Looking for more than just a getaway, San Francisco-based consultant Marcus Kosena and his girlfriend wanted to make their next trip special and took advantage of the Slalom Sabbatical.
The two were drawn to Asia. She had been born in Taiwan, but he had never been. While researching tours, he realized a sabbatical could be the answer.
After two days in Hong Kong in September 2010, Marcus and his girlfriend visited some of her childhood locales in Taiwan before flying to Beijing to meet their tour group. A two-day train ride across the Tibet plateau followed, with Kathmandu, Nepal, the final stop.
While every leg was amazing, Tibet made the biggest impression. "I grew up in Montana, but I've never seen a sky that color," he recalled.
He also appreciated the people, saying they seemed more comfortable with the idea of, "This is the life that I have. I am where I'm supposed to be."
However, under political and social pressure, he says the culture is changing fast. "If anyone has a desire to see Tibet, the sooner you go the better," he advised.
Still, the local attitude may have rubbed off, at least for a while. "When I got back, all the noise was a little quieter. It made it a lot easier to slide back into work," he observed.
