Secrets from 1,000 Days of Travel: Travel Baby Name & Knowledge Gained

Written by Bessie about Cambodia. Feelin' excited

It's been 1,000+ days since we started our life of travel. That's 2 years, 8 months... but 1,000 days sounds way cooler. You know, we never thought we'd be gone this long. 1,000 days ago, we started out on a 1 year overland trip from Mexico to Argentina, but we couldn't stop there. Lacking travel funds, we headed to South Korea to teach English. Money saved, we've started a business and are exploring Asia. Lately, we spend our days loving the heck out of Chiang Mai.

Onto the People.
That's our story, but beyond the journey, we're real people. You know, quirky, bickering, smiling people. Kyle hates shopping, loves his Kindle, and often has a clever joke. Bessie misses family and friends to pieces while traveling, but gets antsy if she's in one place for too long. We travel with 2 yoga mats, 2 Mac Books, and Settlers of Catan. Our home is where the other is, and when we're there, you'll find us singing random song lyrics together.

Sharing the Secrets.
So we've decided to share more of the quirks. We're changing up the story sharing we do on our blog to get personal: our fights, what it's like spending all our time together, and tips for other travelers. So in 5 parts, we share with you our 10 surprise questions & 10 candid answers, filmed at Angkor Wat, Cambodia. We hope they amuse and inspire.

So Let's Start with Part 1:
At sunrise at Angkor Wat, Kyle thinks up a travel name for a future kid, and Bessie shares the most important thing she's learned about traveling with Kyle.

The complete series:

Travel Baby Name & Knowledge Gained
I'm Awesome & You Make it Better
We've Changed & good + bad
Spending Time Apart & Fighting
Poop Story & Advice for Traveling Couples

As always, thanks for sharing our travels with us,
Bessie + Kyle

sunrise at Angkor Wat

« Secrets from 1,000 Days of Travel, Part 2: I'm Awesome & You Make It Better

Little Sukhothai Surprises »

October 31, 2010 Jack: Cute video, guys! Love the McGyver and Hulk references, 555! Congrats on the 1k milestone, and wish you many more...

November 01, 2010 Bessie: 555 - we don't use that enough. :) Thanks, Jack - here's to many more adventures!!

October 31, 2010 zablon Mukuba: that is quite some adventure, congratulations on your 1000 days of travel. the video is something

October 31, 2010 Poi: Congrats guys! You have done what we aim to do! We've only been on the road for two months and already know the money we have is going to be enough for the amount of places we want to see. TEFL course it is.

November 01, 2010 Bessie: Glad we can inspire, and if we can do it, you can, too! Always great to find others in the travel family - doing just this has been a great inspiration for us to keep going. :)

Oh, and to teach in Korea, you don't need a TEFL, just a strong will. For some tips, scroll to the bottom: http://www.onourownpath.com/start_here

October 31, 2010 Dan Thompson: Wow, amazing and inspiring story guys! I can't imagine being gone from home that long, but love the idea of being able to travel that much. Very cool stuff! Save travels, where ever this path you're on takes you.

Dan

November 01, 2010 Bessie: Thanks, Dan! We've been back to visit fam & repack a few times, but otherwise we just keep going. And it's easier than you'd think it would be, just have to be creative & determined enough to do it.

Happy travels!

October 31, 2010 Susan: I am excited to hear "the rest of the story".

October 31, 2010 Connie: You guys are too cute! Congrats on reaching such a huge milestone in your travels and in your lives! I'm looking forward to sharing many more travel stories with you!

November 06, 2010 Bessie: Super sweet, thanks Connie! It's sometimes hard to believe we've made it this far.

October 31, 2010 Wendy: Cute video! Looking forward to the rest of the series!

October 31, 2010 Paul: u really should name your baby South Korea lol

November 01, 2010 Bessie: I guess S.K. would be an ok name...

October 31, 2010 kristine: I will hold you to El Salvador... making the baby blanket now. :) only you two could really pull that off.

November 01, 2010 Bessie: That would be an amazing baby blanket! I wonder what sort of complex s/he'd end up with being called 'the savior'? We thought Cookie Crum would be torture enough, but 'The Savior Crum' is a whole other ballgame.

October 31, 2010 Laura: You guys crack me up! This video is hilarious. Oh please name your kid El Salvador. He might get beat up over it but then you can show him this video of how he got his name. He'll blame Bessie for ever asking the question. Oh why didn't I just stay in CM and hang out a bit longer ;)

November 01, 2010 Bessie: S/he'd NEVER forgive us though!!! And we'd have to come up with a whole slew of nicknames.

There's a whole crew of us in CM - you're always welcome back, but no one better than all of Team Chiang Mai understand the world is a big place. :) hugs!

October 31, 2010 Tim: WOW you guys are terminally cute. I need some insulin.

November 01, 2010 Bessie: haa haaa - that's a great compliment, Tim. Watch your sugar intake before the next few, too.

November 01, 2010 Rebecca: I can't believe you guys have been travelling for so long!! Absolutely amazing. Can only imagine the experiences you've had and the things you've done together. Keep it up!

November 02, 2010 Tony Wiszowaty: WOw what an incredible journey. With everything you have done and shared and experienced it can't help but build a very solid foundation for your relationship. You could write so many books from the lessons you have learned about relationships, travel, culture, food, etc. I'll look for the series.

Tony Wiszowaty

November 03, 2010 Bessie: Thanks Tony - we've found so many unexpected benefits from traveling, and a solid relationship is definitely one of them!

Thanks for following our travels! Hugs to you!

November 02, 2010 Shannon OD: What a cute video and a great idea. You guys are very watchable - more videos! :-)

November 03, 2010 Bessie: Thanks, Shannon! We had a lot of fun making them too!

November 03, 2010 Annie: What cute videos! Congrats on 1,000 days, keep it up it's a real inspiration and always good to hear stories of couples traveling and having a great time! Hope one day I can be like that!

November 06, 2010 Bessie: Thanks, Annie! A few years ago we had a dream that we might make it to Asia and keep traveling like this, but we never really knew it'd come true! Sometimes when you work towards your big dreams, they really do work out!

November 05, 2010 Mabel: Hey Bessie, this is Mabel from the magazine. You and your husband are so adorable! Congratulations on the 1000 days :) I wish you more safe, happy travels! And more fun travel stories.

November 06, 2010 Bessie: Thanks, Mabel, and I'm so glad you found our site!

November 06, 2010 Linda: Enjoyed all 5 videos and the questions were insightful. It is good that you can still laugh about situations and relationships after so much togetherness. It bodes well for your future......and please....not El Salvador....something with the Mai in it would be preferable....as you know a certain Pekingese would appreciate the remembrance.

November 06, 2010 Bessie: Thanks, Linda. Yea, makes us pretty happy that we can joke about the tough things. Traveling and spending lots of time together isn't all cocktails on the beach and snorkeling, but we love it all the same.

I'm not sure what our child would get criticized for more, getting named after a country or a pet. :)

November 09, 2010 Linda: Chang MAI, Chang MAI.....your favorite Thai travel destination. The fact that it also would make a certain very spoiled Pekingese happy is just a bonus... Tee hee.