Even as a child, I dreamed of traveling to faraway lands to discover new, unfamiliar technologies, cultures, arts, and landscapes. When I was nine years old, I took apart an old radio because I was interested in its electronic components—more specifically, the chips, capacitors, and transistors on the circuit boards. One of these chips was marked "Made in Singapore." In my dreamy yet serious way, I asked my father what this marking meant. He replied that it indicated the chip was manufactured in Singapore. I then asked where Singapore was. He explained that it was a very, very faraway country. I answered—and as a child, I firmly believed this—that one day I would visit Singapore. My father probably thought these were just the words of a daydreaming child.

And yet, one day I found myself traveling not only to Singapore, but the whole world. Often for professional reasons, but not infrequently out of pure curiosity. I wanted, and still want, to discover people, cultures, and technologies, and to capture these moments – whether with a camera or a pen in hand.

My urge to travel and connect with other people changed my perspective on those I initially considered strangers. Today, many of these people I've met around the world have become friends. Thanks to modern communication tools, we share our thoughts, laugh and grieve together, develop ideas, and share our experiences, which bring not only us but also everyone who reads our posts closer together. And some of these friends, about whom I—or rather, we as the authors of this blog—write, have themselves become part of this project.

And so the circle of travel closes. At least for me and my co-authors. Because meeting people in faraway and near countries alike helps us all to get to know each other better. It creates a fundamental trust that prevents conflicts that could otherwise lead to war.