• Aniqah Bhatnagar was chasing a promotion at work and was tired of dating. • When she came across a singles trip to Bali, she decided to try something new and applied for a spot. • She didn't find love on the weeklong dating trip, but she formed friendships she hopes will last.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Aniqah Bhatnagar, 29, a single living in Hong Kong. Her words have been edited for length and clarity.

I was 28 and fed up with the dating scene. Swiping had become a ritual of ghosting, small talk, and scheduling conflicts.

I work in business development for a US law firm in Hong Kong and was chasing a promotion, so it was easy to tell myself romance could wait. Then, one night, a casual scroll on Instagram inspired me to try something different.

I'd be

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