Journo and the Joker

Expat and travel blog -- In search of more - and less

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In search of more – why we blog

September 5, 2016 by Sam Walker 4 Comments

It’s hard to believe it’s two years since a life-changing conversation on a friend’s back deck steered our lives in a new direction.
In pent-up frustration at a job going nowhere and with limited opportunities the Joker made a rash and off-the-cuff suggestion that we uproot our lives and move to Asia for a year. I didn’t need to be asked twice. It took a few more weeks for the decision to sink in, followed by four or five months of research and planning. After all, there’s a lot of things to do before you move overseas.

Kawana Beach - we left this

water buffalo - in search of more

And so here we are, on our second stint in Cambodia, in search of more. More fulfilment, more adventure, more challenge, more rewarding work, more time for us – and yes, let’s be honest, the Joker was looking forward to more beer.
But it’s fair to say we were also searching for less. Definitely less stress, less clutter, less stuff. Less of the superficial. We were looking to recharge the batteries, seek inspiration, learn more, see more and meet different people.
And we got all of that and so much more.
And because of that, a blog was born.

I’ve created a little video to share our blogging story, thanks to the team at Shoebox Timeline, who have developed this cool software. Check it out and tell us what you think.

Stories to tell — why we blog

There were so many stories to tell. In fact, there are still so many I can’t keep up. There’s amazing Maggie, who took on a life of adventure when she started back-packing at the age of 60 and now at the age of 79, along with her partner Rollo, is teaching music to poor students.
There’s Hong, a young businessman, who’s made quite an impression on the local bar scene with his innovative ideas. Then there are the business students we spent two weeks with, who are so pumped about their future opportunities and want to learn everything they can. There are also plenty of characters, like the Australian monk, who was practicing at a local pagoda and Jack, the Aussie Vietnam Vet who has contributed to landmine detection.
There are the stories of adversity and poverty. The horrors we can’t begin to imagine. The young lady whose mother left her when she was two and she doesn’t understand why; the yay (grandmother) who lost her entire family — husband and seven children — when a bomb hit the trench they were sheltering in; and the children who started their young lives as street beggars and are now reaching for the stars. And there is the warmth, gratitude and thanks at a house blessing because a family with next to nothing has been given a new house to live in.
There have been cultural events like Khmer New Year and Phchum Benh, which are so much more rewarding when celebrated with locals.
We’ve made wonderful friends including local tuk tuk drivers and teachers and the entire team at Two Dragons, which has become our second home. And of course we’ve had our own adventures and experiences and explored new places.

This. All of this, is why we blog. Thank you for sharing our journey.

 

This post is written as an entry in a competition sponsored by ProBlogger, Shoebox Timeline and The Good Guys for ProBlogger Event.

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Filed Under: The Journo, travel Tagged With: blogging, in search of more, stories, stories to tell, why we blog

About Sam Walker

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Comments

  1. Philippa says

    September 5, 2016 at 7:56 pm

    Loved this blog Sam. You guys keep my hope alive that one day I’ll get there too ?

    Reply
    • Sam Walker says

      September 6, 2016 at 7:48 am

      Thanks Philippa! I have no doubt you’ll get there. When the time is right for you.

      Reply
  2. June Peach says

    September 10, 2016 at 2:10 pm

    HI Sammy, Beautifully blogged, I enjoyed traveling along side you both. I am looking forward to more. Aunty June

    Reply
    • Sam Walker says

      September 13, 2016 at 1:17 pm

      Thank you Aunty June! Glad you enjoy travelling virtually with us. I know you will never actually do it 🙂

      Reply

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Welcome

Hi there! Thanks for stopping by.
We are Sam (the Journo) and Steve (the Joker). We have taken the plunge and opted out of the 9-5 routine in search of more - and less. We are living the expat life in Cambodia and enjoying slow travel through the region and after just a few months our lives are richer.
Please join us on the journey. Laugh and cry with us, learn from our mistakes and experiences and share your own experiences. Read More…

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All content copyright © 2015, Sam Walker and Steve Linehan, Journo and the Joker.
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This blog is our personal record. It is based on our own adventures and experiences and reflects our opinions. All content is written and edited by us. Any sponsored posts will also be written by us and will include our honest thoughts and opinions.
All expenses incurred in the production of this blog come out of our own pocket unless otherwise stated.

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