From Luxury hotels, champagne, endless parties, and a career built around making other people happy. So why did Noel leave that life behind to become a Buddhist monk in Cambodia?

In this episode, I meet Noel, a Swiss man who has spent more than 11 years in Cambodia. Once the group general manager of SUN & MOON Hotels, he spent decades building his career in hospitality. But behind the achievements, he was struggling to find the happiness he worked so hard to create for others.

Then a five-metre fall left him with a broken back and a badly injured foot. During his recovery, he began questioning the life he had built, his constant need to work, and why success never seemed to feel like enough.

Today, he lives a very different life as a Buddhist monk in Kep, Cambodia.

As we explore his monastery and visit his simple living space, Noel opens up about letting go of possessions, friendships that changed, honest conversations with his parents, and the emotional reality of becoming a monk. He also shares what he still misses about his old life—and why he says he has never been happier.

We talk about daily life in the monastery, meditation, learning Khmer, how Cambodians have welcomed him, and his wish to make Buddhist teachings more accessible in English.

If you’ve ever worked hard and still wondered why you don’t feel fulfilled, there is a lot to reflect on in Noel’s story.

What does a meaningful life look like to you? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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