Darjeeling Delights

"Buddhists believe that every suffering is a result of being incompetent (more or less) and that suffering can be overcome by being better. Perhaps I'm struggling with the concepts in Christianity because I'm adapting them wrongly to the beliefs of other religions, a worldly adaptation of understanding."

"Mount Everest: 29, 028 feet; 8,848 meters."

"When they get in cars (jeeps here), they just get in. They don't seem to worry about who sits where or if they're comfy, they just get in and sit. I'm not sure if that's because they know their roles in the car or whatever or if they are just carefree. This is also reflected in their driving. They don't stop to worry about whether they are going to fit through the minimal space, they just drive forward. They keep moving on and work with the situation rather than fretting about it or working around the situation. Again, this could just be because they have done it a lot and know what to do, but I think it's a reflection of their 'go with it' culture. They just live."

"I've noticed this from the beginning but I think after this much time it's safe to write it down as a sure-observation: facial cues. They seem to have significantly lower facial affect (expressions) than what we see in America. They keep a straight, maintained expression in the majority of situations. In the streets especially, this is clear. Obviously there are smiles and changes in face here and there in various interactions but for the most part they keep a constant 'look.' They seem less concerned with catering to others with their expressions. What can I learn from this? Is it good to not be so caught up in what others are seeing in you? Or is it better to remember that everything is communication and we should be concerned with it?"

"Drove past the restaurant we went to yesterday and saw the guy who was our waiter standing outside on his phone... He was there 12 hours later when we drove back. I can't help but think about the monotony and lack of excitement/change/upward mobility in their lives... Do they feel 'fulfilled'? Do they know any better than to?"

"[after talking to the owner of a tea estate in Maki Bari] While, yes, this guy is extremely over the top from the eyes of a Christian, I truly admire him and his story. I love that, while they are perhaps misplaced because they are not in God, his beliefs brought him back to a humble, intentional life while he said that all of his friends went on to be millionaires but some committed suicide or were very unhappy and into drugs; he's now the only one still alive. It's cool that he had an epiphany than transformed him- no matter how 'crazy' it sounds. I think it's extremely valid and powerful... His perception of whatever he experienced transformed his heart. And I think that is God, no matter what he calls it. ...But then, is it truly a 'transformed' life? Can one actually be changed if they don't recognize that it's God (chicken or egg)?"