Spent 10 days traveling around coastal Maine in June, and it was a dream – the most beautiful cliffs and lighthouses, delicious food (shoutout to wild blueberries and lobster rolls), and quaint towns. Took tons of photos so there’s a lot here! Hope this makes you want to visit Maine as much as I did.
We started in Portland, which lived up to its name as the foodie small town of America – with pretty cobblestoned streets, expansive harbor views, and of course a lighthouse, as well.
Then, we drove up North along the coast to Acadia National Park, nestled next to the beautiful town of Bar Harbor. We drove a loop around the park on our first day and spent the following two days hiking and enjoying the town. While Acadia doesn’t feature impressive mountain ranges, it’s one of the only national parks by the coast, and the rocky cliffs combined with the summer greenery were beautiful.
The highest point in the park is Cadillac Mountain – we drove up at sunset and it was breathtaking.
One of my favorite photos of Cadillac Mountain road.
Aanya, standing at the edge of a cliff during our last hike in Acadia.
From Acadia, we drove back down along Maine’s coastline, stopping in Rockland and Camden for two nights. These classic coastal towns featured harbors dotted with fishing boats, cute Main Streets, and tons of fresh lobster. Saw some picturesque lighthouses, as well!
From the midcoastal region of Maine, we drove to the beach town of Kennebunkport, in the South. The Kennebunks are like the Hamptons of Maine, and we spent a few days strolling along the water and eating yummy food.
From Kennebunkport, we drove back to Portland, spending one more day souvenir shopping and sitting by the bright blue ocean. Maine exceeded my expectations – which were pretty high – and I’m already anticipating when I can visit again.
A week of red rocks and sunlit skies – Sedona is something special. A quaint little town, nestled in the midst of canyons and rock formations, it’s a tranquil and picturesque respite. Sedona is quite spiritual, which isn’t for everyone, but it is also a place that emphasizes wellness and peace, and I think the world needs more of that these days. We drove to Sedona and took a day trip to the Grand Canyon; its vastness is astonishing, and pictures don’t do it justice, but I tried anyway. Hope these snapshots of hikes, skies, and stars make you love Sedona as much as I did.
Woke up at 7am every day, thanks to large windows and early morning light. Plus side: I got to see pretty skies like these.
We went on many day hikes to canyons, rock-filled trails, and vortexes, elevated areas said to emanate certain energy. Wasn’t sure what I was supposed to be feeling, but the vortex vistas were still beautiful.
Airport Mesa Trail (+ Vortex)
Chapel of the Holy Cross
Sugarloaf Loop
Soldier’s Pass Trail
Featuring Aanya and @earthcaps !!!
Boynton Canyon Vortex
A man started playing the flute at the top of the vortex, each song corresponding to different emotions.
Fay Canyon
Took a day trip to the Grand Canyon, which was jaw-dropping. Definitely one of those places you need to see in person to appreciate its impressive scale, but I took some photos at my favorite vista point, anyway.
With the sunrises came pretty sunsets, the rocks glowing in red, orange, and purple hues.
And finally, the stars. Countless little dots, twinkling throughout the inky black sky.
I would have stayed in Sedona another week, if possible. A feel-good place, for sure.
My family took a road trip to Colorado, remaining socially distant and enjoying the outdoors. Drove to Rocky Mountain National Park, hiked around for a few days, then stopped by the Garden of the Gods and Texas’s Palo Duro Canyon on the way home. Beautiful, breezy weather, snowcapped mountains, and crystal-clear rivers – a much-needed week of reflection and rejuvenation.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Aanya at a lookout on our hike to some lakes.
Nymph Lake, with lilypads.
Dream Lake, with a perfect reflection.
Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain, as seen from Emerald Lake.
Emerald Lake, the final destination of our hikes.
I decided to hike a little more than the rest of my family, out to Alberta Falls. Definitely worth it!
Lost Gulch Lookout in Boulder – insane!
The view from Trail Ridge Road, the road that curves through RMNP.
Forest Lake in a bowl of mountains.
Garden of the Gods
Ancient rock formations jut out of the earth, with Pike’s Peak framing the scene perfectly in the background.
Balancing Rock.
Palo Duro Canyon & the road
A view over Palo Duro Canyon, near Amarillo.
Metallic-looking tulips? Found these all over the canyon floor!
A beautiful, fiery sunset in New Mexico.
Caught this lightning strike in a lucky shot on our drive home!
Explored Morocco for a week with Oriana, and it was quite the adventure. The diverse country brought back fond memories of India, with its narrow streets, haggling vendors, and tantalizing street food. We navigated the maze of souks in Marrakech, took overnight buses into the Sahara Desert for a camel ride and camping escapade, and relaxed in the mountainous blue city of Chefchaouen. It truly was a week of being on the road, feeling like traveling backpackers, but every second of sleep deprivation was worth it.
