Random Traveller #84 with Dave & Vicky of A Couple Travelers

Posted on 02. Feb, 2013 by Poi in Meet A Random Traveller

Welcome to round 84 of ‘Meet a Random Traveller’. The series dedicated to bring attention to fantastic people all around the world doing their thing.

Random Traveller #84 

Dave & Vicky

Who are you?
Vicky and I met in Ashland, MA when we were in High School. I was born and raised there while Vicky was born in Moscow and spent time in Australia and New Jersey before moving to little, old Ashland MA. We started dating and as seniors in high school we spent 2 days in Italy after graduation, which was probably when we got the travel bug.

In college we both stayed close to home. Vicky went to Boston University to study business and I went to Harvard to study Applied Math. Both of us studied abroad (Dave – Russia, Vicky – Spain) and our appetite for travel grew.

After college we moved in together in Washington DC and worked for two years in jobs related to finance and accounting. Neither of us was particularly fond of the work we were doing and longed for long term travel. In 2011 we conceived A Couple Travelers and planned out our itinerary.

Now we’re traveling around Asia and Europe for two years and have already been to Japan, Korea, and China and more!

What’s the deal?
We mainly blog about our travels on ACouple Travelers. To be honest, it’s a bit of a mish mash of a lot of things. Sometimes we’re talking about cooking schools, or about earning money blogging, but overall we try to limit it to our travel stories. We like to think that it is full of useful information for those who are interested to learn more about personal experiences of people who are budget traveling across Asia and Europe as well as plan their own trips. We have two other sites where we discuss more food related topics on AvocadoPesto and TravelingThroughFood since Vicky is a big foodie and I don’t mind eating.

Have you surprised yourself while travelling doing something you never thought you could?
Recently in China, while we were in a park in Chengdu, I joined in with a few dozen other Chinese people (who I didn’t know) and danced with them (to a dance I didn’t know). All of this is caught, embarrassingly, on film (and probably many others as well, since the Chinese got a kick out of it). It is surprisingly difficult sometimes to be silly and this was a big leap for me, but it was fun and I hope the next time an opportunity comes around like that we’ll take it.

The big departure.

What’s the weirdest food you’ve tried and would you have it again?
Vicky and I are really not the most adventurous eaters out there, to say the least. However, in Vietnam we did try worm patties, which were essentially mashed up worms mixed with something else (eggs?) to make a patty. It tasted…fine, actually. In fact, had I not known it was worms I wouldn’t have thought anything of it. Unfortunately, I did, and therefore had to stop after a few bites. At least we tried though!

If you could have one a special talent to impress other backpackers what would it be?
I really wish I knew some magic and/or card tricks. They’re so “easy” in the sense that they often don’t require much at all (a coin, a deck of cards) and yet so few people know anything about magic (myself included) that it’s always a good time. They’re great to pass the time in train stations and bus stops, which we quite often frequent.

Sunset in the Central Highlands of Vietnam

What’s next? (Future travel plans)
We’re really just getting going as we have a full two year trip planned. In the immediate future we’re heading to Burma and then to conquer the rest of SEA in Laos and Cambodia. In late May we’ll jump ship to Europe starting with a France road trip. Eventually we’ll be back in Asia doing Everest Base Camp and that’s just the first year!

A big thanks to Dave & Vicky for taking part, great to have you. Be sure to check them out here:

Blog: A Couple Travelers
Facebook: /ACoupleTravelers
Twitter: @Acoupletraveler

Fancy being Random Traveller 85? Contact us.

Tags: Meet a Random Traveller