Silence

It's a strange feeling to start talking again after ten days of silence! The meditation course is the best thing that I have done for myself in awhile, and I am excited to share some of the things I learned with all of you when I return! Rene and Michael...do you think that you can remain silent for 15 minutes? I promise to provide plenty of opportunities for practice when we return to school! I am looking forward to seeing you all in a few weeks...where did the time go? Until then, make sure that you are doing your summer reading, and contact me if you need to borrow a copy of one of the books. I will be back in NYC on the 3rd and will probably stop by school to say hi and maybe help move a few boxes? Hugs to all.

Bhutan, Nepal and India

Bhutan was a beautiful and welcome break from the craziness of Calcutta. It also marked a change in the format of the tour because our itinerary was so closely controlled. Bhutan has strict guidelines surrounding tourism, and we were assigned a local guide for the duration of our stay, ate all of our meals in the hotel restaurants and stuck to a prearranged schedule. The highlight of the trip for me was our trek up the the Tigers Nest monastery, and the beautiful scenery along the way. At the close of the trip we flew to Nepal on a flight with the Queen of Bhutan. It's not everyday that your pilot announces, "good morning your royal highness and ladies and gentlemen". In addition to flying with royalty we were also treated to some amazing views of Mt. Everest as we made our way to Kathmandu! Upon arrival in Nepal we scheduled another flight to view the mountains closer up, but it was cancelled mid-air because clouds made viewing the peaks impossible. We spent the next three days soaking up the sights, sounds and flavors of Kathmandu. This is one of my favorite cities thus far, and I could have spent many more days exploring the hundreds of sites and side streets. From Kathmandu we descended into Lumbini and began our world wind tour of Buddhist sites. Lumbini is home to the birthplace of Buddha, and we spent the evening exploring the ruins and multiple monasteries in the area. From there we travelled on to Kushinagar, Varanassi and Bodghaya, the locations of Buddha's death, enlightenment and where he preached his first sermon. We were also treated to a delicious lunch at the home of our tour guide, and got to cook and relax with his family. All of this has left me exhausted but so excited to share all that I have learned when I return. Unfortunately the internet cafe does not allow me to post photos, but I will do so as soon as possible. I am now off to five days of silence and meditation in the mountains of Darmasala. Wish me luck!

Bodhgaya

Time truly does fly when you are having fun! I'm sorry that I have been out of touch for so long. India has proven to be a very busy section of the trip, and internet access is not available as frequently. I will post updates for Bhutan, Nepal and India when I arrive in Delhi on the 28th. Tonight is my last evening with the group before I depart tomorrow afternoon for my meditation course. I could not have asked for a nicer group of people to travel with, and I will certainly miss their company in the coming days. However, I am also looking forward to some time on my own to explore this overwhelming country and to reflect on everything that I have experienced over the past month. Namaste.

A Little Something Extra...

Thai Buddhists believe that the day of the week you were born on relates to a specific color and Buddha image. I have included a list below because it is a bit interesting. FYI...I am a Tuesday! Enjoy.

Sunday (วันอาทิตย์ — wan athi) is the Day of Restraint with red being the color of those born on this day of the week.
The image shows Buddha standing with the right hand covering the left and represents the period when he had reached enlightenment spent days of sufferings. He sat under the Bho tree when he accomplished his enlightenment.
A person born on a Sunday is respectable, wise, loved by friends and family. He is likely to be in a professional occupation. His lucky day is Wednesday and lucky color is green while the unlucky day is Friday and unlucky color is blue.

Monday (วันจันทร์ — wan chan) is called the Day of Making Peace. The day’s color is cream or yellow.
This image represents the Buddha standing with his right arm raised in a pacifying gesture. The Buddha stops the relatives from fighting or pacifying his relatives. When the Buddha came back from Heaven, he found that his relatives were quarreling about the right to use water from a river for their rice fields. The Buddha encouraged them to compromise and said that human life is much more valuable than water and it was not worth killing men for water. Then, his relatives stopped fighting.
A person born on a Monday is serious with a good memory and a love of travel. This person is likely to be in a skilled occupation whose lucky day is Saturday and lucky color is black. His unlucky day is Sunday and unlucky color is orange.

Tuesday (วันอังคาร — wan angkhan), with the daily color of pink, is the Sleeping Day.
This image of the Buddha lying on his right side signifies his passage into Nirvana and the death of his physical body. The gesture represents complete peace and detachment from the world. It was believed that the Buddha entered Nirvana on this day of the week.
This person is serious, brave and active most probably in the services. His lucky day is Thursday and lucky color is yellow. The unlucky day is Monday and the unlucky color is white.

