I am approaching the four month mark of this sabbatical, having departed dear Blighty back in August. Originally I was to spend 5-7 weeks in Thailand, followed by Laos, Cambodia and would now be in Vietnam, however as I have mentioned previously my plan & route just sort of fell apart…

So for my first 2 months I ended up focusing on the south west coast of Thailand from Khao Lak to Koh Kradan and several points in between. Finding myself in need of a change I headed to Cambodia and spent 30 days there seeing an awful lot of temples. I then returned to Thailand and spent time in the north, Chiang Mai & Pai mostly; somewhat typical and not what I planned, but hell most of this trip has been off plan!

As I said above through late October and most of November my time was spent in Cambodia; Mostly around Siem Reap and the temples of Angkor, with trips out to numerous far ranging temple complexes from the same era. Of course I gave time to other parts of that magnificent, yet scarred country. Feels stronger every time I visit, and still some how retains a sense of being on the “edge”.

At this point, I find myself looking at moving on to country number three. Laos. An often overlooked country by tourists – long term and vacationers alike – it is a country of jungle covered mountains, river valleys with the Mekong snaking throughout, stunning karst scenery and growing cities of all sizes. No matter what it’s there I am spending my Christmas. The first I have not been working in some industry or another for over 15 years.

Four months & soon to be three countries into this trip and I can say, I have not felt this relaxed nor this at peace with myself for years. After having spent much of the past 7 years throwing myself into numerous management roles within the little retail store I helped operate; And while I could be volunteering with an NGO or diving off an island somewhere, or simply have stayed at my former employer & found a different role, taking this extended holiday sabbatical has given me a new view on my career and indeed my life and how best to marry the two together.  Once I am done out here of course!

Pictures South East Asia Travel

Jon

He's just this guy, you know.