Our first stop was Marrakech, a picturesque orange-tinted city with winding souks in the medina. We visited the Bahia Palace, a beautiful and intricate work of Islamic architecture, and the Majorelle Gardens, a calm oasis compared to the hustle and bustle of the city.
Wandering the maze of souks led us to discover quaint nooks and crannies, as well as delicious food stands. In the evening, we went to Jemaa el’Fna, the main square of Marrakech, which comes to life at night, with numerous stalls selling street food, souvenirs, and entertainment. Vendors are relentless, too – the number of funny comments we received from men is kind of crazy.
Side note: Morocco is cat country, and I couldn’t help but snap some photos of them (with a few dogs included, of course) throughout our trip.
After Marrakech, we took a train to Fes, where we hung around for a couple of hours before taking an overnight bus to Merzouga, on the edge of the Sahara Desert. The sand dunes looked like they were perfectly painted; the sight was so unreal. During the day, we explored the area around Merzouga, visiting a Mauritanian music village and a Berber home.
In the evening, we rode camels into Erg Chebbi, the dunes of the Sahara, and watched the sunset. Camels are one of the funniest animals. They’re so cute, but with such strange mannerisms!
Staying in a desert camp was so fun – it made me realize how different we live our lives in the city, always rushed and pushing forward to the next thing. In the desert, it’s all about relaxation and slow enjoyment; everything is governed by the sun and the stars. I’m not sure if I could sustain such a lifestyle forever, but I do frequently yearn to get away, to go off the grid and be free of urban society.
After a night of stargazing and playing music by the fire, we woke up early to watch the sunrise before riding our camels back to the guest house in Merzouga. Our overnight bus back to Fes was in the evening, so we basked in the sunlight on the terrace, learning about the lives of the people in this small desert town.
Our overnight bus journey was quite awful – fitful sleep, an extremely cold bus, and Arabic techno music blasting the whole time. It was worth it, though, no matter how sleep deprived we were when we got to Fes at 4 AM. It was Oriana’s 21st birthday, which made it all the more memorable! We fought to stay awake in the train station until 8 AM, when we caught our bus to Chefchaouen, the blue city.
In all our sleep deprivation, this day was wonderful. Chefchaouen is a photographer’s dream and a beautiful sight. Nestled in the Rif Mountains, surrounded by lush green valleys, the city is perched on a hill, a sea of blue and white stucco buildings that bring back memories of Greece and Italy with a Moroccan twist. We spent the day wandering through the narrow blue streets, snapping photos and buying souvenirs.
At sunset, we hiked up to the Spanish Mosque, which gave a sweeping view of the sprawling city and its surrounding landscape. I didn’t realize how much I missed the mountains until we came to Chefchaouen.
Our time in Chefchaouen was leisurely, spent experiencing the city with its natural beauty and surroundings. Our flight to Spain was from Tangier, so we took a bus and stayed in an AirBnB by the airport that night. The villa was right on the beach, owned by a New Zealand and Moroccan family who were so friendly and hospitable. It was the perfect end to our trip.
Morocco was a dream, a reminder of so many places I have been but with its own unique charm. Being two women, Oriana and I did receive a certain level of unwanted attention, but we felt safe everywhere we went, and experiencing this country with Oriana made it even more memorable. From the city to the desert to the mountains, our travels were far-flung and varied, but beautiful and thought-provoking all the same. Given the proximity of Morocco to Europe, it is easy to forget the disparities that divide places that seem so close to one another. Visit Morocco, if you can – it will open your eyes, make you more aware of how you live in relation to the rest of the world. I hope these photos gave you a little introduction.
Welcome to Paris; city of lights, city of love. It’s still as romantic and quaint in the winter, more so with lights and Christmas markets lining the cobblestoned streets. The grey skies almost enhanced the Parisian-ness of the whole place, as if I could transport myself to Les Misérables in a second. Hopefully, these photos make you feel that way, too.
Going to Paris with my family was quite the experience, from my sister’s constant “Oh my gosh, I’m staying here forever” to my dad’s (extremely butchered) attempts to speak French. In our time, we averaged walking 6 to 7 miles a day; this justified indulging ourselves in French cuisine, from freshly-baked baguettes to crepes and Camembert.
On day 1, we strolled through Paris’s Historic Core along the Seine, passing Sainte-Chapelle, flower markets, and beautiful architecture.
The interior of Sainte-Chapelle was breathtaking and completely unexpected.
In the afternoon, we walked to Rue Cler, a quaint market street full of fresh produce from boulangeries, fromageries, and traiteurs. Then, we finished off our first day at the Eiffel Tower – very touristy but beautiful, and worth the wait.
