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“Taj Mahal.” Wikipedia. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahal>.

“Buddhism.” Wikipedia. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism>.

“Hinduism at a Glance.” BBC. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/ataglance/glance.shtml>.

“A basic Buddhism Guide: 5 minute Introduction.”Buddhanet. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/5minbud.htm>.

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“Badshahi Mosque.” Wikipedia. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badshahi_Mosque>.

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May 11, 2010-

Morning-

I am in the taxi right now heading to the airport! I can’t wait until I get here. Guess what I am going to bring on the plane? Cards! I am going to practice my shuffling(I don’t really want to play with some other person just because I feel so awkward when I do it). I also brought lots and lots of bubble gum. Cause my ears pop really easily and on a stuffy plane it is just plain torture. The taxi has reached the airport! Yay! Got to catch a flight! 

May 11, 2010-

Mid Morning(on the plane)-

I am on the plane right now and I got the window seat. And a very good view. I have turned into a ultimate card shuffler from all this practice. And right now I am thinking about my adventure. I have had such a fab time in these 3 places in India that it is hard to leave. I know that I am 35, but I am still searching for the meaning of life. (Wow. That was cheesy), But anyway bye.

May 10, 2010-

Morning-
Today I decided that instead of going to a place and to talk to someone,  I would do a little computer research. So after I finish my breakfast, I am going to research. So I guess I better get started! See ya later!

May 10, 2010-

Mid Morning(After breakfast)-
So I did a little research on this website, http://www.religionfacts.com/jainism/beliefs.htm(in case you were wondering), and this is the part I am not going to put into my own words because they say it just perfectly:

“In Hinduism and Buddhism, karma is the natural moral law of the universe in which every good and bad action has a corresponding effect on the doer. This karma accounts for why some are richer, prettier or luckier than others and why otherwise similar people are at different spiritual levels. It is also the determining factor of the form into which one is reborn. “Good karma” results in a higher spiritual state and more favorable physical state, while “bad karma” has negative physical and spiritual results.

Jainism teaches that there are two different kinds of karma, ghati (“destructive”) and aghati (“non-destructive”). The former affects the soul and the latter affects the body. Within each category are several kinds of karma, each of which has particular results and a way of being shed. One can only attain liberation when he or she has shed all karma.”

Did you get all that? Anyway, this is what I did put into my own words:

Jains believe that everything in the universe has always been and always will be.  They believe that the universe consists of 3 realms; the hells, the heavens, and the earthly realm.

In Jainism the soul has infinite power and knowledge and is eternal.

In Jainism, the purpose of like is to obtain moksa, or release, from the cycle of rebirth.

Isn’t that factual? I know it is. Anyway, I think I am going to go for a dip in the pool, so bye!

May 10, 2010-

Late Afternoon-

I decided to lay on this lounge chair, and guess what? I fell asleep, thats what! When I woke up 4 hours late I was starving so I got this sandwich(I am about sick of Indian food) and then gathered all my stuff and went back up to my room. Anyway, now that thats over, I am going to start to pack up all my stuff because tomorrow I am going back to San Francisco! I am going to take the 7:00 plane. Ahh. It will be so nice to be back at home, and I can’t wait to share my experience with my friends and family. Got to pack my stuff! Bye!

May 10, 2010-

Night-

All my stuff is finally packed up and ready to go! I just have tomorrows clothes on top of the dresser for tomorrow. I also left my toothbrush and hairbrush out. Anyway, I think I am going to get some sleep for the big flight (not that I can’t sleep on the flight, but you know how tiring those airplanes can be). I am just going to go to sleep. Bye!

May 9, 2010

Hello! It is quite a dreary morning. It has been raining all night and I am tired of listening to the pitter pattering of the raindrops against my window. I was so happy to come to India because in San Fran it was raining like you’ve never seen it. Anyway, I am sort of disapointed to see water falling from the sky because I see it so much back home. You know I have always wondered why we call it rain and not just water. Like instead of saying, “It’s Raining” you could say, “It’s Watering”. It may take time getting used to it, but technically it would make more sense. Sorry, I am getting completely side tract. I guess I’ll go down and grab myself some breakfast. Hmmmmmmm….. I hear some music. It sounds like drumming and singing but it is very loud. I think I will ask the hotel to see if they know what is going on. I went down stairs to the front desk.

“Good Morning” I said in a tired voice.

“Good Morning” said the clerk at the desk.

“Do you happen to know why there is that music playing and where it is coming from?” I asked politely 

“Of Course, it is an Elephant Parade” said the clerk joyfully

“An elephant parade? Right outside?” I asked confused.

“No. One street down.” the clerk pointed towards the door.

