with her husband, toddler and YouTube. HanaExploresHere’s her story… Here’s her story… 

Since the last 10 year, I have been a hijabi. This is what they call a scarf, or hijab. As a Muslim, I wear it out of religious convictions. It’s part of my everyday routine. Nobody forced me to do this—it’s something I understood going in. It’s a commitment to wear a scarf, so don’t judge someone for not wearing one. Some of my relatives wear hijabs, while others do not. 

I made this decision during Ramadan. We don’t drink or eat from sunrise to sundown. It’s like a holy period that resets Muslims all over the world. The following year, I asked myself, if I covered up for prayer, why not do it every day? I feel comfortable in a hijab. There are many styles available, even in silk or other fancy materials. It’s fun to style it.

My parents did not travel much when I was growing up. My parents moved from Bangladesh to Singapore when I turned six years old. We would take road trips. Malaysia Visit our hometown in Bangladesh. It was either cultural or they wanted to protect me, but my family didn’t want a young girl traveling alone or with her friends. As soon as I finished university and got married, my husband and me started to travel. 

Our first big trip was to South Korea—we wanted to experience snow. We didn’t get to see any snow, but I still fell in love with travel. Hiking and camping are also my favourite outdoor activities.  Hiking in a hijab will make you sweat, but it is possible. When you reach the top, and the wind blows, it’s amazing. 

My daughter is now 2 years old and when she was only 7 weeks, I took her to Singapore on her first plane flight from Vancouver where my husband and me moved in 2019. In Canada, we have a one-year maternity break. I took full advantage of it. She did a great job on the plane and I was impressed. I was breastfeeding her and somehow managed to calm her down when she cried.

We took her to Japan for the first time in the fall when she was 4 months to see all the colors. It was gorgeous. It was beautiful. Osaka, as well as the Japanese Alps. My daughter won’t remember anything but I will.

My favorite place is Hawaii. I go there every year. I don’t know how to swim but I love hanging out on the beach. I like to snorkel, but in Hawaii the fish come up right to the shore, so there’s no need to dive deep. While I enjoy myself, I still make sure that I am covered. I wear what’s called a burkini—it’s like leggings and a long suit made of swimsuit material, and it covers your hair. When I want to change clothes and there is no washroom nearby, I use this pop-up shelter. We are used to this.

We try to pack as much as possible when we travel. We travel from sunrise to sundown and are adventurous. My daughter has changed the way I travel, but it’s still fun. We went to OahuWe went to the Big IslandThis is great for children, and especially toddlers. When they’re tired from playing in the sand and nap time approaches, they will sleep in their car. The next morning, they are at another beach. 

We’ve been on so many adventures. The adventure began. Italian DolomitesMy in-laws came along and we rented out a boat to go on a lake. The weather was so calm, but when we were in the middle of the lake, it changed and got so rocky—we had to be rescued. 

I believe my daughter remembers these experiences. She remembers Grandpa and Baba rowing the boat. She remembers also playing in the sand at the beach. I know that many parents do not want to. travel after they have kids. I promise you, changing diapers in a new location is much better. You won’t be distracted by mundane daily tasks such as laundry, changing sheets and cooking. There’s also a better view.

It felt like everyone was watching me when we were in a tiny Italian town. They were not rude. Maybe they hadn’t seen any tourists wearing a scarf. I get a lot more attention than most. I know that it can be difficult for people to get stares or comments such as “Go back where you came from.”  Fortunately, I’ve never been in a bad situation. 

Some of my border crossings from Canada to the U.S. have been a bit unpleasant. Perhaps it’s my Singaporean Passport. It was easier to get around in places such as Italy and Switzerland where there are many tourists coming from different countries and seeing a variety of people wearing different clothing. They stare in places that are smaller, such as Jeju Island in South Korea.  

There are some pleasant memories, too. When I was in Vietnam, people immediately recognized that I was Muslim because of my hijab and said “Salaam”, the Muslim greeting. Also, whenever I see a hijab, we both smile and exchange a silent greeting. 

Another challenge is finding halal food. Pork, chicken, lamb or beef must be slaughtered according to Islamic standards. As we don’t drink alcohol, it is important to verify the ingredients. In Japan for instance, sushi rice sometimes contains sake. We use an app that checks if food has a halal certification.

It can be challenging to plan an itinerary when you haven’t done your research. If you are traveling to the south but need a halal meal, the place may be in the northern part of the country. Don’t miss out on a place just because you have to eat. There are now more restaurants that recognize the need for halal food among Muslims. I can always go for vegetarian pastas or tofu dishes. You can always find a solution. The journey doesn’t have to end.

Traveling as much as possible is appealing to me because I want to see as many places as possible. I want to demonstrate to my daughter that travel is flexible and easy if you can work around the challenges.

In just two years, she’s already made so many changes. I take her camping, boating and snorkeling. She’s afraid at times, but I assure her that “I am right beside you.” There’s no need to worry.

I won’t force her to wear one. It would be better if she wore it. I want to show her that it won’t stop you from doing things you know are safe and healthy, such as traveling the world.