Blog Post Title Four
The Spark: A Moment of Gratitude on the Bus in Vietnam
Picture this: Vietnam, June 2025. I’m on a bus, making my way from Hanoi to Pu Luong, the road winding through the heart of the countryside. Outside the window, the landscape unfolds like a living painting—vibrant green fields stretching to the horizon, with towering mountains rising from the mist, their peaks disappearing into the clouds. The world around me feels surreal, almost too perfect to be real.
As I sit there, taking it all in, a wave of gratitude washes over me. I’m not just traveling—I’m experiencing something extraordinary. And it’s in this quiet, reflective moment that I realize: I’m incredibly fortunate.
For years now, I’ve had the privilege of traveling the world, curating and leading group trips through Thatman Travels. I’ve seen firsthand how travel can transform lives—opening minds, shifting perspectives, and creating lasting memories. But as I sat there in Vietnam, soaking in the breathtaking views, I realized that my journey wasn’t just about me. It was about the privilege of sharing these transformative experiences with others—giving people the chance to witness the beauty and richness of the world the same way I do.
Over the last four years, my spiritual journey has taught me a simple but profound truth: the universe is all about balance. When you’re blessed with abundance, it’s not just for you to keep; it’s meant to be shared. We all have a responsibility to help balance that energy by giving back to others. And that’s when the thought struck me: It’s time for me to equal the playing field.
In that moment, I realized that I could offer so much more than just a seat on a trip for someone who can afford it. What if I could offer a spot on every trip I lead to someone who comes from an underprivileged background? A young person who’s never had the chance to travel, someone who could benefit from being exposed to different cultures and experiences—the kind of transformative travel that I know can change lives.
Let’s face it—the future is in the hands of the next generation. If we want a world filled with leaders who embody empathy, respect, and compassion, we need to nurture those qualities in the young. By offering a young person the chance to travel with Thatman Travels, we’re opening their eyes to new ways of thinking, connecting, and being. It’s about creating global citizens who understand that we’re all part of something much bigger than ourselves, no matter where we come from.
As Tupac once said, “I’m not saying I’m gonna change the world, but I guarantee that I will spark the brain that will change the world.”
I hope to at least spark that mind, which will go on to change others—and together, we can change the world.
The Backstory: From Synchronicities to Spirituality and Thatman Travels
Let’s rewind for a moment—back before Thatman Travels Group Travel existed, back before the idea of guiding others on transformative journeys even crossed my mind. I had no idea what was ahead of me. Life was moving fast, and I was simply living it, doing what I thought was “the right thing.” But sometimes, the universe has a funny way of sending you the signals you need, even if it’s in the most unexpected ways.
After catching COVID in December of 2020, I spent a week quarantined in a hotel that had been turned into a quarantine facility. I recovered, but not before spending a lot of time thinking about life—how fragile and unpredictable it can be. So many people were dying at the time, and the thought that I could have easily been one of them hit me hard. When I recovered, I was left with a question that wouldn’t go away: What is the greater purpose of it all?
Being an atheist all my life, I had never really questioned life’s purpose. But this near-death experience made me want to search for meaning, to find something deeper than just existing. I decided to dive into spirituality, hoping to uncover whatever purpose I had been missing. Maybe it was fate... or maybe YouTube is just that good at recommendations.
I didn’t know what it was, much less how to pronounce the word, but after watching the video, I was immediately intrigued. I heard testimonies about people hearing the voice of God, and some even spoke about having conversations with alien beings. The idea of talking to aliens? That sold me.
If you’ve never heard of Ayahuasca, let me give you a little history. Ayahuasca is a powerful plant medicine used for centuries by indigenous tribes in the Amazon for spiritual healing and self-discovery. It’s known for its ability to open up the mind, provide profound personal insights, and facilitate emotional healing.
The more I learned about Ayahuasca, the more fascinated I became. It felt like the universe was offering me a path to something much bigger, and I knew I had to experience it firsthand.
So, I rounded up a few friends in November of 2021, and we headed to Cusco, Peru. We partook in two Ayahuasca ceremonies, and let me tell you: it was the most profound, life-changing experience I’ve ever had. The insights I received, the emotional healing, and the overwhelming sense of clarity—it was like my entire perspective on life shifted in a single moment. I came out of those ceremonies knowing, without a doubt, that I had to share this journey with others.
Creating Thatman Travels: Turning a Vision into Reality
So, there I was, coming back from Peru with my mind buzzing from those two life-altering Ayahuasca ceremonies. I had clarity. I had purpose. I knew exactly what I needed to do. But knowing what you want is only half the battle. The next step was turning that vision into reality.
I spent a lot of time reflecting on how I could share these life-changing experiences with others. But there was one thing I kept coming back to: it wasn’t enough to simply tell people about my experiences. I wanted to guide them through the same journeys I had—help them tap into that sense of clarity, that feeling of profound connection. And so, Thatman Travels as a spiritual travel group was born.
The real magic happened when I decided to put together a trip to Peru the following year. I posted it on social media, fully expecting some interest, but within days—it sold out. Just like that. So, I created another group that would arrive right after the first group left, and it filled up just as quickly. Watching people go through the same transformations I’d experienced in Peru was surreal. I saw travelers rediscover parts of themselves they didn’t even know were there. I watched them form connections with the land, the culture, and each other. It was clear to me—this is what I was meant to do.
Since then, I’ve taken groups deep into the heart of the Amazon jungle and to the mountains of Montego Bay, Jamaica, all for transformative retreats. Each journey has been unique, but the core remains the same: offering people the chance to break free, connect with something greater, and return home changed.
But I didn’t stop there. I also came up with a new plan—one that combined the best of both worlds. I started offering regular tourist trips, taking people on adventures outside of the spiritual retreats. The goal? To meet new people, share my life-changing experiences, and, when the moment was right, invite them to join one of my deeper, more transformative journeys. And it worked like a charm—each conversation, each experience, led to more and more people signing up for the retreats, eager to embark on the same journey of self-discovery I had.
The Sponsorship Idea: Giving Back and Equalizing the Playing Field
Let’s flash back to that eureka moment on the bus in Vietnam. The idea of sponsoring a young person to join one of my trips was already clear in my mind. But as the thought settled in, I quickly realized that the next challenge was how to make it happen.
How could I create a system to support a young person from an underprivileged background? Although business was decent, I can’t fully afford to cover all aspects of the trip—the flight, the accommodations—and I also wanted to provide them with an allowance for clothes and spending money.
I knew that to make this work, I needed more than just a good idea—I needed the support of the community to make it sustainable. That’s when the idea started to take shape: it’s about creating a collective effort to bring this vision to life.
Bringing the Vision to Life
To make this vision a reality, the first step is to create a partnership with small businesses who share the same values of community and giving back. These businesses will play a key role in helping fund the sponsorship program, offering their support in exchange for recognition and the chance to be part of something impactful.
Next, I’ll reach out to philanthropic entities, foundations, and organizations that focus on education, youth development, and community empowerment. Their support will help ensure the program is sustainable and can grow over time.
To get the community directly involved, I’ll be launching a crowdfunding campaign, giving everyone the chance to contribute to the cause and see firsthand the difference their donations make. I’ll also encourage my travel clients to participate, offering them the opportunity to sponsor a young traveler or add a small donation to their trip payment.
But this won’t happen without you. I’m looking for others to join this effort, whether through financial support or offering advice on how to make this initiative even better. Together, we can turn this vision into something much bigger, creating a lasting impact for the young people who need it most.
If anyone would like to help me bring this vision to fruition, whether through donations or advice, I am open.
