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| Taking a ride on the Bamboo Train in Battambang, Cambodia. |
On this post, I’m excited to introduce Kim and Rob from Simply Travelled. They’re officially the first traveling couple on my blog, woohoo! I was interested in featuring them because their adventures are very different from mine and totally inspirational! I also asked them about traveling as a couple, where they met, how they compromise and they didn’t disappoint! Read on for inspiration and wise words from Kim & Rob!
1. Tell us about yourself!
Simply Travelled encourages people to take a LEAP! – an adult gap year, career break, sabbatical – call it what you will.
We started our crazy adventure back when we met in 2008. I (Kim) am from the US of A and went to Australia, where Rob lived, for a 3-month working holiday. After getting married, we resided in Australia until 2015. We decided2016 was our year to explore the worldbefore moving back to the States to be closer to my family. For the first time, we started documenting our journey – to share our tips and mishaps – and to have fun along the way!We enjoytraveling simply.Despite my klutzy nature, Ibelieve life is all about balance. Rob is the more analytic part of our dynamic duo and is not often found without a connection to the digital world. Despite his technical nature, hedoesn’t take himself too seriouslyand can often be seen dancing on tables!
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| Swimming in the waterfall at Kawasan Falls in Moalboal, Philippines. |
2. You are a Travel Couple; did you meet while traveling?
Yes, see #1 – I found him half way across the world 🙂
3. Where’s the most memorable place you’ve been to and why?
The S-21 prison museum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Hearing harrowing stories of the genocide that occurred here was such a sobering experience. Witnessing the place where so many people were separated from their families, tortured and killed, left a lasting impression for sure. It’s hard to believe that these terrible things continue to happen in today’s world.
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| Dressing up in traditional clothing in Mongolia. |
4. Traveling with someone can be a challenge. What are things you two disagree on while traveling, if any? How do you compromise?
Yes, it can definitely be a challenge, but nothing we can’t handle. I have become extremely OCD whilst living out of a 40L backpack for a year, and often get frustrated with Rob for not being the same – leaving things strung everywhere drives me crazy these days! Outside of that, we still just have typical couple disagreements (ie. which way the toilet roll goes on, forgetting to put the seat down), but nothing related specifically to traveling.
5. Who is your favorite airline and why?
V-Australia (part of the Virgin group). We love Richard Branson as a business man and enjoy how innovative his companies are. On their inaugural flight from Brisbane to LA, they had people dressed up as Hollywood Stars, did a champagne toast on the plane, and provided all guests with a souvenir t-shirt. Now, that was a memorable trip! We’ve also aligned ourselves with their rewards program which offers great incentives for its members.
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| Enjoying the beach in Phuket. |
6. What are your travel plans for the rest of the year?
We are currently in Mongolia. From here, we’ll catch the Trans-Siberian train and head south to China. After that, we fly to the Maldives, Sri Lanka and then plan on traveling India for a while. From there, we’ll continue onto Nepal, Myanmar, Malaysia and Indonesia. We plan to be back in Australia early 2017 to visit with family before moving to the USA.
7. Where are 3 places you dream of traveling to?
Ooh, good one! We can not wait to go on an African Safari! We’re also extremely keen to go on an Alaskan cruise. And last but not least, we’re hanging to take a road trip across United States. Rob would also like to nominate a 4th place he dreams of traveling to – SPACE!
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| Canyoning in Dalat, Vietnam. |
8. If you had to live somewhere you’ve visited for the rest of your life, where would you choose and why?
Hawaii! Before we visited, we thought perhaps it would be overrated, but boy were we wrong! We loved everything about it – the food, the outdoor lifestyle, the weather, ahhh – I want to go back just thinking about it! I think we’d no doubt need to hit the lottery to comfortable live there though 😉
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| Learning how to cook in Chiang Rai, Thailand. |
9. What lessons have travel taught you about life or the world?
People are people. Yes, we may look different, speak different and have our own ways of doing things, but ultimately, we’re all the same. Smile and laughter are the universal languages, and we’re undoubtedly more fortunate than we realise!
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| Preparing for our camel rides in the Gobi Desert. |
10. Anything else you’d like to add?
I think that about sums it up. For anyone thinking about traveling, DO IT! It will challenge you in ways you can not imagine, and will give you memories you’ll never forget! Now is the time!
