Old Delhi can be described as a sea of wires. Millions of phone lines hug structures, leap from building to building, and are home to stray monkeys, cats, and rats. These cables are an ecosystem of their own.

Delhi, India. 2020.

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I was an awkward 13-year-old girl with braces when I first went to India in 2008. My mom and I were at a school she supported deep within the chaos of the city. This school was a quiet haven surrounded by pure madness outside in the street. We spent a lot of time staring out of the windows, which acted as gateways into Kolkata. Homeless families lived outside the school’s walls, some of whom had children who attended the school. Coconut stands, yellow taxis, and sugarcane stalls sat amongst the flow of people — there was much to observe. These men photographed starred out their window and into ours. Our admiration seemed reciprocated.

Kolkata, India. 2008.

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An old woman stopped for chai before sunset on the outskirts of Bengaluru during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bangalore, India. 2022.

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Kolkata: the last place in India that allows pulled-rickshaws. A symbol of British imperialism, these rickshaws remain a popular form of short-distance transportation throughout the city.

Kolkata, India. 2022.

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Central Fish Market in Qatif is a major supplier of fish to the Arab world. Located on the coast of the Arabian (Persian) Gulf, fish are brought to market, sold, and transported to Dubai, Bahrain, and beyond. Fishing is ingrained in Qatifi culture and cuisine. My favorite fish we ate whole, bones and all. While I always love to eat with my hands, the smell of fish is not an easy one to rid your fingers of… lemon juice definitely helps.

Qatif, Saudi Arabia. 2022.

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One of my favorite parts of Hong Kong is the food stands that are open all night. I especially loved the red glow of this meat stand… such a Texas Chainsaw Massacre vibe.

Kowloon, Hong Kong. 2018.

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A group of skateboarders smiled as my fiancé, Matt, cheered them on.

Melaka, Malaysia. 2022.

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The Sri Harmandir Sahib Temple in Amritsar, Punjab is one of the most sacred pilgrim locations for Sikhs from around the world. It is built entirely out of 24-karat gold. The temple serves free, daily hot meals, called langar, to people of all religions from anywhere on Earth. Around 100,000 people are fed every single day.

My favorite part of the temple, however, was watching the bathing Sikh men. Only Sikhs are permitted to float in the holy waters.

Amritsar, India. 2018.

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Some women stopped at an olive stand on a nightly run to the market in Marrakesh. Black olives, green olives, red olives, pickled olives - you name it, he’s got it.

Marrakesh, Morocco. 2019.

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A walk through Old Delhi on my way to visit the Jama Masjid mosque at the end of the road. The most densely populated neighborhood I have ever been to, the street is constantly filled with any and all kinds of transportation. Bike rickshaws are commonly used, and in cities like Kolkata, men pull rickshaws on foot…often barefoot.

Delhi, India. 2018.

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Now this is indeed a fully loaded photo. The ancient mosque towering over the polluted city, the mass of people, the smoke from a food stand, the boy looking my way, and my favorite part: the monkey running on the phone line.

Agra, India. 2020.

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A friend I made in Saudi Arabia at the corniche on Tarout Island in Qatif. The sunset call to prayer blared from the nearby mosque and a Saudi flag fluttered in the wind on this humid evening.

Qatif, Saudi Arabia. 2023.

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A Malayali is someone who speaks Malayalam, the dialect of the south Indian state of Kerala. I love its loopy look, and was beyond excited to see this man in the process of painting it on a wall.

Kerala-Tamil Nadu border, India. 2018.

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Why not in crazy Kolkata? Anything goes in India am I right?

Kolkata, India. 2008.

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One of my favorite spots to be internationally is in an area packed with people, especially in India. Everyone and everything coexists so seamlessly. I loved this buzzing street in old Agra. The more the merrier.

Agra, India. 2020.

Built by the same man who built the Taj Mahal - the Jama Masjid mosque in Old Delhi is the biggest mosque in India. Women and men flow in and out all day long. If you were planning on making some social media videos there, however, think again - signs say “absolutely no Tik Tok’s inside the mosque”.

On a weekend trip to the state of Tamil Nadu in south India, I was driving from a hilltop Hindu temple down to the valley of Mettupalayam with some of my co-workers and local friends. We passed this group of young children and I immediately hopped out of the car to go meet their baby cow. The kids smiled so genuinely at us. They were so happy that we were interested in their cow! I hate the whole idea of western tourists going to third world countries looking to meet locals who have never met white people before. But according to our friends who spoke Tamil, these kids really never had seen people with white skin in-person before.