The morning of our second day was spent at Musée duLouvre (yes, I saw Mona Lisa, and yes, she was a tad underwhelming), after which we ate lunch at the Tuileries Christmas market and walked along Champs de Elysees to Arc de Triomphe.
The Dior store was so carefully decorated…every major brand store was prettier in Paris!
The next day, we visited the neighborhood of Montmartre, where the rebellious artists of the late 19th and early 20th century lived and worked – the original hipster hangout. It was such a picturesque collection of streets and buildings, all situated on a hill that overlooks the rest of Paris. No wonder all the artists flocked there for inspiration!
The actual Moulin Rouge!
Day 4: Musée d’Orsay, home to Monet, Renoir, Manet, and fellow Impressionists. I enjoyed this museum more than Musée du Louvre, as it had a better overall collection. After a delicious soufflé lunch, we headed to the Left Bank, a neighborhood of art galleries, Église Saint-Suplice, and Shakespeare & Company, the famous bookstore hangout of Beat writers like Hemingway and Fitzgerald!
I took this picture as we waited to get into Musée d’Orsay. The line was SO long.
The yummiest cheesemonger in Left Bank.
Finally, on day 5 we said au revoir to París. It was a jam-packed but leisurely trip, as we explored all of the elegant and delectable aspects of this romantic city. Parisians really do take care to make everything beautiful, and it shows. París, à bientôt.
Hello and welcome to Iceland: the most breathtaking, awe-inspiring, unreal little island I’ve ever been to. An untouched landscape, sheer natural beauty, a vastness that leaves you without words.
We road-tripped Iceland in 10 days, driving along the main highway Hringvegur, aka the Ring Road. 2350 kilometers later, we’d seen mountains, glaciers, volcanoes, lava fields, and black sand beaches (just to name a few).
Iceland has been my dream destination for as long as I can remember, and it definitely lived up to – exceeded, even – expectations. These photos cannot do the country justice; the wild, the raw, the expanse is something only the unfiltered eye can see. Nonetheless, I hope they give you a glimpse of Iceland’s diversity, and inspire you as much as the tiny country has inspired me.
Day 1
Our first day was a whirlwind of jet lag, excitement, and “wow, are we really here?” After eating a quick breakfast of skyr (yummy Icelandic yogurt) at the airport, we headed to the Blue Lagoon, the perfect stop to relax post-flight.
The Lagoon’s water was so blue; it’s crazy that this geothermal pool is naturally heated!
Lunch was fish soup and lamb soup with bread – soup is a staple in Iceland, one of the only good local meals. Stomachs full, we drove to Pingvellir National Park to see the Almannagja Gorge, Pingvellir Lake, and first Icelandic Parliament site.
The view from the top of the Parliament point…a beautiful welcome to Iceland!
To finish off the day, we drove to Geysir, the largest natural hot water geyser in Iceland, and Gulfoss, a pretty waterfall. [Pro tip: Foss means waterfall in Icelandic!] It was super windy and chilly, a common theme for the rest of our trip 🙂
Right after Geysir erupted. Boiling water gushes out of the ground every 5-10 minutes.
Gulfoss: the first of many pretty Iceland waterfalls!
Day 2
Featuring waterfalls, scenic overlooks, and black sand beaches of South Iceland, our Ring Road trip officially began on day 2. First stop: Seljlandafoss, a waterfall crashing over a cliff. We walked behind it and got SOAKED.
Pretty waterfall side-view.
My dad, ready to face the spray of the foss!
Then, we drove to Skogafoss, another waterfall. On the drive, we got a sneak peek of the volcano and glacier Eyjafjallajokull (say that 3x fast).
Just a blanket of white – we weren’t sure if it was snow or clouds…
A little sneak peek into the life of the volcano.
And on to Skogafoss. This waterfall is taller than Seljlandafoss, with a short accompanying hike. We were even lucky enough to see not one, but two rainbows!
Aanya and my dad, hiking up the side of the mountain that created Skogafoss.
Double trouble! Skogafoss, featuring some rainbows 🙂
From Skogafoss, we drove into South Iceland towards Vík, the southern-most town of our trip.
Icelandic horses are the cutest – and much easier to ride than regular horses! We found them roaming so many fields along the road.
A quick detour before Vík, Dyrhholaey is a nature preserve area with a famous arch. Usually, it’s the prime location to spot puffins, but we were too early 😦 The views from the overlook are still worth the steep, winding road to the top, though!
Black sand and glaciers in the distance.
The colors we saw were amazing – nature’s own rainbow!
Next up: horse riding in Vík! We rode along the beach and got some views of the idyllic town.
The famous church in Vík, against some jagged mountains.
Fun fact: there are 3 times more sheep than people in Iceland! We actually saw them everywhere.
