Bettina Chua Abdullah fiercely embraces her multitudes as a writer, solo traveller, and small-batch book publisher. Also a regular GTLF moderator, she is known for shaping conversations that make serious ideas accessible, drawing connections that feel personal, and setting a lively, connected stage. Inspired by the 12th century Mediterranean travel writing known as rihla, her upcoming book is a modern take on a classic genre of Arab literature, blending literary journalism with philosophical musings and discovery. Written in the spirit of the belle-lettres adab tradition, it shares tales of wondrous geographies, human connection, and transformation. These essays from her journeys in Sicily will be released in early 2027, provided that all the stories—a collection of places, cultural observations, and personal narratives—have come home by then.