Food. Places. Quiet observations
essays, notes and guides shaped by travel, kitchens, and in-between moments.
Flavours and Tones
A visual extension of this archive — short films on food, travel, and noticing.
Explore the world through our words and captures
Know the curator
I am Meenakshi.J, an independent journalist and writer based in India.
PolkaJunction is a curated archive of long-form writing on travel, food and culture — shaped by reporting, close observation and time spent on the ground.
The stories explore places and people through kitchens and craft traditions, architecture and everyday rituals. They take the form of essays, reported guides and field notes, and are written with care, context and intent.
My reported work spans travel, culture, science and sustainability, and has appeared in publications including The New York Times, National Geographic, BBC Travel, The Guardian, Smithsonian Magazine, Nikkei Asia, Travel and Leisure, Atlas Obscura, BBC Future, National Geographic Traveller (UK & India), and others
Published work and collaborations
From the archive
New stories are added slowly, as and when they are ready