Last stop for the day was Reynisfjara, the most beautiful black sand beach in Iceland. It was so surreal, especially at sunset.
Black sand is actually remnants of a volcanic eruption, so we were walking on lava. Also, you can see the Dyrhholaey Arch in the distance!
The most famous view of Reynisfjara, with its basalt columns and rocky stacks known as Reynisdrangar.
Day 3
On our third day in Iceland, I saw the most breathtaking views I have ever seen. These pictures really, really do not encompass the beauty of the four glaciers, lagoons, and peaks of today. But first, check out these lava fields. I definitely felt like I was on Mars…
Eldhraun Lava Fields – so surreal, right?
Leaving behind the Mars-like landscape, we came to Vatnajökull National Park, home of several glaciers and the volcano Vatnajökull. After hiking to the Skaftafell glacier tongue, we drove past open areas that gave us amazing views of the mountains and glaciers in the park.
Where do the snow caps end and the clouds begin? We definitely couldn’t tell!
Spot the glacier peeking out of the left side of this photo.
Now, spot TWO glaciers! This was a seriously stunning view. Aanya and I freaked out.
A highlight of Vatnajökull National Park is Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach. The icebergs look like funky jewels floating in pristine aqua. We took a boat tour of the lagoon, with a Spanish tour guide!
Aanya, in front of Jokulsarlon.
Diamond Beach is across the street from Jokulsarlon; the hunks of ice really did look like diamonds!
From Vatnajökull, we drove to Hofn and ate at Humarhofnin Veitingihus, one of the most renowned restaurants in Iceland. Known for its langoustine, or lobster tails, we feasted on lobster and char, kale, and rhubarb yogurt – definitely the best meal I ate in Iceland (a country not known for its food). On the way to our apartment for the night, we passed Hofn’s lighthouse and viewing area, just to check it out. And wow, am I glad we did.
Sun rays falling on a glacier in Vatnajökull.
My mom, a beautiful sunset in Hofn.
Not only did we see a stunning sunset, but we also saw the four glaciers in Vatnajökull National Park all in one stretch. What a perfect end to the day.
The sun obscures the view a bit, but if you look closely, you can see four glaciers falling from the mountains. Such a crazy sight.
Day 4
Today was a Walter Mitty-style adventure. After leaving our cabin with stunning views of the mountain Vestrahorn, we drove along the east coast towards the fjords, passing beautiful peaks, vast blue waters, and even some wildlife!
Another view of the glacier expanse, from morning.
Oh hey, deer! We finally spotted reindeer – a rare animal found mainly on Iceland’s east coast.
A majestic, mountainous view. Typical Iceland.
On our way to Egilsstadir, one of the main towns in Iceland’s East Fjord region, we stopped in the tiny fishing village of Djupivogur.
Doesn’t this look like a postcard?
The stretch of the Ring Road that brings you to Egilsstadir is stunning. Driving through valleys and ridged fjords dusted with snow, I felt like I was in a mythical land.
Fjords, galore!
A particularly adorable herd of sheep hanging out by the side of a cliff.
After doing groceries in Egilsstadir, we decided to check out Seydisfjordur, a coastal town famous for its artwork, troll church, and rainbow road (yes, like Mario Kart!). Route 93, which takes you from Egilsstadir to Seydisfjordur, is the famous “Walter Mitty Road” – for those of you who’ve seen the movie (and if you haven’t, I highly highly highly suggest it!), it’s the absolutely stunning road Walter cruises down on the penny board. Sadly, we got caught in a blizzard coming down the mountain, so while it was super cool to be surrounded by all white flakes, we didn’t see the same beautiful sight that Walter did.
This photo reminds me of Christmas! Such a pretty little cottage, and cool striations of the snow, too.
Seydisfjordur was rainy and cold, but we still walked around a little, looking at artwork and walking down the rainbow road. We were definitely ready to head back to our BnB, though, after eating some amazing pizza at a trendy, hipster joint in Egilsstadir.
Rainbow Road + Troll Church = Seydisfjordur in a nutshell.
Day 5
Greetings from Day 5! Halfway through Iceland, and it’s going by way too quickly for all of us. Today was all waterfalls and lava formations in Northeast Iceland. First up: Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe, and Selfoss, its mother. While Dettifoss has the strength, Selfoss most definitely has the beauty. We hiked up to both falls in freezing rain that turned into snow, in a setting that was so Mars-like it was scary.
Here’s Selfoss, with its misty spray and horseshoe bend. The contrast of the stark cliffs against the white water was so breathtaking.
Here’s Selfoss again, with a blurred watery lens, Aanya, and me.
From there, we drove to the Lake Myvatn region of North Iceland, basically just a huge lake surrounded by cool remnants of volcanic eruptions and lava flow. First up in the region was Viti, a huge crater filled with bright blue water.