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A big thank you to Kim & Rob for being a part of my blog! It was amazing to see all the fun adventures through photos and reading all about you two. If you do end up doing a road-trip through the U.S, make sure to stop by Los Angeles and we’ll do lunch! Oh and if you make it to space, take me along!
Make sure you follow them on their blog (here) – you won’t regret it!
Interested in being interviewed? Shoot me an e-mail, I have openings for the next few months!
kana@lifeinwanderlust.com
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What a cute couple! And hear hear to the American Roadtrip – I am itching to do it too. So much to see eh! Nice to learn a little about you, I answered these questions for Kana a few months ago and it was a loada fun! #FlyAwayFriday
Awesome couple to feature! As one half of a travel blogging couple I love to read about others! But great life advice – we all know what a smile means.
We love Simply Travelled! Its always good to get to know a bit about another travelling couple too. We're impressed they don't have any disagreements that are specifically travel related. Great post! Love C and D x
Love the interview. It's always interesting to read about couples traveling together, as I'm 100% solo all the time.
This was a great read, thanks! I am always travelling with my Aussie partner too and I must say the part where Kim talks about being neat in her backpack while Rob leaves things lying around is totally what me and my partner are like too! I tend to be the one organizing everything while he goes with the flow. Anyway, great feature! I love travelling couples. I believe if you survive travelling with each other, you survive anything! Ha! #FlyAwayFriday
What a cool interview! I've been traveling with my boyfriend and its always nice to hear about other couples who travel too. And I'm totally on the same page about being OCD when living out of a suitcase while my partners stuff is everywhere haha!
Wonderful interview! I haven't hear about Kim and Rob's adventures before. I would check their blog and social media accounts. it is always nice to discover people who are enjoying life to the max.
Such a cute couple! Hope you're having fun in Sri Lanka!
Love seeing other couples who travel together! They seem like so much fun!!
Awww I loved having you Alex! Plus, you were my VERY first feature too! 🙂 Thanks so much for joining and stopping by! xo
Yes – they were super fun to get to know! I loved the thing about a smile too! Thanks so much for joining and stopping by! xo
I love them too! I've been loving getting to know you guys too, it's been fun having you join us on #FlyAwayFriday! Thanks so much for joining and stopping by! xo
Definitely! I travel alone a lot instead of with my boyfriend so it's interesting to see how they get along! Thanks for joining and stopping by! xo
Hahaha, I can relate! I'm sadly not the neat one and my boyfriend is, so I'm sure it drives him insane! Thanks so much for joining and stopping by! xo
Definitely, I'm the same way! It's hard to travel with a partner sometimes isn't it?! Thanks so much for joining as always and for stopping by! xo
Thanks Ruth! I'm glad you got to know a new traveling couple – they are pretty rad! 🙂 Thanks for joining as always and stopping by! xo
Aren't they?! It was fun interviewing them! Thanks for joining as always Flo and for stopping by! xo
Definitely they were really fun to interview! I'll have to interview you and your husband…and Phoebe!!! xo
Kim and Rob! I am seeing them everywhere! Love this interview series. Cool to learn about their outlook on traveling as a couple.
Thanks for all the love guys, We were super stoked to be interviewed by Kana 🙂
Awww, thanks Alex! Will have to check out your story too…so much fun and such a great idea! See you online x Kim
Thanks Juliette!! Rob was just telling me how great your site is, so will have to check it out for myself. And yes, smiling is my favourite 🙂 x Kim
Thanks Claire & Dave!! Today we had a "2-hour" bus journey that turned into 6-hours…that could have turned into a fight, but nah, all good 😉
Good on ya Kreete – someone's gotta do it and it might as well be us super women 😉 hehe x Kim
It's funny isn't it Courtney as I love reading about solo travel because I don't often get a chance to do it, and when I do, at first I feel a bit lost, but then I absolutely love it x Kim
Haha, being OCD is a blessing and a curse hey 😉 x Kim
Oooh thanks Ruth! And yes, let's connect for sure – how can we find you? x Kim
Awww thanks Flo! We had the best time in Sri Lanka and are now exploring India for 6-weeks and loving it so far x Kim
Thanks Chloe…and yes! Will look forward to the interview Kana does with you and your cute lil' fam x Kim
Heeeey! We know you guys…thanks for checking in. Hope you are well, wherever you are x Kim
Yes, Kana is the bomb diggity!! Is that still a thing or is that soooo 90's? Either way, thanks heaps for having us Kana – great fun x Kim