Oxford University Press

I was walking past the Oxford University Press the other day when I decided that I should try to go in. I mean, how many times have I read books that I have to cite "Oxford University Press: Oxford"?


Turns out I couldn't go in, but the porter would let me in up to this fountain in the front gardens. As big as the building is and as fascinating it's history, the building's quite boring from outside. Large. Yellow. So I started talking to the porter:
Me: "Is this where all the printing happens?"
Porter: "I'm afraid not."
Me: "Oh. It's such a large building. Where does all the printing happen?"
Porter: "Ah all the printing is now done in China."

Sorry about the lack of posting lately. I've got hundreds of photographs, and no time to update (kids are tiring). I am on my way out of Oxford heading to Ireland in next couple of days. I don't know when I will have internet again but stay tuned second week of August. I'll keep working and post everything once I find some wi-fi.
Hugs from England. It's been a lovely summer.

Brighton Beach

Photo credit: Random stranger. I only set it up.

Doggy who loves her frisbee

This guy sits at the same place everyday, rain or shine (it was raining at the time I photographed him) with his doggy. He sells magazines, I think, but in the twenty-something minutes he talked with me, he didn't try selling anything. So who knows. But every minute, he tosses the disc for his doggy who chews on it like crazy and is absolutely in love with it. I don't know if the disk has just become a part of its diet. I could tell you everything we talked about then (mostly the story of the doggy's coming-of-age years), but I do not remember his or the dog's name. I'll ask again the next time I see him. 

"War is a part of God's Creation"

Texture (2D)

Quote of the day (cooking):

Me: "Okay I'm going to wash the onion" 

British friends: "This isn't India, Shikha. We don't wash the onions"

In US you have to because of all the chemicals!!

Little things that matter

For the last few years, I haven't really been sure how to approach the homeless people who are begging in the streets. There is the mentality that in the U.S., they are always drug abusers. In India, it's always the children begging and there is the belief that they are just being controlled by rich older people who have abducted them. I don't think I have ever spared change for anyone I have encountered in my life - I always get a rush of sadness, but more than anything, it's an embarrassment that I live in a society where there are children or adult starving or freezing on the street next to a parked Mercedes. Despite this sadness, I have learned to not meet the eyes, to ignore as if it's a situation that I am not responsible for or that I should not have to be the one to care about.

Two weeks ago, I met someone who gives change to any person asking on the streets, in the underground, or playing music for the spare change. I don't think I have ever met someone who does that before, and now I feel really embarrassed about how I have approached the situation in my life. I hope to change that. Because even if they are drug abusers, to me they are humans who deserve better. Especially the children - few years ago, my parents and I were in India on this foggy hill in pouring rain, and this little girl - twelvish years old - ran up to us to sell some popcorn. Dad bought it because she had ran in rain for the sole customer in sight. He asked her, "Do you go to school?" Her response: "If I went to school, how would I eat?"

I don't think I will ever forget that, and yet I don't know why I chose to do nothing about it.

Boring unrelated photographs (sorry):

 Blurry on purpose. I have a non-blurry boring image as well if you are interested. One of the best bookstores I have ever been to.

It's weird that people lived here

Too tired because I've been up since this sunrise