Aanya and my dad in front of the Viti Crater.
The colors and geometric shapes in this photo look so Star Wars-like! I felt like we were in a futuristic factory world.
Then, we walked over to Leihrnjukur, a geothermal area with lava fields, where we roamed through smoky lava fields with surprise steam vents. The setting felt like Star Wars mixed with Journey to the Center of the Earth.
A walk towards the edge of the Earth, or so it seemed.
Other sights in Lake Myvatn included Hvevir, an area with mud pits and vibrant red-orange colors, Dimmuborgir, whimsical rock formations, and Hverfjall, a cinder cone-shaped volcano with a massive crater inside. The walk up was steep, but so worth it – panoramic views of Lake Myvatn welcomed us at the top.
Lake Myvatn, from Hverfjall. A lava field, ash-filled, volcanic landscape.
Day 6
Today is all Northern Iceland, the most north we got on the trip. Before leaving Myvatn, we had to make a quick pitstop at the Lake Myvatn Nature Baths to soak up some warmth for our freezing journey. Unlike the Blue Lagoon, these baths were so quiet and calming – a better version of the famous lagoon, in my opinion.
Featuring my mom, all smiley and serene in the aqua water, with Lake Myvatn as a backdrop.
Next up: Godafoss, a beautiful horseshoe-shaped waterfall north of Myvatn.
Pretty blue-green waters of Godafoss, with the flat-topped northern landscape behind it.
For the evening, we drove to Akureyri, the Reykjavik of North Iceland, so to speak. Akureyri is the biggest town in the north, and it was so quirky and cute, Italian town + ski village with an Icelandic touch.
The main street of Akureyri, where our apartment was. The colorful buildings and signs only added to its quaint, hipster feel.
Day 7
Today was a lot of driving, covering ground across the northwest before reaching the Snaefellsness Peninsula on Iceland’s western tip. Along the way, we stopped at several cute towns, including Varmahlid, known for its turf houses and turf church.
Varmahlid’s quaint turf houses. I would definitely live in one of these…
For part of the drive, we cruised along the coast, the crystal aqua waters beside us. There were many more wildlife spottings on the way!
Horses against a serene ocean backdrop.
All tan, everything. A lone sheep crossing the road.
For my dad’s caffeine fix, we stopped in Stykkisholmur (Walter Mitty was here, too!) for coffee.
Mirror selfie! The café we stopped at was so eclectic and quaint.
Our last stop of the day was at Kirkjufell, one of the most photographed mountains in Iceland. I think it was featured in Game of Thrones, but I wouldn’t really know. The mountain itself was a unique coiled shape, and it was accompanied by a small waterfall, aptly named Kirkjufellsfoss.
Kirkjufell and its waterfall.
After a long day of driving, we were ready to stretch our legs and relax. For the night, we stayed at the Freezer Hostel in Rif, aka the most hippie place in Iceland. The hostel was full of interesting people, knick knacks, and a vibe that could only be described as hipster Icelandic. It was a blast.
The living room in the Freezer Hostel was so cool – if only my living room could look like this…
Day 8
On day 8, the last “road trip day”, we drove through the Snaefellsness Peninsula en route to Reykjavik. Snaefellsness Peninsula is known as a “mini Iceland”; all of the natural features in Iceland can be found in this peninsula alone. We saw glaciers, black sand beaches, and waterfalls once again – a great way to tie together our trip.
Snaefellsnessjökull National Park was beautiful, especially Djùpalónssandur Beach, with its dramatic black rock and the expanse of ocean in the background.
This funky rock at Djùpalónssandur was massive! I definitely felt my smallness in the world.
After a few more stops in fishing villages like Hellnar and picturesque coastal towns like Borgarnes, we made it to Reykjavik! 2350 kilometers of driving across the entirety of Iceland later, I felt overwhelmed with love for nature and wonder for this tiny country.
Now, it was time to relax and explore Reykjavik. The city was like a toy town, with colorful streets and artsy murals, small shops and cute restaurants. I was excited to wander the narrow lanes the next day.
The parents, at Icelandic Street Food, a small fast food joint that sells (basically) only soup. Lamb soup, fish soup, in a bread bowl, bread on the side. Hands down, best lamb soup ever. The owner was so friendly, too!
Day 9
Our last day in Iceland was pretty laidback; Reykjavik doesn’t have many attractions, but the streets themselves are filled with artsy and quirky places to explore. We spent the day walking around the different neighborhoods of the city. It was the perfect end to our trip.
Aerial view of Reykjavik, from the top of Hallgrimskirkja, the towering church of the city. Doesn’t it look like a miniature toy town?
This photography store was one of many unique shops in Reykjavik. I wish I could have taken a photo of the inside – it was a photographer’s dream!
