India, Dec. 28 -- Strolling through the streets of Georgetown, Malaysia, this author discovers a maximalist haven of shop houses and heritage mansions. The humid night air of George Town carries the scent of spiced laksa and roasting peanuts, mingling with the faint tang of sea salt from the nearby harbour. I enter the city under a subdued, sleepy sky. Lanterns sway above, their golden glow flickering across weathered walls adorned with murals that seem to wink back at passersby, hinting at the charm and colour that will come alive with the morning light.

Come morning, and the vivacity of this city fully reveals itself. As I walk through George Town's historic quarter, I become acutely aware of the weight of art and history around me. Pe...