Wednesday (วันพุธ — wan phut) is divided into day and night according to Thai astrology. The color for those born on Wednesdays is green.
The Morning is for Receiving.
This image shows Buddha holding an alms bowl. The Buddha visited his family after four years in the monastery. His father was not content when he saw the Buddha “begged” for food holding an alms bowl. Buddha explained to his father that performing pindabat, or holding an alms bow are the lineage of Buddha. Thus, the disciples can devote their food. The virtue of giving amongst Buddhists is strong until today.
The person born on Wednesday morning is polite, artistic and emotional. He is most likely working creatively. Wednesday night is their lucky time and the lucky color is green. His unlucky day is Tuesday and the unlucky color is pink.
The Evening is for the Blessed One.
This image shows Buddha seated to receive gifts from a monkey and an elephant. As Buddhism teaches respect for everything living this posture shows the respect of all living things for the Buddha.
This person is hard working and honest. He is likely to be employed in a profession with the lucky day of Monday and the color white. The unlucky day is Thursday and the unlucky color is yellow.

Thursday (วันพฤหัสบดี — wan pharuehat) uses the colors of orange or brown. It is the Day of Meditation.
This image depicts the classic meditation position with both the soles of the feet and palms of the hand visible. This is the perfect mental discipline. The gesture is the ultimate balance of tranquility and thoughts. It is believed that the body in the position is receptive to power or energy to enter the body from the top of the head and the opening palms.
This person is peaceful, calm and honest –likely to be a teacher or in the legal profession. His lucky day is Sunday and the lucky color is orange. The unlucky day is Saturday and the unlucky color is black.

Friday (วันศุกร์ — wan suk) is the Day of Contemplation. The day’s color is blue.
The Friday Buddha image shows the Buddha thinking about how he can teach the doctrine to others. The hands rest across his chest with the right hand covering the left. This implies meditation and a spiritual transformation based on personal experience.
This person is fun loving, friendly and ambitious, probably an entertainer or public figure. Their lucky day is Tuesday and the lucky color is pink. The unlucky time is Wednesday night and the unlucky color is light green.

Saturday (วันเสาร์ — wan sao) is the Day of Protection and uses the colors of black or purple.
The image shows the Buddha in meditation and protected from tempest by the King of the Naga, Mucalinda, a coiled snake. The Naga appears since ancient Egypt as a force of good and is even used today as a symbol of medicine amongst other things. The image is related to the moment when a Naga spread its hood to protect the Buddha from a rainstorm while he was in profound meditation.
This person is calm, logical and a bit of a recluse. He is very likely engaged in manual work of a skilled nature. The lucky day is Friday and the lucky color is blue. The unlucky day is Wednesday during the daytime with the unlucky color of green.

Kalimpong and the Himalayas

Greetings from the Himalayan Hotel in Kalimpong, Indian. We boarded an overnight train from Calcutta to Jalpaiguri late last night, and upon arrival this morning we drove 3 hours to Kalimpong. The Indian railway experience was unlike anything I have ever done before. The sheer number of people on the train was overwhelming, and the toilet facilities were a humorous challenge. I was able to get a few hours of sleep amidst the noise and commotion, but I am looking forward to a more restful and quiet sleep this evening. Kalimpong is a small town located in the Himalayan mountains and is approximately 4000 feet above sea level. The area used to function as a major trade route between Llhasa, Tibet and India but that ended when Tibet lost their independence. Today the area is a mix of Nepalese, Tibetan and native people and still has many of the English style homes built by the British East India Company. The guest house that we are staying at was formerly a vacation home owned by the MacDonald family who were good friends with the 13th Dali Llama. In fact the room that I will be sleeping in this evening has also housed the 13th and 14th Dalai Llama’s as well as Richard Gere! I was lucky enough to draw #5 when we were choosing rooms, and am enjoying sitting at the same desk as so many distinguished individuals (and also sleeping in the same bed!).

Calcutta (Kolkata)

Calcutta is a city that forces you to readjust your scale of what constitutes poverty. I have witnessed poverty in both South Africa and New York City, but Calcutta possesses some of the most extreme examples that I have ever seen. You can’t walk anywhere without being approached by children and adults alike begging for food or money. There are over 13 million people living in the city, and many of them live right on the streets. I now understand how Mother Theresa could have spent her whole life working to care for the destitute and dying in this city. During our short stay we visited the morning flower market, joined a group of bathers at the gahts along the Ganges and washed our feet, crossed the Howrah Bridge, walked through St.Paul’s Cathedral, enjoyed a walk through the Victoria Museum gardens, and wandered around the night markets. However, one of the highlights of the trip was when I got to go back into the hotel kitchen and help prepare our lunch. It was a great way to learn about Indian spices and also preparation methods for their delicious curries! I can’t wait to experiment a bit when I return home.

Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and Vientiane

It was with a mix of both sadness and excitement that we left behind both Laos and Thailand in the past 24 hours and embarked on a flight to India. I thoroughly enjoyed the kindness of both the Thai and Laos people, the beauty of the natural surroundings and the many new flavors, sights and sounds. I should start by saying that the elephant riding was amazing! My elephant was a bit “cheeky” and would swat at me with branches, but I think we achieved a truce at the end and parted on good terms. The visit to Vang Vieng was a bit surreal because of all the western influences. We spent the greater portion of an afternoon floating down the Mekong River in tire tubes while listening to Bob Marley and visiting the bars that dotted the shores. After much peer pressure I was coerced into swinging from trapeze over the river and plummeting into the water below. It was all a bit kitschy and reminiscent of spring break excursions in college, but was also a welcome change of pace and a respite from the more serious and historical travel sites. In the evening most of the tipsy and damp travelers head off to restaurants throughout the town where you can lounge on elevated platforms and watch “Friends” and an assortment of other DVD’s on offer. So surreal! Our next stop was in Vientiane, the capital of Laos and home of the Laotian Arch de Triumph. I ventured out in the rain to visit the National Museum and was intrigued by the varied history of the region. I am anxious to read up on all of it when I return home, and pick Marie’s brain about some of the things I’ve seen and heard. We are about to land in Kolkata (Calcutta), the temperature is a warm 92 degrees with about 90 percent humidity! Wish me luck.

The Mekong and Luang Prabang

After two days of sailing down the beautiful Mekong River we have arrived in the Laos city of Luang Prabang. I celebrated the 4th of July last evening with an amazing french inspired dinner at a local restaurant. The river boat journey was one of the most relaxing and enjoyable experiences of this trip so far. The wife of the boat captain served us delicious food, and we all lounged on the deck and had several opportunities to depart the boat and explore some of the villages along the river. I even visited a loval school and got to interact with the children, and yesterday we travelled to the Pak Ou caves where I got some great pictures of the thousands of Buddha statues. We will be staying in Luang Prabang for the next two days, and I will have the opportunity to go elephant trekking out in the local forests today and visit some of the surrounding waterfalls. Thank you all for the fantastice messages, and good wishes! I have been keeping a long list of all the stories I want to tell you when I return! Chris and Adriana...I wish that I could have brought you here with me...I look forward to the day when I will be reading your blogs about your all of your travels and adventures. Leticia, I have been sketching up a storm and have been thoroughly enjoying the journal and pencils! Thank you again. Being able to relax combined with the new sights and experiences has renewed my creativity and desire to draw. Hugs to all!

Wat Po and the Grand Palace

Where to begin? I want to start out with a big congratulations to Marie on her engagement! Now we really need to meet Joel, and hopefully before the wedding. In additon, thanks to Joe for the St. Christopher medal sent via e-mail! I am still pinching myself and can't believe that I am really here...no papers to grade, regents exams to proctor, or classes to teach. There was a moment today in the Grand Palace when I though of the Poder boys and how much they would love the Buddha statues! However, then I thought about how Dwayne would be cutting Rene's cheeks about how he looks like the Buddha, and my nostalgia quickly passed. We started off the day with a tour of the city's canals on a river boat, and spent an hour viewing many of the sites from the water. Upon leaving the boat we travelled to Wat Po, a well known and beautiful temple here in Bangkok, and saw the reclining Buddha! It's quite an amazing site, and difficult to fully capture in pictures. From there we walked to the Grand Palace and spent a few hours touring the buildings and museum. Again, the statues and gold gilding were breathtaking and the rain held out until we were inside the museum. The weather continues to be quite hot and sticky, but I've been told that as we travel north the humidity will decrease and become more bearable. After the palace we were all starving and grabbed lunch at a local outdoor market. I ordered a plate of the best pad thai that I've ever had, and a bag of assorted local fruits...all for less than a dollar! After lunch we braved a tuktuk ride to the flower market and wandered around rows and rows or orchids and jasmine. The smell was fantastic, and the temple offerings created by the stall keepers are truly works of art. This evening we are catching a flight to Chang Mai and then making our way to the Mekong River where we will catch a slow boat for a two day journey. A decision was reached this morning regarding Tibet vs Bhutan, and we will be continuing onto Bhutan. The tour company has arranged for us to visit the original Everest base camp in Bhutan, and this was a big factor in why we all collectively chose it over Tibet. I'm thrilled, and looking forward to that leg of the journey.

