Social media can be terrible sometimes, but it can also provide opportunities. Suman and Doulos of Nomadic Shoes met because of a Facebook post, and ended up traveling together not just on one trip, but around the world and all the way to the altar. Along the way, they’ve grown so much, both as people and as travelers, and they’ve shared some of their stories and advice with us in the following interview.
What’s your story?
The story started over a Facebook post where I wrote that I was going on a trip to Kasol in India and would love some company. Doulos and one more girl reached out to me and we three decided to travel together. Before the trip, I thought I should at least meet this guy before travelling with him.
A week before the trip, we met on a Sunday afternoon in the month of May and as usual he was late and I waited for a while (hate waiting, I am usually on time). And, we ended up spending a few hours talking (he did the talking and I listened) at a tea shop.
He seemed like a nice guy and that was that. On the day of our travel, the first thing he told me when we met at the bus terminal was that my slippers resembled a bumble bee. I thought, who says that kind of thing to people they just met!
For two days in Kasol, we all had a good time. It was on a night where I decided to stay in Kasol and he carried on to another destination. After a Whatsapp chat and some flirting we met the next day. The very first day he told me that if we continue this then it’s going to be for ever. I didn’t take him seriously initially, but each day with this wonderful human being has been a blessing to me. After dating for two years, we married in 2016 and it’s been 4 years of marital bliss.
Do you have the same travel style or different travel styles? How does this impact your adventures together?
We have different travel styles, he likes slow travel whereas I enjoy seeing things. Doulos enjoys driving so we usually drive to our destinations and I enjoy being the navigator. I research a lot before going to a place where he doesn’t like but I find the best experiences which eventually we both enjoy. Our styles might be different but it compliments our travels.
What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned from traveling as partners? What makes your partnership work on the road?
We both give each other space. I am an introvert and would enjoy road trips more by just looking outside and he, being an extrovert, enjoys talking. Over the years, we have become comfortable with each other. I started having more conversations and he likes the occasional moments of silence. We learnt to be more accepting of each other as travel partners.
What’s the best part about traveling as partners? And the biggest challenge?
The best part is that we respect each other’s personal space and are always open to new ideas. The biggest challenge is sometimes budgeting. We don’t agree on where to spend money most of the time. Also, he likes documenting everything, like everything from when we fill the petrol to where we stopped for tea. I was initially not too much into it but now I got habituated and realised that all this information later helps me when I am writing my blogs. Always see the silver lining in every challenge.
Based on your experience, what’s the best advice you have for couples who have just scheduled their first trip together?
It is very important to be respectful of personal space and let your partner have the freedom to express their opinions. Sometimes, we have to adjust for the other person and it’s perfectly alright to do so, because what you give is what you get and sometimes even more.
We all deal with stressors differently, be accepting of this and provide support to your partner in dealing with the stress.
Share their story with your favorite travel partner!
This Seat’s Taken interview series: Adriana & Matěj of Czech the World