“Oh, wow. Oh what time is breakfast?”

“From 6:30AM to 10:30AM” said the clerk.

“Thank you” I said as I walked out the door.

I had decided while talking to the clerk that I would go and check the elephant parade out. I thought it would be fascinating since I had never seen one before. I thought it would be something neat to photograph. I walked one street down where I found not just a small parade but a huge parade with at least fifty elephants in rows and all over. The elephants were decorated which colorful paint and crown things. There were people standing on the elephants and sitting on them too! It was such a beautiful sight with the drummers and dancers drumming and dancing around the elephants up and down the street. I have go to take this in so I am going to have to stop writing, bye.

May 9, 2010

Late morning

I am back at my hotel. I just grabbed some breakfast and I am heading back up to my room to get changed into my jeans and T-Shirt. Today was my day to explore the city and roam around. 

I decided to take pictures around the city of nature and buildings. So I walked around town and took a few pictures here and there, but I really wanted to go to the country-side and take some beautiful shots out in the wide open. 

May 9, 2010

Afternoon

Finally I’m here. Out in the country side talking pictures of nature. I love seeing green and grassy hills and trees scattered about. I took me about 3 hours to get here. Anyway I am going to take pictures now. bye. Oh wait! here are some of my pictures I took! Here:

May 9, 2010

Night

Hi I’m going to bed. It is 9:00 o’Clock. I am soooooo tired so bye.

May  8, 2010  

I am on my way to Tamil Nadu, India, to learn about Jainism. My Buddhism days are over as you might have guessed. So far I have had a great time in India. I have learned so much about Hinduism and Buddhism and now hopefully I will learn all there is to know Jainism. Today I am going to meet with Deva. He is meeting me at the Chola Sheraton, the hotel I am going to stay at while I am learning about Jainism. Right now I am on a taxi going to the airport. You would think I would be smart enough to go to three places in India that are actually close together, but I wasn’t.  Oh well, I mean, I can’t change it now. Anyway, the taxi is almost at the airport, so I have to go soon. I am going nap the whole time on the plane, so I won’t writing to you. So anyway, bye. 

May 8, 2010  

I am hear in Tamil Nadu. It is amazingly beautiful.  I am meeting with Deva in 5 minuets. Wow I am starving! Maybe we can go to lunch somewhere. Anyway, got to go, bye.  

May 8, 2010  

Wow this was such a fun day!  First I meet Deva in the loby of the hotel. He greeted me with, ”hello, my name is Deva. Nice to meet you.” ”hello,” I said after we talked for a little bit. We decided to go Deva’s Family’s restaurant. We talked while we walked. He told me about the history of Tamil and how he had lived there all his life. The sign outside the resturant I couldn’t read, but Deva whisperd to me that the name of the resturant was  ”Light”. All of Devas family were Janis so I had a traditional Jain lunch. I found that Jains have a very different way of eating then I do. At home, when I get hungry i’ll just grab take out from somewhere or prepare a quick dinner or lunch of a sandwich with turkey and cheese and a bag of Lays potatoes chips. In the restaurant, Deva told me that the Jains believe that everything has a soul.  

here is a list of the rules of eating like a Jain: 

no meat  

no alcoholic drinks  

no eggs  

no roots, potatoes,onion,garlic,carrot etc. 

no cheese,cream,honey, butter etc. 

Deva also told me that they could eat an apple from a tree, but not a potato from the ground. Because fear of killing the potatoes soul, But if you took the apple from a tree, you would not kill the tree.  

After we had lunch we went to a Jain temple. It was an amazing place, with beautiful architecture. There was a ton of people there, but most of them are tourists. When we got inside Deva started taking about how jains do not believe in a god or gods. They believe in a perfect being that is worthy of devotion.  He also told me that Jains thought the only way to protect their sole is to protect others souls, that the soul lives for ever, each soul was always independent, a soul is responsible for its self  and many other things. After that he took me back to my hotel I was exhausted so I took a nap in the beautiful hotel bed.( I love I want one) The hotel beds are sooooo soft. 

May 8, 2010  evening 

I went to the hotel restaurant/bar. I was not that hungry after I had had so much to eat with Deva. I just had a glass of wine and a little appetizer, then went to bed I know I will have long day a head of me tomorrow.

May 7, 2010-
Morning-
I am heading to the temple right now. I am in a taxi. I have already eaten my breakfast (eggs, rice, and pork if you were wondering). I am so exited to go to the temple right now! It is going to be so fun! My taxi has stopped in front of the temple. See ya later! 