Day 10
And that’s a wrap on Iceland. We left early morning for the airport, back to New York.
Iceland was the craziest, most surreal place I have ever been to, and it still feels like a dream. My love for natural wonder has grown exponentially because of this arctic island; the realization of my insignificance in the world has, as well. Places like this make me grateful for the earth. I am in awe of you, Iceland. Hope to see you again soon.
Oh, Canada. You truly are something else, a vast land of greenery and saltwater, rock and civilization, of natural beauty and hipster culture intertwined. Your people are not only environmentally-friendly, but also just friendly – thank you for letting me settle into your way of life for a few days.
Vancouver, in particular, is an ideal city of sorts; surrounded by mountains and ocean, it is the best of all worlds. Chloe and i roamed artsy streets dotted with coffee shops and vintage finds, hiked and biked the nature, and relaxed in the comfort of our cozy bnb. Though a quick trip, and not glamorous by any means, Vancouver was a place to remember.
Our first day was spent exploring the city, with its quaint bookstores, boutiques, art and – of course – exceptional coffee.
Also, everyone meet Chloe: a quirky, artsy, thoughtful soul, my soul sista and best pal!!!
On day 2, we took Vancouver’s nature scene by storm; stunning snow-capped peaks and lush evergreens highlighted our adventures.
Kicked off the day by hiking Grouse Mountain. Doesn’t this shot look like it’s from Lord of the Rings, or something?
Chloe, post-hike. they really weren’t kidding when they said it was a Grouse grind!
The views at the top were beyond worth it, though.
More cool shots…nature is totally a photographer’s playground.
From hiking, we went to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. This bridge literally sways as you walk across it – spooky at times, but super cool nonetheless.
Day 3, our last full day in vancouver, we decided to do a little of nature and a little of the city. First we were off to Stanley Park, biking along the seawall, followed by a ferry ride over to Granville Island, where i found the largest public market ever – basically my dream.
Featuring us!!!
Finally, the morning of our flight, we had some time to kill…so following a yummy brunch in kitsilano, we only did what two photographers are bound to do – experiment. As a final farewell to vancouver, enjoy these little pieces of art.
There’s something about the outdoors, about clear spring water and crisp mountain air. And nothing beats summer in Colorado, with wildflowers blowing in the sweet-smelling 70 degree breeze. A photographer’s paradise, too – as you can see below.
Eli, Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park
How sweet are those mountains in the background?
Spot the tiny people on top of this cool-looking rock cluster!
Contemplative chauffeur
Man, I’d love to scale one of those someday.
Eli, Hanging Lake in Glenwood Springs
Driving through a canyon is crazy; water carved through that rock.
Vail Village: my favorite little mountain town, like an Austrian village in America.
Oh, Italy. Just hearing the name of that boot-shaped country makes me long for rolling hills with fragrant flowers, Bernini sculptures and Michelangelo frescoes, and the snippets of “prego” and “grazie” heard at every wonderfully quaint caffeteria.
My family took a trip to Italy this June, all eight of us packed in a minibus way too big for any Italian cobblestone street. From Florence to Venice to Tuscany to Rome, we got a taste of four ways to live the life of an Italian – but don’t ask me to choose my favorite, cause I definitely can’t. Each offered its own charms, and each made me want to stay in the beautiful country even longer.
So, here’s a peek into Italia. Hope you adore the carefree, romantic, delicious Italian way of living as much as I do.
Firenze
Our first stop: Florence. This Renaissance hub is clustered with breathtaking art; every building is an architectural masterpiece. The European history-obsessed part of me was screaming.
Views of the Duomo, Florence’s cathedral featuring Brunelleschi’s famous dome. Isn’t the intricate detail stunning?
Bikes are a common sight in Italy, dotting the edges of every cobblestone street. This one was too picturesque for me not to photograph.
Papa and Aanya walking along the Arno River against the backdrop of colorful clustered buildings. The colors in this picture are so classic Italian to me.
This is where my art history geekiness just about lost it. Michelangelo’s David is even more impressive in person, so grand and extremely well sculpted. Kinda funny, though, seeing all these tourists (myself included) marvel over a naked guy.
This is what I want the entrance to my house to look like one day. I came across so many similar picture-perfect doorways during our 2 weeks in Italy.
After saying arrivederci to Florence, we stopped in Bologna for lunch on our way to Venice. The home of spaghetti bolognese, this bright, peach and ochre-colored town was well worth the detour.
Venezia
Ciao from Venice! We drove to a port and boarded a ferry to this quaint, colorful collection of islands intertwined with narrow canals. It was romantic and laidback, exactly as I imagined it to be. Definitely a must-see – preferably before it sinks.
One of the hundreds of waterways I encountered after trying not to get lost in tiny passages. What a dream it would be to own one of those boats and float lazily past the rustic buildings, admiring the view.