Mettupalayam, India. 2018.

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A rickshaw ride through Varanasi… so many quintessential aspects of India. The man zipping by on a motorcycle, a woman sitting in her bright orange sari on a bike rickshaw looking for cash to pay the driver, the lively storefront written in Hindi displaying colorful clothing, and the old roadside cobbler sitting on the busy street chatting to a customer — this is India.

Varanasi, India. 2016.

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All power to him… Fort Baker beach in San Fransisco is a designated nude beach, right next to the Golden Gate Bridge — definitely an entertaining experience. Most people lurked near the rocks, but a few walked the perimeter of the ocean and did not give a damn who saw them. Nude with a view for sureee.

San Francisco, California, USA. 2017.

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In southwestern Taiwan, Kaohsiung is home to 2.7 million people, however it does not feel like that. This cute city has such charm - this little old woman is just one example of that.

Kaohsiung, Taiwan. 2018.

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Seventy-eight million people are homeless in India. I’ve seen many people living on the street throughout the country, however this man stands out to me as the most shocking. He sat barefoot on the curb with his rusted walker in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. His skin was literally black from the sun.

Madurai, India. 2018.

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I met these sassy little schoolgirls at a temple in the Bhaktapur District of Kathmandu, Nepal. They posed without hesitation. The goat behind them is a holy goat who lives permanently at this Hindu temple.

Kathmandu, Nepal. 2018.

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My favorite spot in San Francisco — Chinatown. What a nice bench for some takeout in the August sunshine during a global pandemic.

San Francisco, California, USA. 2020.

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From a balcony on the St. George’s School in Kolkata, India, these students caught a glimpse of 13-year-old awkward, white, blonde, me. Back home in Jr. High at that time, no 8th-grade boys gave me the time of day. I’ve never felt like more of a celebrity in my life than when we stayed at this school in Kolkata.

Kolkata, India. 2008.

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Kwai Chai Hong 鬼仔巷 is a cute little photo spot in Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur. As expected, there are never-ending groups of girls taking photos in front of the rustic alleyway murals. I had to snap a pic of these ladies with their coordinated pastel-colored hijabs.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 2022.

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After meeting their cows, the farmer’s children we met outside of Coimbatore took us next door to one of their houses. There were hundreds of goats - big goats, baby goats, mean goats, disabled goats… a damn good variety. This is our friend’s daughter who took us to the Hindu temple prior the goat haven.

Coimbatore, India. 2018.

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On my drive up to Gulmarg Ski Resort in Kashmir, India, we escaped the mayhem as we drove into the mountains. Pine trees and grazing animals brought my mind back into nature for the first time in a while. This young woman was at the tail end of her family’s herd of horses.

Srinagar, India. 2018.

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At Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, India, each little corner is occupied by a staged man dressed in a safa. Perfect photo opportunity for tourists.

Jodhpur, India. 2018.

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Street vendors on the sidewalks of Madurai form mini markets each day, selling their select fruits and vegetables. These women appealed to me as they sat gossiping next to their tomatoes and beans. I asked to photograph them and they unemotionally nodded yes.

Madurai, India. 2018.

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Outside of one of the project locations I worked at in Palluruthy, India, I walked past this cute roadside cobbler one day sitting on the side of a busy road. Cobblers are everywhere on street corners in India. Almost as common as chai and chaat stands, cobblers sit along roads and fix shoes all day long. I never once saw a man working in a chair, always on the ground working with both their hands and feet.

Palluruthy, India. 2018.

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Came across this family/group of friends leaving the local cerviceria (brewery) in La Libertad, El Salvador. The bar is on a cliff that overlooks the Pacific Ocean. Definitely a hotspot for Salvadorian weekend goers.

La Libertad, El Salvador. 2022.

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On an afternoon in old Agra, this man grabbed a bite to eat before rejoining the sea of people in the street.

Agra, India. 2020.

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Tea is a major crop in southern India. Plantations cover the hills of the Western Ghats mountain range. I stopped to meet this group of tea harvesters who waved welcomingly at me. They were carrying drinking water in big jars on their heads up to their house for the night.

Outside Kumily, India. 2018.

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The Singapore Merlion is a popular photo spot, understandably. People are everywhere taking Tik Toks, Snapchats, and posting on Instagram. I had to snap a pic of this young woman as she struck a pose for her friend. Fierce.

Singapore, Singapore. 2022.

