i have written previously about the devaraj family and my can of bliss boys, but those posts don’t include the numerous other wonderful people i met and have stayed connected to from my early years in bangalore.

there’s mindy, my first friend in bangalore and someone i just got to see again for the first time in 13 years. there’s dorothy, my forever fiancé and one of my favorite people. there’s rob and ellie who have become like family to me. there’s alex, the little brother with whom i have adventured across the world. there’s gugi, who welcomed me and two of my friends into his home in vienna. there’s ashu who now lives in bombay and who always shows up to toto’s if he’s in town when i am. there’s pranay who i see once in a blue moon but we always pick up where we left off. there’s saranya, the cousin i never knew who later housed me in bombay and has become one of my closest confidantes. there’s morgan, affectionately known as my duplicate, who i’ve not seen since 2011 but who still messages me anytime she uses the phrase “hydration is sexy”. there are all these incredible people who have touched my life, who have become travel companions, best friends, co-conspirators, and it’s all because of how my experiences of 20 years ago have shaped me.

i will always be grateful for all the people i’ve met and the friends i’ve made because of bangalore.

xx

ed note: i did my best to find my earliest photos with some of these people, so there are some real throwback gems up there