Chris Sherry
Travel is a very important part of my life and I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to have traveled so much. Travelling has changed me in so many ways that words can’t even describe. I’ve definitely noticed the more I have traveled and learned about other cultures, the more I have learned about myself and where I come from. It’s changed my perspective on how materialistic we are in the western world and how still so many people are un happy and seem to have everything. Travelling shows us that life isn’t always about getting the newest ipad or flat screen TV. I know that I’m happiest when everything I own is on my back and the hardest decision I have to make of the day is which train to get on or what to eat for lunch.
My addiction to travel started after my 1st family vacation outside of N. America. We went to Europe for 2 weeks and at the end of the 2 weeks everyone was home sick and ready to go home except me for some reason, I wanted to continue exploring the unique and amazing new places I had only seen pictures of in books. During university I started my own travel - backpacking through Europe and then living in Australia for 6 months. After graduation I was all set to join the corporate world but still needed to scratch my travel itch so I decided that summer I would go travel for 2 months and I started my travels with Free and Easy, little did I know that this decision would change the direction of my life significantly.
Immediately after starting my first Free and Easy trip I knew I had fallen in love with Thailand and Free and Easy. It was the Thai people’s wonderful smiles and friendliness, the delicious food, the climate, the beaches and most importantly the lifelong friends that became my family for 40 days. Travelling together in a group for 20 to 40 days really gives travelers the opportunity to get to know each other more than just meeting a fellow backpacker on the road and spending a week or two with them. It is this that has kept me coming back to S.E. Asia for the past 5 years and falling more deeply in love with Thailand and all of S.E. Asia. Every year being able to see more and more of the countries in S.E. Asia. Each country I visit in S.E. Asia has its own distinctive culture and language but they all have that same laid back lifestyle that is unique to S.E. Asia. It’s this lifestyle and attitude that has grabbed a hold of me since I first stepped off the plane in Bangkok and has me so stoked to be able to show it to all of you. I can’t wait to meet you all in S.E. Asia somewhere!!!