Traveling with a sense of permanence makes the act of exploration very different. Having the luxury of time in the city motivates you to observe a bit more than usual, to immerse yourself in every sound and taste. In my beginning days in the city, this is what I tried doing. My previous road-trips or European adventures have been marathons. My family would sprint from one city to the next. We would leave every lodge or hotel room behind constantly looking over our shoulder--h

The smell of an airport has always excited me. It's a synthetic smell, man-made. It is not an aroma that candles would be dedicated to. It's the type that would signal a memory, a powerful but subtle recollection. Like a dream almost forgotten. I began traveling when I was very young. My grandparents, whose love, labor, and faith have brought me to the United States, also took me on my first plane ride. I was one year's old and en route to Johor Bahru -- the city of my family