To view India as one unchanging, uniform society is to do it a disservice. It perhaps has the strongest claim to be the most culturally diverse country in the world. Only through travelling throughout it does one come to truly appreciate this. I have been fortunate enough to do precisely that over the past few…Continue Reading Through Shifting Frames
Every day, I found myself saying, “India is so colossal!” And it truly was. In six weeks, I felt like I had done it all—marvelling at the towering Taj Mahal in Agra, standing amongst the countless pilgrims in the ancient city of Varanasi, paragliding over the mesmerising mountains in Lonavala, and exploring both the enigmatic…Continue Reading A Colossal World
From courtroom to the streets of Mumbai Having been to the Bombay High Court a few times, I feel confident in navigating the structure. I have become familiar with some of the endless courtrooms and technical jargon – like ‘annex building’, which stands for the additional structure holding all filing departments and record offices. As…Continue Reading Work & Exploring Mumbai
Last weekend, our group took a trip to Jaisalmer. I had high expectations, as many of my coworkers had said it was the most beautiful place in India. It exceeded my expectations and I have to write everything down so I never forget. We started off on Saturday, all on the same flight to Jaisalmer…Continue Reading Snippets from Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
In New Zealand, I often feel the weight of my identity pressing upon those around me. I am seen as radical, too progressive and always asking for too much. The contributions I offer are often overshadowed by stereotypes that breathe life into narratives society continues to write about people like me and who we are…Continue Reading “If you walk the footsteps of a stranger, you’ll learn things you never knew you never knew.”
As a Pasifika woman, through a series of fortunate events, I’ve had the opportunity to travel to multiple countries and experience different cultures. However, none of these trips could ever match up to living in India. The hospitality, the food, the colour, history and culture – to experience this first hand while living here has…Continue Reading Yeh Hai Bombay Meri Jaan: Until we meet again
Mumbai is a colourful and boisterous city, a sensory overload best captured in its iconic markets filled with eager shoppers. The spices, flower garlands, glittering sarees, and stunning garments make walking through a market in Mumbai feel almost like a fever dream. As I stop to admire stone handbags adorned with pearls, hand-stitched decorative rugs,…Continue Reading Mumbai: City of Contrasts
As we finish up our fifth week here in India, I’m struggling to come to terms with the fact that we have to come home next week. The last few weeks have gone by especially fast, and I don’t even know where to begin! My last blog post two weeks ago left off just before…Continue Reading Work, the desert, Taj Mahal and more!
After five weeks in Mumbai and three blog posts, I’ve realised that I have yet to share any details about the exciting work I’ve been doing here. My time in this city has been shaped not only by its vibrant culture and buzzing streets but also by my internship at Urja Trust—a remarkable organisation dedicated…Continue Reading Finding Home at Urja Trust
As I sat in a taxi last night, I realized this once strange city now feels like home. Landmarks like the clock tower, cricket oval, university, high court, skyscrapers, and even smaller aspects like the shoe-shining vendors, sugarcane stalls, and stray dogs have become a normal part of my daily experience. The trains, roads, haggling,…Continue Reading Truth is stranger than fiction