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A big family in Jaipur, India in the middle of the City Palace complex had quite the grouping of goats outside their home. The children welcomed us in once they saw our interest in their family and introduced us to each person and each goat. This little girl ran up to me, grabbed my arm, brought me to this goat sitting on a ledge, and pointed… “Goat”.

Jaipur, India. 2018.

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Hong Kong has 7.3 million… but it feels like a lot more. My favorite city for cuisines of all sorts: Cantonese, European, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese. HK has got it all and it’s on every street corner.

Mong Kok, Hong Kong. 2018.

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This selfless and loving woman is Mania. She has devoted her life to feeding the stray cats on the island of Mykonos, Greece. She explained to me that she accepts donations in a bowl each day and uses the money to buy food to feed the homeless population of cats. I ran into her a few times in town, and each time she walked with a paparazzi of cats trailing behind her. A legend indeed.

Mykonos, Greece. 2016.

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On an overnight train from Rishikesh to Amritsar, India, I noticed this cute old man sleeping on a top bunk. He immediately reminded me of my grandpa who turned 100 in the fall of 2017. When the sun rose he carefully climbed down and looked out the train window as we traveled through the Punjabi countryside. Such presence in the moment.

Amritsar, India. 2018.

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In Mexico City, I visited a supposedly iconic mariachi bar with my boyfriend and parents. We were swarmed by a band of chubby, happy men in matching uniforms. I loved this musician who smirked at me with his harp.

Mexico City, Mexico. 2017.

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Matt, my fiance, walking through the city after the best dumpling soup we’ve ever had.

Kaohsiung City, Taiwan. 2018.

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On a highway leaving Delhi, my 13-year-old self was a big fan of him :)

Outside Delhi, India. 2008.

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Outside of Pokhara, Nepal these girls saw my big DSLR camera and wanted me to photograph them. They were with a group of boys, who they quickly pushed out of the way to pose by themselves.

Pokhara, Nepal. 2018.

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Tong Ah Eating House in Chinatown, Singapore is famous for the national breakfast of Singapore: Kaya Toast. This dish consists of two slices of toast with butter and kaya (sweet coconut spread) in-between, accompanied by soft-boiled eggs and either tea or coffee. Simple, sweet & savory, and quite orgasmic. I snapped this photo of a man working on a renovation of the upper level of an old shophouse next to Tong Ah. The breeze must have felt nice on that 90°F humid summer day.

Chinatown, Singapore. 2022.

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On a drive from the south Indian state of Kerala to Tamil Nadu, the vast farmland suddenly turned into a bustling city, filled with auto-rickshaws, people, and animals, all in the street moving about their day.

Tamil Nadu, India. 2018.

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Pre-teen me ran into this sweet brother duo while wandering the streets of Kolkata. My smile met the older brother’s, while his baby brother stared at me in wonder.

Kolkata, India. 2008.

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Elderly adults practiced tai chi in a park in Shanghai, China. It was below 20 degrees Fahrenheit outside, but that didn’t stop them. The man in the grey sweater is 85 years old and comes out multiple times a week to do tai chi in the park with other older adults. He told me that his practice sharpens his mind and keeps him motivated and involved.

Shanghai, China. 2016.

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I spotted this woman on a train in Mumbai and was immediately attracted to her massive bindi, long stacks of bangles, and yellow saree shirt. She stood so casually checking her phone next to the open doors of the train. Just another day for her, and then there’s me holding on to the ceiling handle for dear life on the most rickety ride of all time.

Mumbai, India. 2018.

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I met this brother duo in Jodhpur, aka the “Blue City”, which as you can see is quite literally blue. The little brother asked me to take a photo of them, I then showed them the picture on my camera, they said thank you and continued on frolicking down the narrow street. He just wanted me to have a photo of them! How sweet.

Jodhpur, India. 2018.

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I couldn’t help but be obsess over her little bright colored house built on the bank of the Ganges River. Green home complete with a dingo dog & puppy.

Rishikesh, India. 2018.

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In Bagan, Myanmar I met this boy working a banana stand. He was selling fat, stubby, delicious bananas. After selling me a few he quickly went back to scrolling on his phone.

Bagan, Myanmar. 2016.

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One of my daily tuk tuk drivers in Kochi, Rishad, always had the biggest smile of the group. You knew it was a good day when you got a spot in his auto. He barely spoke English, but his positive energy was contagious. Great guy to join for chai.

Kochi, India. 2018.

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A drive through a coastal neighborhood in Cape Coast, Ghana on the way to the old castle on the point. This building was one of the many that Europeans used for the trans-Atlantic slave trade out of west Africa.

