While traveling, I spent a month volunteering at Zhostel in Metro Manila. About halfway through my stay, the hostel owners asked me to paint a mural in their lobby. They wanted a map of the Philippines with a background of radiant sun rays, featuring fifteen of the country’s top tourist attractions—each illustrated and labeled on the map.

This was my very first mural, and it turned out to be quite the undertaking. The paints I was given were fairly transparent, so I had to apply multiple layers for every color. On top of that, I challenged myself by rendering each destination in a semi-realistic style, which required a great deal of detail and patience. Despite the complexity, I managed to complete the mural in less than two weeks—finishing the final touches on the very day I left the Philippines.

Painting in such a lively, social space was an unforgettable experience. Since the mural was in the hostel lobby, I got to interact with travelers from around the world and chat with the hostel staff while I worked. It was inspiring to hear everyone’s thoughts and stories as they watched the piece come to life.