For each of us, the reason to travel is different and unique.

Mine began as a way to create distance from discomfort, sadness, stress, and loneliness. I started travelling alone as an escape from situations that made me feel trapped, as though the walls were closing in and there was no room left to breathe.

At first, it was strange and frightening. Being alone in unfamiliar places can be intimidating, and as a woman, there were moments when it felt even more so. Before every trip, there were questions to consider, precautions to take, and moments of hesitation. There were times when I wondered whether I was being brave or simply reckless.

What I discovered was not that the world was free from risk, but that I was far more capable than I had believed. With every journey, I learned to trust my judgement, adapt to unfamiliar situations, and find comfort in my own company. Somewhere between airports, train stations, unfamiliar streets, and quiet meals for one, travelling alone stopped feeling lonely. It became freedom.

What began as an escape gradually became a discovery. I was no longer travelling away from something; I was travelling towards something.
Towards confidence. Towards curiosity. Towards a version of myself that had been waiting beyond the horizon.

Perhaps that is where my journey truly began.