May 7, 2010-

Afternoon-
I just got back from my temple visit and I now realize it was a huge failure. I learned absolutely nothing about the Four Noble Truths because all he spoke was Indian. So the whole time I couldn’t understand him, and he couldn’t understand me. I did notice that inside the temple had gold(I took pictures) dressers I guess you could say with a bunch of Buddhas and everything. So anyway, thats ok. He sang some Buddhists hymns in Indian. Anyway, I am going to go shopping for the rest of the afternoon, so see you before bed! Bye!


May  7, 2010-
Night-
I am getting ready to go to bed. My stuff is almost packed so I can leave tomorrow. I got to go get into my PJ’s. Bye.

May 6, 2010-

Morning-

So I am going to this lady named Adita who is going to tell me everything about Buddhism. And I mean everything. I am going to sit there taking notes for a couple hours, and when I leave, I will be an expert. Room service is knocking with my food on a plate, got to go.

May 6, 2010-

Afternoon-

I am in another small, family-run restaurant eating rice mixed with beef and other things. I just came back from Adita’s house, and boy, did she have a lot to say. I am officially a Buddhist expert (not really). These are the notes I took (I had to rewrite them in here because I had to write really fast when she told me:

• It originated in 2,500 when Budda awakened at age 35.
• Buddhists goal is to lead a moral life, to be aware of thoughts and actions, and to develop wisdom and understanding.
• Buddha (Siddhartha Gotama) was born into a royal family in Nepal in 563 BC.
• At age 29 he realized that having wealth and luxury did not bring all happiness.
• He decided to look at different religions to find the key to happiness. After 6 years of searching and meditating, he found the ‘middle path’, which was Buddhism. He taught Buddhism to people until his death at age 80.
• Buddha did not claim to be a god. He taught the path to happiness out of his own experience.
• Buddhists do sometimes pay resect to statues of Buddha, not in worship, but in respect and thankfulness.
• One of Buddhas teachings is that wealth does not guarantee happiness and wealth does not last forever, but those who understand Buddhas teachings can find true happiness.
• There are many different types of Buddhism, but they all teach the same things.
• The basic concepts of Buddhism can be summed up in the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path:

The first truth is that life is suffering, life has pain, you can get old, catch disease, and death. 

The second truth is that suffering is caused by want. Getting what you want does not grant happiness. Instead of constantly trying to get what you want, try to change your wanting. Wanting keeps us away from contentment and happiness. 

The third truth is that suffering can be overcome and happiness can be obtained; that true happiness and contentment are not impossible. lf we give up craving and learn to live each day at a time, then we can become happy and free. We then have more time and energy to help others. 

The fourth truth is that the Noble 8-fold Path is the path which leads to the end of suffering.

• Buddhism teaches that if you have compassion you can obtain wisdom.

May 5, 2010-

Morning-

This is going to be so fun today! I’m leaving my Hindu days behind and going to learn about Buddhism at the Cidade de Goa Beach Resort‎ in Goa, India, in fact, right  after I eat this muffin (blueberry, in case you were wondering). I am going to take this plane there (couch, uhhhgg!). I despise stuffy airplanes and the passengers in them. Oh well, guess I am just going to have to deal. I better go catch a taxi! See you on the plane!

May 5, 2010-

Mid-Morning-

I’m on the plane right now, and guess what? I got the aisle seat this time! Anyway, I am just sitting next to 2 women, who I guess are a little shy because we are not having a conversation. I am so bored and a little tired, I think I am going to take a nap, see you in the taxi!

May 5, 2010- 

Afternoon-

I am writing to you while in the taxi, as promised, and I can’t wait till I reach the hotel. I am going to rest and relax when I get there, so I can save my energy for tomorrow. I hope to learn a lot about Buddhism, because I only know one thing besides it being a religion. The fact is that about 300 million people practice Buddhism today. So I guess you could say I don’t know much, but, you could also say that means there is just more to learn.

May 5, 2010-

Late Afternoon-

I am in my hotel room and I have the best view. The ocean is beautiful! Anyway, I made sure that once I got to my hotel I had lots of rest, so I feel so good right now and, I am so ready for tomorrow! I am not yet sure what I am going to do, but I bet it will be fun! Anyway, I had the best lunch ever! It was this Indian chicken. It was so good! I am going to take another nap right now. See you after dinner!

May 5, 2010- 

Night-

I have just gotten out of the shower. (It was boiling inside the restaurant so I felt gross afterward.) I had this chicken, rice and vegetable dish at the restaurant. It was so good! And I ate every last grain of rice. I just had water though, nothing fancy. But it was still one of the best dinners I had so far. I am not sure if it had something to do with me being hungry and all, but I guess I’ll never know. Anyway, it’s getting late, and I want to go to bed so I can be awake by 7:00, so I guess I’ll see you in the morning!