Author Archives: Shmuel

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, & Bangkok

The 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 Cotterill

The 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”

Days 108 to 117: Laos: Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, & Vientiane

After my 3 weeks racing around Vietnam, I knew I needed a bit of a rest before I raced to the finish line of my trip. I wanted a place where I could chill out, hang out a cafe, and watch the world go by. Knowing I only had about a week to get aContinue reading “Days 108 to 117: Laos: Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, & Vientiane”

Traveling Bookclub VI: The Sorrow of War by Boa Ninh

I have a memory from when I was around 8 of my mother and me going to Dairy Queen on the Cape. After we grabbed our cones of vanilla soft serve, we walked out into the hot afternoon air and, as if a coming-of-age ceremony, my mother proceeded to teach me how to properly eatContinue reading “Traveling Bookclub VI: The Sorrow of War by Boa Ninh”

Days 101 to 108: Sa Pa & the Ha Giang Loop

My last week in Vietnam was a whirlwind of trekking and motor-biking through the mountains of Northern Vietnam – from the rice fields of Sa Pa, to the winding roads of Ha Giang, up to the Chinese border, and back east to Hanoi to catch my flight to Luang Prabang. An exhausting week, I amContinue reading “Days 101 to 108: Sa Pa & the Ha Giang Loop”

Days 96 – 101: Hanoi, Ninh Binh, & Ha Long Bay

Hanoi – “Inside of the Rivers” Hanoi is the capital and second-largest city in the Vietnam, located within the Red River Delta. The city’s history dates back to 200 BCE, when a portion of the area served as the capital of the Au Lac civilization before being taken over by China’s Han Dynasty. The cityContinue reading “Days 96 – 101: Hanoi, Ninh Binh, & Ha Long Bay”