Have the Guts to Shave Your Head and live in an Ashram in India?

by Audrey on January 30, 2012

TRAVELHOLIC OF THE WEEK: YULREE CHUN

Every once in a while, I meet some really interesting people in my life that are movers and shakers in the travel world and are inspirations to other travelholics myself. I am proud to introduce a good friend and Travelholic, Miss Yulree Chun!

I have not only had the pleasure of traveling with Yulree before, but have had the opportunity in indulge in many local adventures in LA with her as well. Yulree currently resides in Los Angeles and has a very exciting trip to India to live in an ashram and practice Yoga for the next month and a half and has a few hinters for all the Travel Bunny Fans out there on how you too can make a trip this this happen on a relatively low budget! Enjoy the interview below!

TRAVEL BUNNY: Please tell the readers a little bit about yourself!

YULREE: Still trying to figure that out myself, really. I am a perpetual student – learning, making mistakes and growing while terrorizing delicious plates food and keeping it cool with yoga. I swing back and forth on my pendulum of crazy. I can be reserved and lady-like on some days. Other days, I shave my head.

(Yulree is one of the most fun-loving and quirky girls I know! Love this girl!)

TRAVEL BUNNY: Can you tell us a little bit about your travel plans to India and why you’re doing it.

YULREE: As spontaneous as I can be, most of the time I travel with purpose. My reason for going to India is yoga. All the other stuff (e.g. food, sites, people, history) is icing, the whipped cream kind, on the cake. I’ve been practicing yoga for about three years now and I wanted to deepen my knowledge of it. Enough to confidently teach my mom, my friends and eventually teach younger girls and women in need of some yoga therapy. I chose to do yoga in India because: 1) it’s where yoga originated, 2) I’ve never been there and am fascinated with its food and history, 3) it was more cost-effective to join an intensive yoga training program in India (which includes lodging and food) than to do a yoga training program here in Los Angeles and 4) I wanted to physically remove myself from the comforts of home, technology and friends so I can focus and strengthen my discipline.

(Weekend trip to Palm Springs with Yulree!)

TRAVEL BUNNY: How can other travelholics travel to India on a budget?

YULREE: Biggest cost should be the flight. India, from what I’ve read about and learned from my friends there, has two different price points. Either things are dirt cheap or really expensive. A night in a nice hotel in the city or beach front can match what you pay in New York. However, if you plan ahead and don’t mind staying at hostels or ashrams, it’s around $15/night. Fool proof way of having a good time on a budget? Do your research and find out what the locals do. Remember, your travel experience is not based on what you can afford but what you’re willing to try.

MY TRAVEL BUNNY: What does yoga and traveling mean to you?

YULREE: Yoga, for me, continues to evolve. Initially, when I was going through a horrendous time in my life, it was a way for me to retreat and take my mind off things. Then it helped me focus and make my body feel better (when your body feels good, it helps in making your mind feel good, too). Now, it’s everything I mentioned before plus my daily discipline. Travel is who I am and I cannot be otherwise. It’s a hands-on, creative way to learn life, people, history, nature and oneself. It’s my favorite way to learn.

(Checking out the Vodbox at Nic’s Martini Lounge in Beverly Hills this past April)

TRAVEL BUNNY: Why are you a fan of My Travel Bunny?

YULREE: My Travel Bunny promotes travel for all the right reasons. To grow and expand your sense of the world all the while having mad fun, making friends and being financially savvy.

TRAVEL BUNNY: Anything else you’d like to tell readers?

YULREE: Journal. Write during your travels. Write like mad. Write everything you know, hear, see, taste, smell and feel. You will not regret it.

(Yulree’s bday outing a few weeks ago and send off to India! She already has part of her head shaved – awesome!)

THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR STORY WITH US YULREE! Have an amazing time in India and we all look forward to hearing about it in full! Have a save trip Miss Jet-setter!