Cape Coast, Ghana. 2016.

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Burmese people cover their faces in “Thanaka” to protect their skin from the sun, to cool their faces on a hot day, and for beauty purposes. The paste is made from ground bark.

Bagan, Myanmar. 2016.

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Outside the Ha’il Souq at sunset, groups of women sat and chatted in the grass.

Ha’il, Saudi Arabia. 2022.

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Outside of the Boudha Stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal there are many monks, devotees, and elders at prayer. These people carry prayer beads which they rub with their fingers while they circle the stupa. Many of these elders are Tibetan refugees who have found this safe space to practice their Buddhist beliefs.

Kathmandu, Nepal. 2018.

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“I love your collection of goats!” I said to this shepherd who was walking through the forest at the base of Gulmarg Ski Resort, Kashmir. Another man translated my words to him, and the shepherd proudly showed me his favorite prized goat. What a mystical, green place to herd animals.

Gulmarg, India. 2018.

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More like buses, bikes, and dogs! I took this at the border of Nepal and India, a place that is home to pretty much every form of transportation. The smell of diesel was heavier than the rain.

India-Nepal Border, Sonauli, Nepal. 2018.

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Indian trains are always an experience… they’re loud, smell like curry, dark as hell at night, and are filled with bugs. The overnight ride is rickety and the sheets they give you smell like bird poop. According to urban legend, the sheets are never actually washed… nice! Most sleeper trains have triple bunks in sets of two. This time it was myself and 2 friends laying amongst 3 Indian women. I took this shot at the station before boarding the train.

Haridwar, India. 2018.

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A relaxing afternoon in Ho Chi Minh City with Matt & Sam. Our Airbnb ended up being an absolute hidden gem with a rooftop pool overlooking the vibrant cityscape…

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. 2019.

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I ran into these cute boys while touring a Delhi slum looking at nonprofit Operation Asha’s tuberculosis treatment centers. It’s funny to see how far Dora the Explorer can reach.

Delhi, India. 2020.

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Some people are culturally invisible. Whether it is a young man struggling with addiction in Los Angeles or an elderly women without a home in Madurai, the theme of invisibility permeates most societies around the globe.

Madurai, Tamil Nadu. 2018.

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Outside of the Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, you can find anything and everything relating to Hinduism. Trinkets, figurines, paintings, posters, you name it. My favorite Hindu god is Krishna because he is always surrounded by cows. I also love Nandi, the bull who guards Shiva.

Madurai, India. 2018.

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These blue wooden boats are signature to Kerala, India. They are always packed with men, most of whom look comfortable in their lungis (skirts for males). I was interested in seeing what this crew was pulling in with their net.

Kochi Harbor, India. 2018.

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When my mom visited me in Kochi while I was working, we insisted on buying fresh jasmine every day. We are both obsessed with the smell. We stumbled upon this woman selling jasmine in a little roadside shop and expressed so much happiness that she had heaps of it. She couldn’t help but smile at the excitement on our hot sweaty faces.

Kochi, India. 2018.

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Gulmarg Ski Resort, on the Kashmir Indian border of Pakistan, is so tall that it has snow all year round at the peak. I rented boots and skis for an hour to mess around at the top of the gondola, however many people pay to stand on a man’s skis and ride around. I loved this group of 3 all bundled up to protect themselves from the piercing sun.

Gulmarg, India. 2018.

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One of my favorite aspects of India: the COWS. They are everywhere and people simply avoid them if they are in the way. One time in Varanasi I saw a cow sitting on the floor inside of a textile shop, but there was nothing anyone could do about it. Cows must be allowed wherever they decide to wander!

Agra, India. 2020.

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In Saudi, instead of Saturday and Sunday as the weekend, Friday and Saturday are. Thus the Friday morning market in Qatif is a popular activity for those starting their weekend. Food, antiques, Qurans, birds, and flip-flops, if can name it you can find it at the early morning market. I bought an old Iraqi dinar with Saddam Hussein on it; a traditional palm leaf flag; and Saudi newspapers from 2002. These women were selling some sort of breakfast or snack food.

Qatif, Saudi Arabia. 2022.

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One of my favorite parts of India is how dressed up Indian families get when they go on special outings. I met this family at Lalbagh Botanical Garden in Bangalore and loved the mom and daughter’s matching red clothes and fresh jasmine in their hair.

Bangalore, India. 2018.

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Tibetan Refugees spun wool to be made into rugs in an artisan shop.

