“Accept all that is happening around you… Accept the sounds and the movement of India” Gilles Chuyen (our Bollywood dance instructor) There were so many things that had me excited about coming to India – the people, the culture, the food, the architecture, the music, the traffic, the spirituality, the diversity. But perhaps highest among…Continue Reading Learning the Secrets of Life in Bollywood Dance Class
On the 26th of January, almost three weeks since arriving in India, I experienced my lowest moment. Physically, I was completely fine. My health is, and has been, at 100% (touch wood). But emotionally, I felt a swirling tornado of emotions that ripped apart the metaphorical shelter that protected me from the harsh reality of…Continue Reading A Bag Of Bananas
The Indian entrepreneurial mindset exemplifies many ideal traits in successful innovators. It has also been interesting to reflect upon the similarities and differences between New Zealand and Indian entrepreneurs….Continue Reading South Indian Start-Ups: A Masterclass in the Entrepreneurial Mindset
In the morning sun, a silver kite flashes its way through a blue sky. Catching the breezes above the islamo-saracenic architecture of Ahmedhabad, it flits and flutters at the end of its string. Down below, the old man stares soberly at his aerial art. At once a plaything, a cultural remnant and a celebrated image…Continue Reading Kites in the Dawn
Embarking on my journey to India through the Prime Minister’s Scholarship has proven to be a rollercoaster of challenges and triumphs. From language barriers to divergent viewpoints, every obstacle has become a stepping stone towards personal growth and a deeper understanding of India and me. In this post, I want to share my struggles with…Continue Reading From Struggles to Strength: Exploring Community Spirit
I’ve recently started to enjoy paintings for their story telling; the medium is a portal to a perspective of a time unknown. Architecture, however, I’ve only ever enjoyed with a jaw drop of awe when confronting the beauty of creation. India was about to change all that. In Hampi and Ahmedabad, architecture’s story is breathing. …Continue Reading Sun-kissed stone
Ancient Rome had a saying that to cross the Rubicon River was to pass the point of no return. When Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon River in 49 BC, a civil war began in Rome. The previous status quo is gone, and there is no way back. Since my last blog post, I have crossed…Continue Reading No Way Back
My visit to the Manav Gulzar Community Centre in India was an experience that deeply touched my heart and soul, reaffirming my belief that love is the answer to many of the problems the world now faces. Nestled in a vibrant slum neighbourhood, the centre stood as a symbol of hope, drawing us into its…Continue Reading Love is left behind
Growing up in New Zealand really cemented my passion for nature and the environment. Never really being too far from nature, even in our biggest cities where trees decorate our pavements and the abundance of parks. My instinctual reaction to a new place is to look around and up – looking for green in the…Continue Reading The Natural Beauty of India
“The single story creates stereotypes, and the problem with stereotypes is not that they aren’t true, but they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story.” Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie My visit to Dharavi challenged the single story often associated with places like Dharavi, where negative connotations overshadow the vibrant community that thrives within. Before…Continue Reading The Danger of a Single Story