Melo Villareal
This month, our featured travelers are Kach Medina and John Howe of Twomonkeystravelgroup.com. This traveling couple from the Philippines and UK have been exploring, living and working all over the world for almost two years now.
Machu Picchu
Since they met in Laos almost two years ago, they’ve been finding new ways to turn travelling into a truly sustainable and successful lifestyle. Apart from the awesome growth they have experienced with Two Monkeys Travel, they are also Yoga teachers, English teachers and Ayurveda massage therapists. By combining aspects of expat life and long-term backpacking this couple was able to travel longer and save money at the same time.
When did you started blogging, Why do you blog?
We’ve started the Two Monkeys Travel Blog last week of May 2014 (almost 8 months ago!). To be honest, we’ve started it after meeting this guy in Bodh Gaya, India! He told us he met this girl whose getting paid to travel and we were like, “is it possible?” since we’ve been already travelling for over a year! Initially, we’ve just wanted to get discounts and not to take it seriously that’s why on the first 3 months of blogging, we were only able to publish 3 articles on our blogger website then we went on hiatus for 2 months the continued again on last week of October when this big website in the Philippines featured us, that’s when we had this moment of- let’s take it seriously, we are inspiring people!
Biking the Death Road in Bolivia
Blogging is a hardcore career, kudos to all experienced bloggers out there! We are newbie in this field and still having a hard time! Ha!
When did you start traveling, inspirations?
Jon started his trip on last week of March 2013 while Kach started on last week of April. We’ve met on May 2013 though we liked each other, we’ve separated ways for 2 months and then became an official couple and travel buddies on July 2013.
Inspiration? We just want to leave our old monotonic corporate life and been wanting for more and new experience. We didn’t expect to meet each other in the backpacker’s bar in Luang Prabang! Just to answer it short – WE WANT FREEDOM. Freedom to do whatever we want whenever and wherever we want it!
Sand dunes in Huacachina in Peru
Lessons you learned on the road?
Be HUMBLE, the more you go to many places and meeting a lot of people, the more you would realize you don’t know much! Also, BE GOOD as you’ll always attract the people you deserve- you know Law of Attraction.
Destinations on your Bucket List?
There’s a lot! But our main goal for 2015 is to go to ANTARTICA!
Beach or Mountain?
Jon is Mountain while Kach is Philippines. Well, it can be easily explained since Jon grew up in the Lake District, North of England while Kach is from the Philippines!
Snorkeling in Maldives
How often do you travel by air / land?
Last 2014, I think we flew for 17 times (Hanoi-Singapore- India (4 domestic flights)-Maldives-India-Saudi-Qatar-Amsterdam- UK-Frankfurt-Dominican Republic-Panama-Peru) but when we arrived in Peru- we just travelled by overnight bus. When we’ve started this last trip (Peru-Bolivia-Chile) we were just travelling by overnight sleeper bus!
What’s your favorite airport?
Qatar Airport- the new one, we were able to see that when it just started operating for a week! And of course Singapore.
Stonehenge in UK
What is your favorite Hotel?
We love Sofitel and recently Radisson!
What is your preferred Airline?
Actually we don’t have a specific ones as most of our flights our one way tickets and only depends on the cheapness. But if you’ll ask us which one is our dream airlines then it’s Emirates, Qatar and Singapore Airlines – First class if possible! lol
How do you beat jet lag / Motion sickness?
You’ll just get used to it! Just clear your mind, proper breathing and meditate, I assume!
Taj Mahal in India
What are your favorite travel gadgets?
It is sad that we’re not techie but we plan to buy our iPhone for pictures and social media soon (yes, we have to for our blogging). We love the GoPro for the Adventure trips videos. We are actually not techie and still planning to invest on a nicer camera this 2015!
Any Tips on how to travel light?
It depends on the person but our style is this- ask yourself which is easier, washing the clothes weekly or carrying a 20 kilo backpack on 5 km walk/trek? I chose washing my clothes weekly. We travelled from UK to South America with only 10KG of total belongings and during this trip- we only have 7KG each for 2 months journey in Peru, Bolivia and Chile.
Best Backpack Brand?
We are planning to buy this TORTUGA brand this year!
Top 3 Philippine Destinations?
Batanes, All Mindanao and Palawan
Things you love about the Philippines?
People and Tinola!
Things you hate about the Philippines?
It’s hard to say- maybe Politics? But we are yogis and our world doesn’t think about negativity that much!
What made you decide to visit the Philippines?
Kach is from the Philippines and we plan to settle down there to build our Tantra Yoga and Ayurveda Resort.
Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia
Top 3 International Destinations?
INDIA. CHILE and SCOTLAND.
Favorite Travel Quote:
“Travel while you’re young and able. Don’t worry about the money, just make it work. Experience is far more valuable than money will ever be”- UNKNOWN
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