Last Night in India!

It is Alec's birthday today on our last night in India! Happy Birthday Alec!

We are currently in Delhi and fly out tomorrow around midnight. It is always bittersweet saying goodbye, but it has been a whole month and am ready to come back. I can definitely say that this has trip has been a learning experience in many ways. But I think that I learned more about myself than anything.

When I was staying at Sera Mey Monastery, being around the monks made me question...what is my purpose in life? I knew that I wanted to do good in the world, but what is it that I am supposed to do? I guess we will see...

I think another important thing I learned was that I need to be much more grateful for everything that I have and all of the opportunities that I have. I found myself complaining thati have to go back and start training right away for a match next weekend, but why am I to complain? I am getting paid to play tennis! I should be enjoying every moment of it. So many people would appreciative if they had that opportunity and here I bitching about it.

Coming into this season, I am going to seize every moment of my last year of my tennis career. Can't wait to travel with a group of wonderful girls!

Also, I came on to this trip exploring more about Buddhism on a personal level as a religion and I have to say that I am still exploring. I still definitely follow the philosophies of Buddhism and have learned a lot more coming to the Kalachakra, the pilgrimage sites, and Sera Mey Monastery, but I am still exploring if I want to practice it on a religious level.

I can't wait to come back and see everyone!! Hello California, Goodbye India!

We return back to Delhi on January 23rd and get to visit the Taj Mahal. Then we fly back on January 26th 12:30 am (India time) to Hong Kong and then back to LAX. From LAX I finally get into SFO around 5pm on January 26th (US time). I am sad the trip is coming to an end. It has been quite amazing. 

Sera Mey Monastery

We arrived yesterday in Sera Mey Monastery in Mysore, South India. The weather is much much warmer here and it is much cleaner here. Up in Sera Mey, it is very very peaceful and just incredible. We were greeted by many monks (some of which we met in Bodh Gaya) who are taking very good care of us. They have housed us in their rooms and cook for us. I can't even explain in words how lucky and grateful I am to have had this opportunity to come here and have this experience. We are staying here for 2 more days and I wish that I could stay here much longer.

I am learning some Tibetan words here and there and many of the Vietnamese pilgrims really want me to learn the Tibetan language and maybe later help translate in English and Vietnamese. Just an idea that is up in the air, but something that I may one day consider. There are just so many things in life that I would like to do right now. I am definitely already thinking about my next destination ;-)

It's weird to think that in a couple days I have to go back to a very structured life of school and tennis. I am very excited to go back and see all of my family and friends though. I miss you all very much. Happy Vietnamese/Chinese New Year!

I can't emphasize how grateful I am for everything that I have in my life: family, friends, food, shelter, a bed, an education, notebooks, clothes, shoes,electricity, hot water, toilet paper, toilets, showers, soap, and a garbage system! I had never been soo excited to see a garbage truck when I saw one in Nepal. I hated taking the trash out when I was at home. I will now do it with extreme pleasure.


In America, I have the opportunity to do whatever I want to do. It almost makes me wonder... I am going to school to make films..a form of entertainment - It seems a bit selfish when people here are begging for food everyday just to stay alive.

People in America really don't know how good they have it. Many people complain A LOT and coming here has made me realize that I should not be complaining about ANYTHING. I have everything and should be content and appreciative of all the things in my life.

So if I ever complain about the food provided in front of me, someone slap me.

I've only had a tiny taste of India and can't wait to go back home to CLEAN!

After 36 hours of straight traveling, we finally arrived in Delhi last night. We had some FAT rats who came to visit and wanted to come and play with us during the middle of the night...was not a pleasant surprise to say the least. Tonight we are flying to Bangalore and staying there for a night. We then will take a bus to the Sera Mey monastery, a refugee Tibetan monastery, where Geshe La Norbu ( the Tibetan monk who has been leading us) studied and where thousands of other Tibetan monks are studying. 

Currently waiting in Gorakhpur for the train back to New Delhi. Then we head straight to Sera Mey Monastery in Mysore. Nepal has been amazing and I wish to return someday. Nine days left on this incredible journey and then back to the real world.

Just arrived in Kathmandu, Nepal last night from Varanasi. We also visited Lumbini which is the birth place of Buddha. we're going to stay here a couple days and then make our way back to Delhi and then on to Sera Mey monastery in Mysore.