Photos
Some selected photos from my travels (both work and personal). Seeing different parts of the world is one of my great joys — in part due to the scenery, but especially because of the people one meets along the way.
Los Angeles (January 2025)
Worked remote in LA to visit my dad and brother, amidst a backdrop of large-scale wildfires affecting the area.
LA's palm tree population may be shrinking, but they're still numerous.
One of my favorite parts of LA is its large volume of classic signage.
Some of the best food I ate was amidst modest surroundings.
But other times splurged a bit (though not to extremes).
The 7-Elevens here really didn't compare to the ones in Tokyo.
My brother's workplace in downtown LA.
The city retains a good number of classic movie theaters.
The not-so-mighty LA River.
Macau (November 2024)
Flew across the Pacific for just four days to attend a family wedding and revisit favorite spots in my mom's hometown.
The Portuguese were in Macau for 442 years (1557 to 1999).
Now known for its casinos, Macau also has quaint, quiet streets.
It's the most densely populated standalone territory on earth.
A city of restaurants, there's both Michelin cuisine and cheap eats.
Macau's hills provide vistas at every turn and panoramas on top.
Wandering around my mom's old neighborhood.
Street signs are still in both traditional Chinese and Portuguese.
The little library where my mom used to study is still going strong.
Tokyo (July 2024)
My fiancée had some work in Tokyo for two weeks. Plane tickets were cheap, so I tagged along to work remotely by day and explore the city with her by night and on weekends.
Tokyo was a wonderful mix of the old and new.
The street scenes of the city were electric (especially at rush hour).
The weak yen was conducive for shopping (though not in Ginza).
On a nighttime stroll at Tokyo Station.
Visited the Great Buddha on a day trip to Kamakura.
At Kamakura's Tsurugaoka Hachimangū shrine.
Many amazing food experiences — including Tonkatsu omakase!
Both peaceful and energetic, Tokyo was a great place to recharge.
Mumbai-Chennai Express (Jan 2024)
Took nearly 24 hours so not quite "express," but it was a lovely journey!
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai.
Trains in India are quite packed!
Traveled in AC 2-tier, which was quite comfortable.
Railway chai was excellent and cost just 10 rupees (44¢ USD PPP).
Rural Maharashtra is beautiful.
Was kindly given idli podi for the road (or the rails). :)
Rainy morning in Andhra Pradesh.
Dr. MGR Central Railway Station in Chennai.
India (Dec 2023-Jan 2024)
Had the privilege of visiting India's "Golden Quadrilateral" cities — i.e., Chennai (where my dad is from), Kolkata (a brief visit to see my aunt and uncle), Delhi (for family and research), and Mumbai (to see my fiancée's family). This was my eighth visit to India but one of my happiest.
Hard to beat the beauty of sunset at one of Chennai's beaches.
Was only in Kolkata briefly but it's already one of my favorite cities.
Got to ride one of Kolkata's trams (the last such system in India!)
At a Bengali restaurant — the food is great (especially the mithai!)
Delhi traffic is rather terrible.
A neighborhood in Delhi.
In Mumbai: "inconvenience today for better tomorrow."
Got to taste Naga food in Mumbai — a delicious experience.
Kenya (May-July 2023)
Traveled to Kenya to assist with a research project during summer 2023.
The countryside of western Kenya is truly beautiful.
On the shores of Lake Victoria.
Busia, Kenya just before sunset.
Nothing tastier than a freshly made chapati.
Got the chance here to attend my first development conference!
Made a new friend in Nairobi.
A relatively less well-to-do neighborhood in Nairobi.
Amazing to see a lion up-close.
Laos and Vietnam (May 2023)
My very brilliant fiancée does a lot of research work in the Lao People's Democratic Republic. I got the chance to visit her en route to Kenya, and we also went on a short trip to Vietnam together.
We were very happy to be reunited after five months apart.
Mountainous Laos as seen from the new Lao-China Railway.
Idyllic Kuang Si Falls.
The Lao countryside.
Some of the best food I've ever eaten was in Luang Prabang.
Pha That Luang in Vientiane.
Dynamic Hanoi, Vietnam.
Bún Chả Hương Liên, where Obama and Bourdain shared a meal.