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Holy men sitting by the Ganges river in Varanasi

How to find something to believe in: the search for a guru in India

Added on March 7, 2013 by Jessica Yurasek.

Searching for a guru is trendy in India, especially if you're a Westerner. I've begun to theorize that this eternal quest is driven by what is lacking back home in the West––a culture with belief in something more meaningful than the self.

India is the perfect place to visit, then, because spirituality is so omnipresent in a non-preachy sort of way. I should have known of its importance months prior to arrival, simply from the visa application. Halfway down the form I was required to check a box indicating my religious affiliation. For the record, agnostic and atheist weren't even listed as options.

A hand-painted semi truck hauling goods in southern India

Hand-painted semi trucks of India

Added on March 1, 2013 by Jessica Yurasek.

India is a land of beauty and adornment with colors, textures, and patterns abound. It's also a place of curiosities. Mash these two things together, the surprising with the decorative, and you'll find some pretty unique things.

One of my favorite examples of this is the beautifully incongruous hand-painted semi truck.

A working elephant at the sanctuary carries palm branches near Trivandrum, Kerala — A working elephant at the sanctuary carries palm branches near Trivandrum, Kerala

A theater of humanity, images of village life in Kerala, India

Added on February 21, 2013 by Jessica Yurasek.

"In the West, you save up all your money in order to spend it on an experience. You are searching for something," our Indian travel agent winks at me. Her sparkly nose ring catches the light and her bangles jingle as she hands us our train tickets. "Us Indians, we think you're a little bit crazy; we would never travel like you. We'd rather spend our money on gold jewelry, land, or a new house." This explains her inability to tell us more about popular sights at our next destination in India.

In the West, we do believe in the almighty experience. And for me, like many, the ultimate coveted experience has always been to travel.

Peeking inside the communal living space of a hutong — Peeking inside the communal living space of a *hutong*

It all comes down to perspective + Exploring a traditional hutong in Beijing, China

Added on January 21, 2013 by Jessica Yurasek.

Beijing is famous for its hutongs.

No, this is not a type of food, nor is it a Chinese rapper.

Hutongs are charming courtyard residencies clustered together and scattered about the city––they're a glimpse into old-world China. In Mongolian, the word means 'town,' a remnant from their 13th century invasion. Back then, single families lived in communal spaces such as this. As times grew tough, haphazard additions filled the once open-aired inner courtyards to accommodate family growth. Sadly, most traditional hutong areas were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution.

Hiding from the camera amidst the narrow aisles of Qing Ping market

A walk through Qing Ping market in Guangzhou, China

Added on January 14, 2013 by Jessica Yurasek.

The Chinese eat everything. If you don't believe me, just visit the street markets.

Guangzhou is probably the most important trading and manufacturing city of southern China. It's filled with clusters of towering skyscraper apartment buildings, and factories line the freeway for miles leading up to the city center. Tucked away amidst all this modernity hides Qing Ping market, a remaining section of old China nestled just across from the central island.

Mengwi royal Balinese temple palace, from old times

One month of impermanence + Farewell Bali

Added on December 5, 2012 by Jessica Yurasek.

It's been one month on the road, but it feels so much longer. I am in southern China now, and after days of being blocked out of my own blog (even with a VPN), miraculously the Great Firewall seems to have peeked open for a moment, time enough to post a farewell to beautiful Bali.

Karekare beach, New Zealand

Added on May 3, 2012 by Jessica Yurasek.

A sunset like no other, sea rolling in, sun bleeding through clouds. The most magical eve. <3

We arrived at Karekare beach just in time to see the sun bleeding through the clouds. Waves rolled in, white and foamy, reflecting the soft dazzling rays of sunlight as the clouds diffused their shine. This is the beach where The Piano was film… — We arrived at Karekare beach just in time to see the sun bleeding through the clouds. Waves rolled in, white and foamy, reflecting the soft dazzling rays of sunlight as the clouds diffused their shine. This is the beach where *The Piano* was filmed, and amidst the overpowering beauty of the Earth's elements, there was also a moody feeling of both romance and the gentle but constant reminder of Mother Nature's power.