Bangkok, Thailand

I arrived in Thailand at 11:35 on Sunday evening. After officially travelling for 23 hours I was exhausted but very excited. The first leg of my flight was from New York (JFK) to Tokyo (Narita) and took about 15 hours. I had a two hour layover and was able to change some money and do some reading. The second leg of the trip was Tokyo to Bangkok and was about 6 hours. The flight was practically empty, so I had an entire row of three seats to myself. It was wonderful to stretch out and really sleep...which I did for the majority of the flight. Upon arriving at the airport I cleared customs without any problems and met two girls from California. One of them was born here in Thailand, and is fluent in the language. It made finding a taxi and navigating my way to the hotel a breeze! I spent the day lounging by the pool, and recovering from the jet lag, and met the rest of my group a few minutes ago. The exciting news is that Tibet has been reopened to tourists, and we might be able to go. However, this is contigent upon our visa's being approved, and I won't know that for a few days still. Otherwise, we will be spending the day touring the city tomorrow, and then catching a flight tomorrow evening to Chiang Rai.

Victor's Visit

It has been over two years since I last saw Victor. He wore many hats during our Peace Corps service, and was both our training director and our safety and security officer. It was surreal but wonderful to see him here in NYC, and to get together with everyone for dinner. Just seeing him brought back so many memories, and many funny stories were recounted about training. He seemed to be having a wonderful time with his New York "host family" Derek and Sara, and even successfully navigated the city's subway system! I look forward to hopefully seeing him again in 2010 on his side of the world. A big thanks to Sara for organizing the whole get together!

8th Grade Stepping-up Ceremony

It was a bitter sweet day to see my advisory leave the 8th grade and set off for high school. A week before the graduation I had a long conversation with one of my advisees, Tajae, about how scary change can be. Whether you are changing the school you attend, the job that you work at, or just your scenery, it all takes you out of your comfort zone. I still vividly remember my first night in South Africa when I started to question why I was there. I was conflicted because of my desire to try something new, and at the same time my fear of the unknown. Even as I get ready to set off on this trip I still get the butterfly's in my stomach, and that has become my favorite part of traveling. It is in that feeling that I remember how easily I slip into a routine, and how good it is to constantly challenge myself and try something new. Congratulations Honestas! I will miss those of your who are leaving Bronx Latin, but I am so excited to hear about all your new adventures. I hope that you too will come to appreciate and look forward to the butterfly's! Check out the rest of the pictures here.

Change of Plans

After a horrible morning at the Chinese Embassy on Thursday, I finally started to accept that I might not actually make it into Tibet. Sure enough, this evening I received confirmation from my travel company that the tour has been altered due to complications with the Chinese Government. It's unfortunate that something couldn't be worked out, but the adjusted tour looks great as well. I had wanted to visit Bhutan, and now I can! My biggest disappointment is the missed Mt. Everest stop.

10 Afternoon we cross border into Thailand and fly to Bangkok
11 Afternoon flight to Kolkata, India
12 Day tour of Kolkata/ Overnight train
13 Darjeeling, India
14 Gangtok, India
15 Kalimpong, India
16 Phuentsoling, Bhutan
17 Thimphu, Bhutan
18 Punakha/Wangde, Bhutan
19 Punakha/Wangde, Bhutan
20 Paro, Bhutan

Where in the World is Ms.Cebulski?

With less than 30 days until my departure, I have officially started to get excited. However, I should note that I don't yet have a single visa. My plan it to get on top of this during the coming week, but that plan has failed the previous three weeks. So cross your fingers for me! I also finally taught myself how to use the digital camera I received for Christmas, and purchased an additional memory card. Now all that is left is to make it through the next 3 weeks of essay writing, exit projects, and regents exams. Maybe you should cross the fingers on your other hand as well!

Enlightenment

Enlightenment is like the moon reflected on the water. The moon does not get wet, nor is the water broken. Although its light is wide and great, the moon is reflected even in a puddle an inch wide. The whole moon and the entire sky are reflected in dewdrops on the grass, or even in one drop of water.

