India

My journey to India was an eye-opening and heartwarming experience. 

India is loud, hectic and peaceful at the same time.

In the middle of the millions of people and chaotic traffic, I felt more at ease than ever. The streets were filthy with trash and dust, but full of colour and unexpected beauty.

I went to the slums to meet the local people. Three kids approached me, and we started talking. They were curious, smart and spoke English well. All of them had dreams of education and a better life outside of the deep poverty of the slums.

The amount of trash stuffed in the slums and edges of the city is worrying, it makes breathing in those areas very difficult. For those who live in these conditions, the consequences are not just discomfort, they’re long-term and life-altering. Constant exposure to polluted air and waste increases the risk of many diseases. Even basic infections can become deadly when immune systems are already burdened by the constant strain of environmental toxins. Many families can’t afford treatment, so illness becomes a part of life.

I met many amazing people along the way, strangers who became guides, translators, and friends. 

India humbles you with its spirit, and I cannot wait to go back for more.

Mumbai, India — November 2023

Photos taken with iPhone

A dusty dirt road leading into a developing urban area with high-rise buildings under construction in the background. Several motorcycles and a few people are visible along the road, with makeshift structures and construction materials on the sides.
A framed picture of Lord Ganesha, the Hindu elephant-headed deity, placed on rocks and pebbles.
Three smiling boys standing together near a polluted waterway in a densely populated area with makeshift homes and laundry hanging overhead.
Slum area with makeshift houses with laundry hanging, a concrete water canal filled with trash, and a rusty fence in the foreground.
A view of a river flowing through a slum area with makeshift houses, blue tarps, and debris, with modern buildings in the background under a clear sky.
A river flowing through a city with high-rise buildings in the background and makeshift housing along the riverbank.
People swimming and wading in the ocean during sunset, with boats and an electronic billboard in the background.
A dirt road filled with trash and litter, with several birds perched on a small structure and flying, during sunset with a hazy sky, and a large tree on the right side.
A man carrying a large bag walking on a paved public square with tall buildings and palm trees in the background during the evening.
View of a city skyline across a body of water, with old corrugated roofs and makeshift blue tarps in the foreground.
View from inside a boat showing a golden pagoda outside the window with a woman sitting on the right side.
Golden pagoda surrounded by trees, reflected in a body of water under a clear blue sky.
A golden stupa and a red and gold intricately decorated temple structure with floral patterns, set against a clear blue sky with a few birds flying.
A decorative wooden frame with gold accents surrounds an inspirational quote and its translation, mounted on a brick wall inside a temple or spiritual center.
Five people taking a group photo in front of a golden temple, with three standing and two crouching, all barefoot. One woman is dressed in traditional attire and holding a water bottle, while the others wear casual clothing. The background features a
A young boy playing or running along a pink wall on a city street with residential buildings, trees, and parked motorcycles in the background.
Construction site of a temple with scaffolding around the structure, a road in the foreground, and buildings in the background.
A couple walking pathway beside water with city skyline in the background.
Busy street scene in an urban area with old and modern buildings, vendors, pedestrians, and motorcycles, with a green mosque in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
A narrow urban street with small shops, parked motorcycles, and pedestrians, surrounded by old buildings with hanging laundry and visible wiring.
A busy street scene in an urban area with buildings, some under construction, motorcycles, cars, pedestrians, a street vendor cart, and a sign for 'Tea Point'.
Nighttime cityscape with illuminated high-rise buildings viewed across a body of water from a highway with moving cars in the foreground.
People gather outside a white marble mosque with green lighting at night, featuring an arched entrance and four minarets.
Outdoor stage at night with performers, audience seated on chairs, palm tree in foreground, stage lit with pink and orange lights.
Ancient stone sculpture of a standing figure, possibly a Buddha, in a niche with intricate carving details surrounding it.
Yellow warning sign with images of leopards, advising caution in a leopard movement zone on a rocky outdoor trail with trees and bushes.
A busy railway station with people walking and sitting on the floor, large display boards, and ornate golden architectural details on the ceiling.
Long, empty underground pedestrian tunnel with white walls and ceiling, illuminated by overhead lights, and a few people walking in the distance.
People walking along a pier towards a lighthouse in the background, with the sea on both sides and streetlights along the pier.
People gathered outside a white historic building with domes and minarets, possibly a mosque, under a clear sky. Some people are sitting, and others are walking towards the entrance. There is a utility pole with a light and a crow perched on it in th
A man in a white shirt standing on a stone promenade near a waterfront, with an ornate, historic building with domes and intricate architecture in the background. There are other people walking along the promenade and boats moored nearby.
Inside a Hindu temple with ornate columns and decorated walls, featuring open double doors leading outside, and a marble floor with geometric patterns.
A white police vehicle with blue markings and Hindi script on the side, parked on a street with trees and buildings in the background, and a police officer sitting inside.
A broken red flower box on a tiled floor with white tissue and paper scattered around, a bunch of pink flowers inside the box, and a person's feet in socks and pants visible at the bottom of the image.
A young girl with messy hair making binoculars with her hands over her eyes, standing outdoors in front of a silver car.
A small shrine or altar with a tray of flowers, some of which are broken or fallen. A sign with a red rose and text in Gujarati is taped to the wall behind the altar.
A woman in a white dress is standing in a corridor with beige stone walls and black-and-white checkered marble floors. She is preparing something on a counter with a view of a body of water and boats outside. Colorful cloths and other items are on th
View down the marble staircase inside a Hindu temple, with ornate decorations, colorful paintings of deities on the walls, and kitchen utensils on shelves in the background.
Decorative elephant statue with a rider, inside a building with ornate columns and floral designs, open windows, and a courtyard view.
A colorful Hindu temple with intricate carvings and statues, including elephants, under a glass roof.
A cityscape of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai, India, at dusk. The historic building is illuminated with bright yellow lights, with a clock tower and statues visible. In the foreground, a scooter with two women riding is seen, along w
Onboard screen for Air India, featuring the airline's logo, a greeting in English and Hindi, and an animated character dressed in traditional Indian attire with hands folded in greeting.