Okay, SERIOUSLY, after having a stream of awesome people come our way I just had to write a little sumtin sumtin.

We met another awesome couple this week, and like most meetings it ‘just happened’. G was out trying to recruit her ‘beach dog’  and was throwing sticks around when a conversation was started up with two beach walkers. She was an instant hit when they, Tiiu and Mark, found out that we were on a 3-year trip. As it turns out, they had done an extended trip as well and were interested to hear about ours. Since neither of our trips could be summed up in a 15-minute beach conversation, they decided to meet for dinner.

Drinks and food were ordered and conversation commenced. It was so nice to be able to talk freely about our trip to people who are interested. Sure, people are interested in your travels, but not always the nitty gritties. That’s why travelers like Kasper, Heather and Maika (the Fijian guy), Maaike (the Dutch girl), Cathal and Amanda, Kristin and Bjorn, Jodi, Aye, Lauren and Jackie and Ange and J, are so great. They can relate to your experiences and give incredible advice (thanks Jodi: I’m laying on my bed looking out the window at a beautiful blue water, white sandy beach in El Nido as I type this).

The exchange between fellow travelers is like nothing else I’ve experienced. You have a chance to meet other similar cultures within the traveler niche, and take a lasting friendship away from it. I have left many dinners saying “Wow, that is so awesome we got to hang out with them!” and I’ve been excited so many times for our trip just by talking to other travelers.

When we find somebody we really connect with it’s invigorating. For me it is a healthy recharge for my own experiences. My eyes widen every time I hear a story about a crazy bus ride because I can relate. I can tell a crazy story about an insane boat ride and I get the same wide-eyed expressions back. There is a level of understanding in the details, and that’s what makes it incredible. Really, for me, it’s like extreme conversation. A fellow traveler can say they were on a bus from Manali to Leh and I will instantly be able to envision a packed bus, bumpy road, amazing scenery, high altitude, and slight motion sickness. It’s funny because it doesn’t require any thought, you just relive that experience because you were there.

When you connect with those special travelers, the result is something you won’t forget. I still remember gasping for air when I was climbing the steep Himalayan mountainside in Leh with Kasper, becoming bug-eyed with Cathal and Amanda or Kristin and Bjorn straining to experience the much-celebrated “99.99% chance of seeing wild tigers” in Bandhavgar (epic fail Lonely Planet), sitting 100 feet from the rowdy Khao San road conversing with Jodi and Aye over a pitcher of beer,  talking about the “gentle giants” at our beachside restaurant with J and Ange, or having a laugh with the Mayor of Donsol’s grandson and crew with Jackie and Lauren. The scenery set is always different, and the exchange is always unforgettable.

Following our dinner meetup, Mark and Tiiu invited us on their chartered boat the next day and G and I agreed without hesitation. This is the way it is with fellow travelers: you meet up, click, and continue having an awesome shared experience. We had a delicious jackfish, rice, and salad lunch on one of the many neighboring islands around El Nido, snorkeled 4 amazing sites, and shared more travel stories. The tall palm trees, sharp steep mountain sides, and white sandy beaches all made it a beautifully unique experience.

Before saying goodbye to Mark and Tiiu, and thanking them so many times for their amazing generosity, we decided that we’ll just have to make an addition to our trip. Their home in Brunei is now on our map, and we both look forward to seeing them again soon.

So, another awesome experience down. We had exchanged some great stories, drank some good drinks, and snorkeled some incredible reefs. I feel so lucky to meet people like Tiiu and Mark, spend some time getting to know them, and feeling grateful for that experience. They are like so many of our great travel friends. So, to all of you (Kasper, Heather and Maika (the Fijian), Maaike (the Dutch girl), Kristin and Bjorn, Cathal and Amanda, Jodi and Aye, Lauren, Jackie, Ange, J, and now Tiiu and Mark) thank you for sharing your time with us and helping to make our experience unforgettable. Hanging out with you is always a highlight of our trip.