There’s more to living abroad than missing my food, however. I hunt for that one traditional ingredient, accessory, or piece of clothing at times. In the months leading up to this trip eg, mum told me, ‘Bring a saree along. We’re attending a colleague’s wedding in Kuala Lumpur.’ I scoured Barcelona’s Raval neighbourhood for an item as silly as a saree fall to no avail. Indian clothing shops are a rarity in Barcelona. ‘It doesn’t make sense for us to keep falls in stock, madam. Nobody buys them,’ said one shopkeeper. It was evident.

Indian shops in Penang stocked everything. After lunch, mum ushered me to a shop with vibrant ethnic wear on display as she pulled my saree out of her bag. A brass urli with flowers welcomed us at the front door. Sales assistants greeted us with ‘Namaste’, offering help with, ‘Akka, try this shade of pink. I think it will be a better match.’ I hadn’t been addressed as Akka or Didi for ages; being greeted with folded hands in Barcelona was another rarity. The simple act of folding my hands in return gave me a sense of belonging. Culture is like that: you don’t know how much you miss it until you experience its tenderness. I found more than a matching fall.

The Arulmigu Sri Mahamariamman Temple was shut so I admired it from the road—its colourful facade resembled the temples I’d seen in Chennai when visiting my Daadi. In the evening, we spotted a Hindu religious procession of a deity on a chariot. Women in silk sarees and men in lungis sang hymns in Tamil while accompanying it. I had only seen processions on television and was fascinated by the level of participation and devotion. Even the children were excited and sang along.

Serendipitously, the 2025 George Town Heritage Festival was taking place that weekend, with numerous cultural and culinary events scheduled. We didn’t have these in our cities and decided to return. The following afternoon, the streets were lined with a chai stall, henna and calligraphy artists, and live cooking demonstrations by each ethnic group. We watched an entertaining performance by Penang Dhol Blasters, a group of Malaysian-Punjabi dancers and dholis in the evening, after enjoying dim sum at a restaurant nearby. Their Bhangra and Gidda performance in the Cheah Kongsi Temple courtyard attracted a global crowd, culminating in an invitation to join in and learn Bhangra on the spot. The dancers had thought of funny yet useful monikers for popular steps such as ‘on the bike, off the bike’ and ‘harvest the mango, drop the mango’—an incredible way to help the crowd connect with the stories and emotions behind Bhangra. Penang deserved a pranaam for its diversity, hospitality, and inclusivity.