Pokhara, Nepal. 2018.

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The difference between new and old Agra is wild… and very obvious as soon as you cross into the old side. The smells, density, narrowness, and traffic are all more intense. I love snapping photos from auto-rickshaws because of how much surrounds you in the moment.

Agra, India. 2020.

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There’s nothing like homemade egg curry…

Madurai, India. 2018.

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The dhoti, or the lungi in Kerala, is basically a skirt or sarong for men. This cluster of men caught my attention while they were discussing something about their truck that was overflowing with hay. What a nice variety of blue dhotis guys!

Tamil Nadu, India. 2018.

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It is insane sometimes to see the sheer quantity of items people haul around on bikes or by foot in India. I snapped this shot from the back of a Jeep on the outskirts of Delhi.

Delhi, India. 2008.

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Tamil Nadu is famous for its gold among other things. My driver pulled off the road to ask this farmer a question and I was mesmerized by her beautiful jewelry, nose rings, and blue sari. I cannot imagine farming in a sari… you go girl!

Tamil Nadu, India. 2018.

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Outside the slave castle in Cape Coast, originally established in 1555 by the Portuguese, a young boy tried to sell us bananas, but instead ended up socializing with us. This castle is a place of extremely dark tourism: all enslaved women inside were forced to bleed on the floor during their periods, women were lined up and picked by slaveowners for sex, men who rejected authority were chained to a section of concrete in the sun without food and water, and some people were sent into an enclosed chamber to die.

Cape Coast, Ghana. 2016.

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While on a drive from Madurai to Kochi, I stumbled upon this large group of women dressed in every bright color of sari imaginable. I am not sure where they were headed, but it was a Sunday so possibly the local temple.

Tamil Nadu, India. 2018.

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Yellow is my favorite color, and this woman looked so perfect in her fancy bright yellow saree. I asked if she could pose for me and she was quick to model with a sassy look at Mehrangarh Fort.

Jodhpur, Rajasthan. 2018.

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Seabirds, cats, and people galore gathered around this fish market in Essaouira, Morocco to see and smell the catch of the day.

Essaouira, Morocco. 2019.

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Why not eat a quick bowl of noodles in the station before hopping on board? Taoyuan, Taiwan 2018

This man broke my heart when I saw him on a drive through western Tamil Nadu. Unfortunately, if you are still in need of money to live at an old age, there is no choice but to work.

Tamil Nadu, India. 2018.

If it isn’t clear already, I am obsessed with jasmine and even more obsessed with the women stringing it. I loved this woman’s green and orange sari combo.

Bangalore, India. 2018.

The southern state of Kerala is a big fishing state. I went to this fish market right after sunrise before going to work at a nearby school one morning. There were what seemed like millions of little fish laid out on tarps on the side of the road. I wonder what they did with the leftover fish that they didn’t sell.

Palluruthy, India. 2018.

On a board retreat in Feb 2020 with Operation Asha, a Delhi-based nonprofit that works to eradicate tuberculosis worldwide, we visited a slum in New Delhi where we went to a treatment center. This young mom was happy to be helped by Op Asha and was in the middle of her 6-9 month course of antibiotics. It felt different to visit a slum on a positive note and be welcomed by the the community who is so greatly impacted by the availability of TB meds.

Delhi, India. 2020.

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This man was definitely prepared to block his face and lungs from the harsh pollution, dust, and fumes of summer in Nepal. I love the absolute nest of power lines behind him.

Kathmandu, Nepal. 2018.

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On a boat ride near the famous Dal Lake in Srinagar, Kashmir, this little old man was excited to attempt to sell us his trinkets. Srinagar has always been a hot spot for vacations and honeymoons for Indians, Europeans, and Americans. Why? Because of its cool temperatures and thousands of houseboats available for tourists and travelers to stay in overnight.

Srinagar, India. 2018.

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I caught this moment of a busy day in Agra, complete with a bright orange sari, green and yellow autos, and a dog fast asleep in the warm dirt on the side of the road.

Agra, India. 2020.

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The main thing I collect from the countries I visit is newspapers. The different dialects in India are especially fascinating to look at. This man taking a newspaper break at his stand caught my eye. How cool would it be to be able to read Tamil?!

Fun fact: Tamil is the oldest language still spoken on Earth.

Madurai, India. 2018.

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On a walk through a slum in Delhi, these young school girls were excited to see our group on their journey home from class. I believe a smile is the universal language.

Delhi, India. 2020.

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