This became one of my featured photos because it captures the side of travel I love most—the unscripted moments you could never plan. As Istanbul’s famous red tram made its way through the city, this little boy simply climbed onto the back and held on as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

There’s something about the image that feels so distinctly Istanbul: the brilliant red tram, the Turkish flags, the movement of the city, and a child turning an ordinary ride into his own little adventure. It’s not a famous monument or a perfectly posed travel shot. It’s a glimpse of everyday life happening right in front of me.