Today sees the very last of my posts in the Travel Ten series. We’ve had some seriously inspiring interviews from bloggers all over the world, and this final one is no different. Welcome, Mike and Anne of HoneyTrek.
Mike and Anne of HoneyTrek
Two New York newlyweds who thought a two-week honeymoon wasn’t nearly enough to celebrate a new life together. With a little bit of savings, no kids, and good health, they figured there was no better time to travel. So they quit their jobs, rented their apartment, and set out on a 650-day honeymoon around the world. Using Anne’s background as a magazine editor and Mike’s as a digital media strategist and semi-professional photographer, they started HoneyTrek.com to chronicle their journey.
Now with nearly two years of on-the-road experience under their belt, they’ve decided to take all they’ve learned and launch HoneyTrek Trip Coach, an in-person guide to long-term travel, to help get more people out there exploring the world.
Best place you’ve ever been?
We have so many favorites, we’ll just pick the first one that comes to mind: Eduardo Abaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve. This wild swath of land between San Pedro de Atacama Chile and the first Bolivian border guard in Uyuni is only accessible by 4×4, filled with volcanoes, red lakes, teal lakes, hot springs, bubbling mud pools, flamingos, salt flats, and a raw beauty that we’ll never shake.
Worst place you’ve ever been?
Nampula, Mozambique. This shifter town at the east end of the cross country train-line is not the place you want to roll into at 10pm at night. We were roaming the dark and dicey streets looking for any accommodation only to find inexplicably expensive and grimy guesthouses. The next morning we got pick-pocketed right outside the front door. Nampula was the only city on the entire HoneyTrek where we ever felt unsafe.
Favourite food you’ve eaten on the road?
Chaat Masala. This Nepalese street cart specialty is a potato and chickpea curry of sorts served over mashed up samosas and costs around 30 cents. Delicious and a ridiculous deal, can’t beat that.
Three things you always carry in your luggage?
- SteriPEN water purifier keeps us from ever having to buy bottled water (even on the Amazon River)—better for the planet and the wallet!
- Our own pillows and sheets. It might sound like a huge waste of space but it makes every single place we rest our head feel a little closer to home.
- A jar of peanut butter. It’s the perfect travel food, high protein, delicious and no refrigeration needed.
Most embarrassing travel moment?
Showing up for a flight exactly one month early. We showed up to the Tokyo airport on November 7th and it turns out the flight we booked wasn’t until December 7th. The desk attendant thankfully had enough pity on us to let us pay the difference on the ticket rather than buying an entirely new flight and us missing our plans in Sapporo.
The greatest challenge you’ve faced while traveling?
Thankfully, the HoneyTrek has been surprisingly smooth with no great challenges that come to mind. Though to pick one, we’d say it’s trying to keep Skype phone dates with family and friends. With time zone differences and horrible internet connections, we don’t get to talk to them nearly as often as we’d like to.
One thing you don’t like about travel?
Guesthouse showers. More often than not in Asia and Africa hot water was not an option and the cold water distribution often involved a basin and a bucket, often shared with other people. Never take a steaming high-pressure shower for granted.
Top three dream destinations you’ve never been before?
- Bhutan: Semi-forbidden places always tempts us.
- Vanuatu. This South Pacific isle is said to have some the nicest people and most gorgeous beaches.
- Norway to see the fjords and Northern Lights but the good news is, we just booked our ticket!
Most useful piece of travel advice?
Don’t book ahead. Showing up in town and scouting the guesthouses and excursions in person will always yield better results than an internet booking. When you can talk to all the mom and pop shops in person, who don’t spend money on a website or referral company, you will always get a better deal, your favourite part of town and the best available room.
Thanks so much, Mike and Anne! Very inspirational stuff and wise words. If you’d like to hear more from HoneyTrek, you can follow them on their blog, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. With that many social media options, you have no reason not to follow along!