A peek into the daily life of the Venetian: every building’s exterior has intertwined clotheslines full of laundry, adding a human touch to Venice’s canals and byways. The clothes hung above canals always amused me; one slip-up and your drying goes to waste!
Featuring my father, king of dad jokes and lover of all things fried. Leave it to him to order a sampler of fried Venetian specialties as a meal.
Perfect capture of local life: clothes hanging every which way, small bridges framed by charming buildings, and a group of young Venetians cruising through the canal.
Italian cities have churches and cathedrals at every corner, seriously. Many of them had clusters of candles like this one, casting a warm glow into the sacred space, making it just a little bit easier to see the building’s ornate beauty.
Another bicycle! This one is extra special, though, because it’s used as a prop to advertise the super cute gelateria behind it. Not that gelato needs advertising, of course – I would gladly eat it at any time of the day.
Toscana
Ah, the rolling hills, the warm sun. Tuscany is exactly what you get when you put all the joys of nature in one place. An idyllic region filled with lush vineyards, picturesque agriturismos, and fragrant blooms that make every corner smell like fresh flowers – retiring Tuscan-style is my dream.
During our 5-day Tuscan stay, we rented part of an agriturismo, a farmhouse converted into an Airbnb-type home. It was a beautiful old building with natural light streaming through windows like this one; just look at the view!
Colle d’Val d’Elsa, the town neighboring our agriturismo, is a medieval village surrounded by a fortress, typical of most Tuscan towns. It was so quaint, but in this picture, the painted clouds in the sky take the cake.
Though it doesn’t look like this donkey has a tail, it’s just hiding it – we didn’t have to pin the tail on 🙂 Isn’t it the cutest? We went wine tasting at a small farm and vineyard owned by two Italians; this donkey is their pet. They were so humble and simple – and the wine was fantastic.
There’s that classic Tuscan landscape you’ve been waiting to see. I know we aren’t in Austria, but these hills look pretty alive with the sound of music, if you ask me.
While in Tuscany, we took some day trips to famous medieval towns; can you guess this one? (It’s tower is pretty well-known for being a little crooked). But seriously, the Leaning Tower of Pisa was impressive – it really leans a lot, and it’s a pretty building, too.
Another day trip, this time to Siena, where the Crayola color “burnt siena” came from. It’s pretty obvious if you look at the rustic color of every building. Siena is said to be the prettiest town in Tuscany, and I’m in full support. This view of the sprawling medieval city is breathtaking.
Before we leave Tuscany and head over to metropolitan Rome, here’s a cat I found by a windowsill. I thought it pretty much captured the Tuscan mindset and lifestyle – 100% relaxation, enjoyment, and simple indulgences.
Roma
Rome, the center of it all. I’m glad this was our final destination; it might be my favorite (ask me tomorrow, though, and I’ll probably change my mind). A blend of ancient grandeur and modern culture coexisting in perfect harmony, this energetic hub made me feel at home.
A typical building in the city – seriously so different from a New York apartment. Every home was beautiful, commonly seen with these bright green vines draping off the sides.
The Colosseum was so much grander than I could’ve ever imagined; it’s crazy that the Romans built this in 70-80 A.D. This picture definitely doesn’t do the enormous arena justice.
One of many stunning Italian sunsets, seen even through the city’s buildings. That’s another thing I liked about Rome: the architecture is not only beautiful, but it also doesn’t obscure the gorgeous sky.
Ancient Rome at its finest: the Roman Forum, captured from the top of Palatine Hill. I am still in awe of the Romans. How was this planned and built almost 2000 years ago?
Campo di Fiori, aka the largest farmers market ever. Strolling through the market, browsing artisan goods and fresh produce, was a great way to experience local Roman life, even with the hordes of tourists.
Rome is filled with cute – and ridiculously expensive – boutiques such as this one, and it was fun to walk through small streets and peek into the shops, hoping one day I’d be able to afford them.
From Rome, we took a day trip to the Vatican, a calm bubble of Catholicism in the midst of metropolitan chaos. St. Peter’s Basilica, with Michelangelo’s dome, is an architectural marvel, both inside and out. Michelangelo’s Pieta is even more emotionally startling in person, too. I’ve come to the conclusion that everything in Italy just exceeds expectations.
The Vatican Museums, housing one of the largest collections of art in the world, had my art history-obsessed self in cloud 9. I think I could stare at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel all day. And look at this picture! Even the entrance stairs are a work of art.
For our last few days in Rome, we tried to be less tourist-y and more local-y, exploring back streets and stumbling across cool art studios like this one. No pictures were allowed inside, so, naturally, I snapped a photo of the exterior.