Enlightenment does not divide you, just as the moon does not break the water. You cannot hinder enlightenment, just as a drop of water does not hinder the moon in the sky.
The depth of the drop is the height of the moon. Each reflection, however long of short its duration, manifests the vastness of the dewdrop, and realizes the limitlessness of the moonlight in the sky.

-Genjo-koan

Tushita Meditation Centre

In addition to the tour, I've also been able to add on a ten day meditation course in McLeod Ganj, India. The timing was just too good to pass up because the course starts the day after my tour ends. I'll have to travel to Delhi (bus or plane?) and then take a 10 hour bus ride north. McLeod Ganj is the home of the Dalai Lama, and the Tushita Meditation Centre hosts a variety of courses on Buddhism. The course requires absolute silence for the majority of the day, and I'm hoping it will give me an opportunity to reflect on my prior travels. 54 days till I leave...can't wait!
http://www.tushita.info/index.html

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Bangkok
Arrive in Bangkok at any time.
Day 2 Chiang Rai
Explore some of Bangkok’s wonders by tuk tuk, long tail boat or bicycle. A guided visit through Wat Po is a great introduction to Thai Buddhist culture before our flight to the northern city of Chiang Rai.
Day 3 Golden Triangle & Chiang Kong
A tour of the Golden triangle is not to be missed before we drive to Chiang Kong and relax at our guesthouse, which overlooks the Mekong River.
Day 4 Mekong River
Begin the journey down the world's 10th longest river by slow boat. The Mighty Mekong is always a hive of activity - from fishing to trade and transport between the many villages that line its banks.
Day 5-7 Luang Prabang
Once home to Laotian Kings, this is a beautiful town of historic temples, a multi-ethnic population, rich culture, vibrant markets, stylish coffee houses and textile treasures.
Day 8 Vang Vieng
Situated amongst limestone karsts, vast rice fields, and the Nam Song River, Vang Vieng is the perfect town for exploring the Laos countryside or simply relaxing by the water with a good book.
Day 9 Vientiane
Quiet and relaxed, Vientiane has a wealth of charms to offer - from its eclectic blend of French and Laotian architecture to the uncluttered streets, riverside cafes and quiet temples.
Day 10 Kunming
The capital of Yunnan is a fascinating city, with its bustling flower markets and the colourful shopping precincts.
Day 11-14 Lhasa
Dominated by the awe-inspiring Potala Palace, the colourful and holy city of Lhasa lies almost 3700 meters above sea level. Explore the fascinating blend of ancient temples. It is a humbling sight to watch pilgrims circling the temple on their knees endlessly day and night.
Day 15 Gyantse
The beautiful agricultural valley of Gyantse is a lovely place with a friendly and relaxed small-town feel.
Day 16 Shigatse
Tibet's second most important city and the seat of the Panchen Lama is one of its most spectacular and extensive monastic complexes.
Day 17 Sakya
Once the political centre of Tibet, the walls of Sakya's great fortified monastery are painted a dark grey, typical to buildings in the area.
Day 18 Rhombuk/Everest Base Camp
Rhombuk is certainly the highest monastery in the world and the surrounding views are stunning. The energetic can make the 7km hike to Everest Base Camp for a closer view of this magestic mountain, or take a pony cart!
Day 19 Zhangmu
Leave the Tibetan Plateau behind and plunge into a lush green world as we descend almost 2000 meters to the border town of Zhangmu.
Day 20-21 Kathmandu
The historic cities of the Kathmandu valley reveal a vibrant world of colour and life. Wander through the crowded markets and bazaars, cycle around the city ring road, walk through the heart of the old city to Durbar Square, or relax with a cold drink at a rooftop restaurant.
Day 22 Lumbini
Travel through the Nepalese landscape to the great Buddhist pilgrimage centre and birthplace of the Buddha, Lumbini.
Day 23 Nepal/India Border, Kushinagar
Crossing the Nepalese border and into India, we travel to Buddha's final resting place, Kushinagar.
Day 24-25 Varanasi
Walk the narrow twisting alleys, look around some of literally hundreds of temples and shrines, and experience the energy of the dawn rituals of bathing and burnings as you float past the numerous ghats of the River Ganges.
Day 26-27 Bodh Gaya
We visit Buddha's place of Enlightenment and explore the Mahabodhi temple. Travel out to the ruins of one of the world's oldest teaching institues, the Buddhist University of Nalanda. The fifth century architectural marvel was home to over 10,000 students and nearly 2,000 teachers.
Day 28 Depart Kolkata