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Sherman Leung - Canberra, AustraliaSherman and I met through mutual friends in Kathmandu, Nepal. We became fast friends through the same interests and beliefs. Sherman has the travel bug as many of us do. He has been studying abroad for the majority of his college career.
The more he travels, the more he wants to see other parts of this beautiful world. As a traveler myself, I can relate to his addiction. Traveling is something that can't be tamed. At some point in life, Sherman will hang up the travel cleats. But, at this moment in time, there's no stopping him from seeing the world and experiencing all that there is to offer. Sherman is the perfect example of a travel nomad. ~ Dan Hellinger |
What improvement do you want Australia to make in the next 5 years? |
"While Australia maintains a large contribution in providing financial aid and assistance, I would like to see them do more for tourism in developing nations. After spending some time in Nepal post-earthquake, I have seen firsthand the benefits and detriment of visiting countries that are financially struggling, while learning about these places along the way. Particularly through living and experiencing the struggles of attaining the basics needs such as hot water, electricity and money, there is a learning curve which tells me more can be done in teaching Australians about the privileges we possess over here. I would also like to see more funding on Student Exchange Programs to allow students to gain further exposure to varying, poorer environments and thus create that mindset that one day we can achieve greater equality and prosperity for all nations."
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What aspirations do you want to achieve in life? |
"Personally my greatest aspiration is finding the right balance in life. I think it’s is easy to achieve finding a good job, living in a good place, finding good friends, travelling, or going through the continuous cycle of work, but what I think is most difficult is bringing together all these aspects in creating a balance of happiness made out of work, travelling, social life and networking. Obviously these goals and priorities are different for everyone but for me it is important to just find my key passions and ensure I retain them throughout the busy nature of life."
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Is money more important or is the power of knowledge more crucial for you? |
"I think knowledge is more important. While often money can buy knowledge, experience and pleasure, it takes the right person to utilise the money in creating knowledge. I don’t necessarily think that everyone that has money is happy. Rather, people that utilise their knowledge to achieve more in life are usually more fulfilled. Backpacking is a good example. While many people travel with a loved one through taking expensive tours and living the high end life (which I don’t disagree with) … others backpack on shoe string budgets embrace the relationships they build with other broke travellers while searching for a good experience. Personally I know which one I would rather."
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Sherman's Travel Story
"When I was on Exchange in America, we took a trip to Vegas for my friends 21st. On our final day, we walked into a dirty run down isolated burrito place where everything seemed to be going normal. However when a homeless guy carrying his guitar on his back continuously begged for money, things started to get heated. He asked a table of what appeared to be large Mexican males and their families for money in which they declined. While the homeless guy was likely drunk or high, he came around the same table again and asked for money again (at this point my friend and I knew this wouldn’t end well). As the two got into a heated argument, the other Mexican walked 10 metres from the other the other side of the table, and decked the homeless guy. At this point, three other Mexicans joined in and start beating him senseless until a waitress intervened. Eventually the homeless guy got up challenging the Mexicans to a 1 v 1 fight outside while also using his guitar as a backswing to challenge the Mexicans (and being a guitar lover I was thinking to myself don’t do it). At some point, he realised he was outnumbered so he retreated out the door, but not before making countless remarks about how he would be back to kill everyone at the table.
Approximately 5 minutes later, the Mexican family had finished their food and left, leaving behind an empty table. Not long after, another Hispanic man of smaller build sat down to have his burrito right where the Mexican family was sitting. From our view we could then see this homeless man lurk towards the outside window with a new weapon, this time it was a knife. As this happens the staff thought it wise to lock all the doors and call police. For a nervous 10 minutes we all sat inside what felt like a quarantined zone, avoiding eye contact with the homeless guy and waiting for the matter to subside … considering the people he was trying to kill had already left.
At this point in time, the homeless guy holds the knife in his hand and he starts banging the window with his guitar indicating for the staff to open the door. After a huge thud in the window, everyone turns around and the homeless guy points at this Hispanic guy who had just sat down, doing the throat slit gesture with his knife while hurling abuse on how he would cut him to pieces with the knife. The Hispanic guy being completely dumbfounded about what is happening, turns around in dismay to see whether the homeless guy was communicating with someone else or whether he was pointing at someone else. He soon realises there is no one sitting around him and he was the target of the sledge (at this point, everyone in the shop realises the awkwardness of this situation). The abuse continues for some time after… it was just a repeat pattern of homeless guy making threats and Hispanic man claiming his innocence. We all wonder when the police is arriving. Eventually the homeless guy leaves.
While seeing the poor Hispanic guy almost in tears, my friend and I go over and tell him “there were these group of Mexicans that got into a fight with him before and now he wants to kill them all … he thinks you are one of them so watch your back when you leave.” After finishing our burritos, we sheepishly leave and do a 20 minute walk back to the hostel at quite a fast pace. As we walk into the hostel, we hear the sirens of police rocking up incredibly late.
The moral of the story is basically anything can escalate extremely quickly and this is probably the most enjoyable part of travelling because it gives you a story to tell." ~ Sherman Leung
Approximately 5 minutes later, the Mexican family had finished their food and left, leaving behind an empty table. Not long after, another Hispanic man of smaller build sat down to have his burrito right where the Mexican family was sitting. From our view we could then see this homeless man lurk towards the outside window with a new weapon, this time it was a knife. As this happens the staff thought it wise to lock all the doors and call police. For a nervous 10 minutes we all sat inside what felt like a quarantined zone, avoiding eye contact with the homeless guy and waiting for the matter to subside … considering the people he was trying to kill had already left.
At this point in time, the homeless guy holds the knife in his hand and he starts banging the window with his guitar indicating for the staff to open the door. After a huge thud in the window, everyone turns around and the homeless guy points at this Hispanic guy who had just sat down, doing the throat slit gesture with his knife while hurling abuse on how he would cut him to pieces with the knife. The Hispanic guy being completely dumbfounded about what is happening, turns around in dismay to see whether the homeless guy was communicating with someone else or whether he was pointing at someone else. He soon realises there is no one sitting around him and he was the target of the sledge (at this point, everyone in the shop realises the awkwardness of this situation). The abuse continues for some time after… it was just a repeat pattern of homeless guy making threats and Hispanic man claiming his innocence. We all wonder when the police is arriving. Eventually the homeless guy leaves.
While seeing the poor Hispanic guy almost in tears, my friend and I go over and tell him “there were these group of Mexicans that got into a fight with him before and now he wants to kill them all … he thinks you are one of them so watch your back when you leave.” After finishing our burritos, we sheepishly leave and do a 20 minute walk back to the hostel at quite a fast pace. As we walk into the hostel, we hear the sirens of police rocking up incredibly late.
The moral of the story is basically anything can escalate extremely quickly and this is probably the most enjoyable part of travelling because it gives you a story to tell." ~ Sherman Leung