A Syrian refugee who had been stranded in a Malaysian airport for more than seven months landed in Vancouver on Monday, finally reaching the end of an ordeal that he had documented extensively on social media.

Hassan al-Kontar, who was wanted in Syria for refusing to serve in the military, had been stuck in Kuala Lumpur International Airport since March, when he was turned back as he tried to leave the country. He had intended to travel more, eventually seeking asylum.

He had overstayed his Malaysian visa, so leaving the airport wasn’t an option, either. In October, seven months later, he was arrested by the Malaysian police and sent to a detention center, setting off fears among human rights groups that he could be forced to return to Syria. He had not been heard from on social media since the arrest.

But he resurfaced in a Taiwan airport on Monday, announcing in a video that he would soon be reaching Vancouver — “my final destination.” In contrast to his videos shot over the previous months, all featuring the drab backgrounds of a nondescript airport terminal, he was surrounded in the new video by plants, artwork and comfortable-looking furniture. His mood was also brighter, sounding grateful and optimistic.