in 2010, i moved from a small town in india to the bustling city of bangkok, and the contrast couldn't have been more striking. i still remember my first day in bangkok—wide-eyed and amazed by the roads, the towering buildings, and the sheer scale of everything around me. for a kid from jodhpur, rajasthan, this was a whole new world.
but life has a way of coming full circle. last year, i found myself back in jodhpur, finishing my education and stuck there because i didn’t have a visa to return to thailand. suddenly, i was back in a place that felt like home, yet didn’t. all i had there was my family—no friends, no car, no modern conveniences, and certainly none of the comforts i’d grown used to in bangkok.
the year i spent in jodhpur was challenging, to say the least. frequent electricity cuts, water shortages, dirty water, and a lack of infrastructure made daily life tough. but in those challenges, i found something beautiful—a lesson in appreciating the basics.
as soon as i came back to jodhpur, i landed an internship at gelato. i still remember having my interview with hilmar over the phone, relying on a shaky hotspot because i didn’t have wifi at home, and of course, the electricity was out. it wasn’t just the interview—this would happen during meetings as well. i had to adapt quickly, making sure i was prepared for these unpredictable situations. it was frustrating at times, but it taught me resilience and the importance of making do with what you have.
i’d wake up early, anticipating that there might be no water or electricity later in the day. it wasn’t just about getting ready; it was about being prepared for whatever the day threw at me. the unpredictability of it all taught me to adapt, to survive with the bare essentials.
those nights when the electricity would cut out, leaving me drenched in sweat and unable to sleep, taught me a powerful lesson: having electricity is a blessing, one that we often take for granted. in bangkok, i’d flip a switch and never think twice about it. in jodhpur, every moment of electricity was a gift.
the same went for water. in jodhpur, water isn’t always readily available. but the kindness of strangers stood out—walk into any shop, ask for water, and they’ll offer it to you with a smile, even letting you rest. it’s a small thing, but it’s a gesture rooted in the understanding of how precious water is, especially in the heat waves that sweep through rajasthan.
but my time in india wasn’t just about surviving the day-to-day challenges. it also opened up a whole new world of experiences. i traveled across rajasthan in sleeper class trains during the peak of summer—trust me, that’s an adventure on its own. the heat was intense, but there was something about those journeys that made them special. the simplicity of it all, the conversations with fellow passengers, and the sights and sounds of rajasthan whizzing by—it was a reminder that sometimes, the journey itself is the destination.
i also visited many temples across rajasthan, including khatoo shyam, salasar balaji, and jasol majisa temple. each visit was a deep dive into the rich cultural and religious heritage of the region. these weren’t just trips—they were lessons in humility, faith, and the beauty of traditions that have been passed down through generations. being in these sacred spaces, surrounded by history and devotion, made me appreciate the spiritual side of life in a way i hadn’t before.
my journey didn’t stop in rajasthan. i spent a significant amount of time in gurugram as well, and the contrast between gurugram and jodhpur was striking. gurugram is a modern hub, with its sleek skyscrapers, bustling malls, and a fast-paced lifestyle that’s worlds apart from the slower, more traditional life in jodhpur. it was a reminder of india’s incredible diversity—how different parts of the country can feel like entirely different worlds, each with its own culture, challenges, and lessons to offer.
one of the highlights of my time in india was being invited as a judge in jaipur to talk about vrf on-chain and evaluate hackathon projects. it was an eye-opener to see the web3 community in jaipur growing, with passionate developers and innovators coming together to build the future. it made me realize that no matter where you are, there are always opportunities to connect, learn, and contribute to something bigger than yourself.
living in jodhpur for the last year was a humbling experience. it taught me to appreciate the things i’d taken for granted, to adapt to difficult situations, and to find beauty in the simplest of moments. it reminded me that life isn’t always about having more—it’s about making the most of what you have, no matter how little that might be.