Travel
Ecuador
These are the remains of an indigenous man at the Intiñan Equator Museum in Quito, Ecuador. This photo is the depiction of a typical burial ceremony of indigenous Ecuadorian people. The indigenous people of Ecuador do not believe life ends after death. Those who pass are not called “dead,” but rather “Ñawparirka,” which translates to “the one who has passed ahead.” The funeral service then includes 3 days of eating, drinking, and playing games. The body is then typically buried with tools because they believe that when Ñawparirka occurs, it is still necessary for the man or woman to work in the next life.
This photo was taken at the village of a tribe of indigenous women, located at the base of the Chimborazo mountains. As the women spun wool, they spoke to me about the plants (pictured behind them) and their medicinal uses. In the future, I look forward to learning more about the applications of plants as sources of medicine and therapeutic benefits.
The Main Town Square of Quito, Ecuador, July 2023. The aging buildings are a mixture of European and indigenous architecture, with Spanish influences seen throughout.
This photo shows birds flying over the tops of the Catholic churches that line the town square of Quito, Ecuador. To me, the birds are symbolic of the natural world and indigenous people, finding their freedom in flying above the centuries of oppression suffered at the hands of their Catholic colonizers. The birds are welcomed by the people in the town square, who feed them and play games in the streets with them.
Japan
Here is an evening photo of Lake Biwa located outside Kyoto, one that has inspired many works of art for centuries. You can barely see in the photo, but it was raining really hard, which is vital for the livelihoods of many people who have lived here for generations. You can see the reflection of the town in the lake. This was a memorable moment for my mother and I, as we had just finished dinner and took a few moments to enjoy the evening downpour.
I rode a bicycle to many Buddhist temples around Kyoto, as I was excited to see all the plants and landscape architecture that has thrived there since the 7th century CE. While I normally ride my bicycle all around my hometown in southern California, this was a new experience with narrow alleyways and wayward traffic, all designed to be traversed without cars. I’m fascinated with how people move through urban spaces, so the importance of the alleyways in Kyoto’s long-term sustainability appealed to me.
The Shirakawago village is most famous for its Gasho-style homes. The Gasshō-zukuri style is characterized by a thatched and steeply slanting roof. The Gasshō roof has a slope of about 60 degrees, forming a nearly equilateral triangle. This steep pitch allows snow to slide off the roof easily. The houses are large, with three to four stories encompassed between the low eaves, and historically intended to house large extended families and highly efficient spaces for a variety of industries. The roofs, made without nails, provide a large attic space used for cultivating silkworm. What captivated me about this home was the ability to serve a variety of different purposes, providing multi-functional utilization of limited space.
A view of the Japanese countryside on a hike with my family.
A small fishing boat on Hakone Lake in Kanagawa Prefecture. The peacefulness of the lake, formed 3,000 years ago from a volcanic crater, is seen here in what was a very zen moment for me. To me, the people fishing appear to be one with the lake.
Germany
Here a Spanish fan celebrates his home country’s win at the Euro Final for soccer in Berlin, July 2024. His energy was contagious, and I enjoyed the diverse international presence in Berlin.
My friends late at night in Berlin.
The Netherlands
Here is my friend Krew taking a photo at VondelPark Amsterdam, which is the most famous park in the Netherlands and the biggest park in Amsterdam.
Before my first time in Amsterdam, I had typical pre-conceived notions of the city and its bikeable design. I had read articles, watched videos, and heard from many people that the city was a giant maze of well-maintained bike paths and supportive bike infrastructure. Although these reports were probably true, like many things, I wanted to experience it for myself. I am an avid biker at home, so I often tend to rent a bike in new places I travel in order to get a truly in-depth experience. This is what my friends and I immediately did upon our first day in Amsterdam. Our days were spent biking from skatepark to skatepark, restaurant to restaurant, and swimming hole to swimming hole. I now look back on memories like this, and even though it seems rather mundane to ride a bicycle, my friends and I will forever remember experiences like these. After all, Amsterdam might be the bicycling capital of Europe.
France
A photo of a new friend named Eman in a Parisian square. We had met Eman a few days prior while skating in the streets of the 11th Arrondissement.
Here’s a clip of me skating at Republique Square, Paris. The night prior, as we walked across the street from this square, riot police lined the block as thousands of passionate civilians rioted in protest of the far-right election results. There was tension in the air, and what started off as a peaceful protest turned into a violent clash with Parisian Police. The results of the second round of parliamentary elections were announced 24hrs later, much to the relief of many of Paris’ citizens. The next day, as the dust had settled and rose off the cobblestone, we skated in the same square till nightfall.
View of an open kitchen in a small restaurant in Paris. We went to many restaurants in Paris, but my friends and I liked this one because the plates were all meant to be shared. I enjoy communal-style eating.
My friend Taarak at the window of Paris.
My friend Krew skating in Paris.