Sam on Sabbatical
Welcome to “Sam on Sabbatical” – my personal travel chronicles through South America, India, Nepal, and Southeast Asia. Its been a long time dream of mine to do a trip like this, and I’m so excited to be able to record and share my trip with you.
Included is also a book club where I read and chat about novels/histories written by authors from each country I visit. These pieces were a great opportunity to bring me closer to the cultures and stories that make these spaces so unique. I hope it connects you to them as well.
Join me as I wander, read, and share my adventures and insights from across these incredible regions – for me, a journey of discovery, storytelling, and personal growth.
- Conclusion
The past 5 months have been a whirlwind of new places, thrilling experiences, and wonderful people. It will take me quite some time to fully digest this journey (not to mention all of the photos…) but I hope I can bring a bit of closure to my trip here as I transition from backpacker toContinue reading “Conclusion” - Traveling Bookclub IX: Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami
My final book, Norwegian Wood, is a 1987 novel by Japanese author Haruki Murakami. The novel is a nostalgic story of loss, PTSD, and searching for love, written from the first-person perspective of Toru Watanabe, who looks back on his days as a college student living in Tokyo. The title of the book is basedContinue reading “Traveling Bookclub IX: Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami” - Days 131 to 140: Japan – Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, & Kobe
Japan – “The Land of the Rising Sun”, my last destination. An archipelago on the eastern edge of Asia with Siberian Russia to the North, Korea & China to its East. Thousands of years as an isolated island country, Japan underwent many of its cultural evolutions in solitude, creating a truly unique traditional culture. AsContinue reading “Days 131 to 140: Japan – Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, & Kobe” - Traveling Bookclub VIII: Sightseeing by Rattawut Lapcharoensap
A quick google search for top vacation destinations will frequently turn up Thailand. The mountainous cultural hub in the north, the relaxed picturesque islands in the South, the bustling chaos of Bangkok – the country has it all. Head over to your local bookstore and you will inevitably discover numerous guidebooks and works of fictionContinue reading “Traveling Bookclub VIII: Sightseeing by Rattawut Lapcharoensap” - Days 117 to 131: Thailand – North, South, & BangkokThe North: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Pai, & Doi Inthanon Coming from Vientiane, the first part of my journey in Thailand began in the North, exploring the city of Chiang Mai and its surrounding towns/villages/national parks. While Bangkok is Thailand’s bustling capital, the north is the heart of culture and creativity, and many visitors ofContinue reading “Days 117 to 131: Thailand – North, South, & Bangkok”
- Traveling Bookclub VII: The Coroner’s Lunch by Colin CotterillThe Coroner’s Lunch is a crime novel by British author, Colin Cotterill, and is the first installment in the Dr. Siri Paiboun series, set in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic during the 1970’s. The novel surrounds Dr. Siri Paiboun, who is appointed state coroner for the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. It’s 1976, the royal familyContinue reading “Traveling Bookclub VII: The Coroner’s Lunch by Colin Cotterill”
About Me
Former Hill staffer, EMT, traveler, avid cook, aspiring doctor. Find more about my journey below.
Donations
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Sam on Sabbatical 