A smooth segway into the food section of our Italy adventure: Ai Marmi. This crowded, cafeteria-looking pizzeria has the best pizza I’ve ever eaten, hands down. It was so cool to watch the chefs make pizzas with mechanical precision and smell them coming out of the oven, fresh and piping hot.
La Cucina Italiana
Absolutely incredible, to say the least. Also, definitely deserving of its own section. Eating Italian food in America basically makes me sad now.
Here’s a few of the many noteworthy meals I enjoyed in Italy.
The freshest, lightest pasta I’ve ever eaten, with the original bolognese sauce in its birthplace, Bologna. Ragù, who?
Italians don’t only eat pasta and pizza. This rabbit, cooked on a bed of cranberry sauce with pumpkin seeds and a side of polenta, beats any Thanksgiving feast. YUM!
Spaghetti al nero, or black spaghetti in squid ink: maybe my all-time favorite pasta dish.
All this food inspired us to make our own Italian meal in Tuscany. An outdoor picnic, complete with local veggies, meats, cheese (fresh mozzarella!!!), and homemade pasta – simple but delicious.
One of the more non-traditional pasta dishes I came across – but still amazing, obviously. Pasta stuffed with pears in sheep’s cheese fondue.
Pizza is a favorite of mine, my comfort food, so this was only one of MANY pizzas I devoured. And Italian pizza…oh my. So simple, so thin, so gooey. I dream about this pizza. That glass of wine was the perfect complement, too.
Now, never forget dessert. Especially in Italy. I’m a huuuuge ice cream person, so I ate gelato every day, religiously. The first Italian gelato (pictured above) was something else, though – so fresh that I could taste the individual pieces of chocolate and hazelnut and the texture of cinnamon through the frozen creaminess.
This Italian take on chocolate lava cake, with a little kick, was incredibly soft, gooey, and perfectly bittersweet. Man, the Italians really know how to do chocolate.
Italians also know their coffee, having created every fancy coffee term you’ve heard of. So, when you combine the best gelato in the world with expertly-crafted coffee, you get: the best affogato I’ve ever had.
So, that’s it. Two weeks of intense beauty, culture, and food. Italy really has no letdowns, no “wow we shouldn’t have done this”. Every region brings something unique to the Italian table, yet they all exude that laidback, fulfilled Italian quality.
India ; my birthplace ; my second home ; my other half.
Nana and Nani drinking chai, 5:30 am
It’s hard, never truly belonging in one place, always feeling like I’m not quite American but not quite Indian either. I almost forgot the not-quite-Indian-ness until last summer, when I went back to India after a hiatus of three years. There, I was uncomfortably reminded of the divide between me, growing up in an American suburb, and the hundreds of children in Bombay and Calcutta. People stared at me with that she’s a foreigner glance, even though I looked and spoke the part of a perfect Indian.
Leafy Bombay streets and local life
What I forgot even more, though, is how underprivileged and less fortunate India really is, especially after living in the bubble that is America. We constantly complain and trivialize, but Americans are so privileged and infinitely more well-off than 99.9% of the Indian population; I don’t think we – myself included – realize that what we take for granted is a dream for most everyone else in the world.
The majority of people I know couldn’t fathom living in the conditions I’ve witnessed in India, just because they’ve never been exposed to anything other than their comfortable, materialistic lives; the filth, the lack of basic necessities, the desperation, and – of course – the traffic, are common occurrences in this third world country – Americans wouldn’t last a day.
Selling nariyal pani – coconut water – on the street
Early mornings at the fish market
This is not to discount India, for some of my relatives are the most humble and welcoming people I know. Despite being hardworking and extremely wealthy as a result of it, they reject extravagance and instead live the simplest of lives, enjoying the company of friends and family as opposed to a flatscreen TV. I aspire to live like them and hope that one day we will all realize the impermanence and meaninglessness of materialism. This is one thing that America can learn from India – yes, there is something; America is not perfect, no matter how much we try to convince ourselves that it is.
As for my first home, I will always visit, no matter how terrible the conditions. To those Indian-Americans who reject their past, choosing to look upon their heritage with disdain, remember: acceptance. Acceptance and open-mindedness. How could you not fall in love with the crowded streets and bustling energy of your original home? You belong to two cultures; embrace that, for not everyone gets such a unique experience.
Locals bathing in the Ganges, the holiest river in India
My visit to India was a wake-up call. While it may have reminded me that I am not fully Indian, it was more importantly a reminder to stay humble and grateful. Appreciating what I have is always welcomed, always light-years better than complaining.
These photographs of India are not my best, but I hope they shed a new light on your perspective of both our third world countries and your place in this vast earth. There is much more to the world than social media fame and a new pair of boots; open your eyes once in a while. You’ll be surprised, I hope, by what you’ll find.
from a lens to the world 