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A ‘WORD’ TO COMMUNICATE A festive occasion or a lava of grief we are communal! Yet I booked only one ticket -just for me- to go to Prague, Czech Republic. I booked for one country and gradually ended up travelling to 13 countries of Europe! All alone! Well, being an Indian lady in her forties, travelling on her own, raised many judgmental questions like … “is it safe?” “Booked just one ticket? Are you sure madam?” “WHY do you need to travel alone; any problem?” How am I going to explain the thrill of holding a ticket to an unknown land and just let your thirst for adventure guide you. Czech Republic. A country I had heard of in beauty pageants. I was so unaware of it that I never even tried to search it on the world map, I think, that mystery drew me to visit Prague. Many European countries provide an excellent facility - Buy a pass and use it for all public transport to travel locally. Conveniently one can buy such passes anytime and validate at the time of travel. Generally, machines to get these passes are mounted at tram stations and at hotels, hostels. The process to get the pass is fully automated - Insert your credit card, punch in the details and get your pass. I used to buy such passes. The machine at the hostel where I was staying, due to some technical issue, was offering only a day pass. I wanted it for five days. On enquiring I came to know that there is a machine at nearby station, I headed there. I noticed; next day tram schedule, pasted on the station wall, I clicked a photograph of the schedule for further planning. I had planned to visit to Prague castle the next day. Google and front desk both were telling that tram number 22 will drop me directly to the castle. Next morning I boarded early morning tram. Castle was last stop, so there was no need to keep watch on every station. I opened the book I was carrying and began reading. I fell asleep while reading and woke up listening,” please get down the tram, this is the last stop.” I looked around but there was no sign of the Castle. The tram must entered the depot after finishing day’s duty. I guessed! The station went crowded to empty within seconds. I didn’t know what to do next. At this time all the questions people asked me earlier started circling my mind. I shrugged them off and began inquiring around, with the only word I had googled before leaving, hrad, Czech word for castle. I kept on murmuring enquiringly hrad-hrad-hrad . An elderly man came to me and interrupted a woman passing by us. I noticed; She was wearing an uniform. He went on talking to her in Czech. I didn’t understand a single word from their conversation except hard. I was looking at them as if I am watching a lone tennis match. Unexpectedly the lady turned to me and said “hrad?” I nodded yes in desperation and relief. She walked in another direction signalling to go with her. The elderly man also gestured to follow the lady. I got stuck and didn’t know what to do. I decided to wait for a few minutes before going with her and started looking around for bus or taxi just in case. Within a minute or two, the tram station was full of people and another 22 number tram arrived. I ran to catch the tram. To my surprise the lady who told me to follow her, was driving the tram…… I just mouthed Thank you. Relying on just a word of local language seems so hard but I learnt a lot about myself on my first solo trip. This audacious journey taught me to let go of others’ doubts and listen to inner voice. Throughout my travel I stumbled, took risks and went back to basics to pick myself up. I found relief in strangers and hope in the journey. Most importantly I realized that travelling solo is about accepting the change and going along.