Since the relaxation of Covid travel restrictions, many of us have been on a quest to make up for lost time. From friends and family reunions to simple weekend getaways, everything was impossible before.

Social distancing was highly encouraged during the pandemic, and it was never a difficult adjustment for me since I always appreciate the peace that distance brings. This attribute has become so ingrained in me that I now prefer solitude to congregation.

Walking miles with a clear head and my smartphone in airplane mode, a walk in a foreign city has never been this peaceful. Not understanding the local language, I could only draw clues about the surroundings from their smells, sights, and sounds. Stories and meanings slowly formed, and I couldn’t help but photograph these mesmerizing moments that reminded me that simple moments of joy were abundant despite all the turmoil around us. The histories of the neighbourhoods, the stories and daily lives of the residents, the places they inhabit, and the simplicity and dedication that these people demonstrate, by choice or not, become the threads that connect people together. And I think this unintentional act of connection is the definition of a community, where one can thrive and continue to grow.