Our 5 Favorite Travel Memories

We live in very uncertain times. That's why it's so important to us to reflect on the trips we've taken (and documented on @onairplanemode__) over the past year. and not let all that is there be lost or forgotten. We traveled all of Southeast Asia and had unforgettable experiences that definitely made our relationship closer. Here’s our top five  travel memories:

1. Surfing on Siargao Island 

Going to The Philippines was one of the best decisions we made, everything from the food to the culture to the beautiful turquoise water was such an amazing experience but of all the islands we bounced from, Siargao was our favorite! Siargao is known as the surfing capital of the Philippines and hosts international surfing competitions every year. We made great friends with the locals and woke up every morning at 5am for sunrise yoga and surf, you would even see the dogs on surfboards. Everyone there was incredibly friendly and there was so much to do. If you weren’t surfing, you were on your motorbike driving down fields of palm trees, going to see pristine beaches, jumping from waterfalls, it is the true definition of paradise.  

2. Riding Scooters Through Bali

The best way to get around most Asian cities is by scooter. You can rent them for as little as $2 USD a day and drive them for hours on end. We used them to get us to hidden beaches through the epic Ha Giang Loop in Vietnam and the deserts of Malaysia. It grants us the freedom of traveling to places we wouldn’t have otherwise seen if we went through a tour group. One of our favorite moments was driving past all of the sunset perfect beaches in Bali. #livingourbestlife

3. Pride in Taiwan

Taiwan was the first Asian country to legalize gay marriage in 2019 and it just happened to be announced during their Gay Pride. We knew we couldn’t miss out on this historical celebration so we booked our flights to Taiwan just in time for the event. It was a week long of happiness and rainbows as we partied into the night with the locals. It was amazing to see all of us gays out and about celebrating through the streets. 

4. Exploring Komodo Island

When you think of Indonesia, you probably think of Bali. Most tourism stops here and rarely do people get a chance to get out to the other islands. One of our favorite experiences was making it out to Komodo. We flew to Labuan Bajo, a fisherman village on the coast of Flores where you can take a multiple day boat trip to the national park islands. We did the three day/ two night trip to Rinca island, Padar Island and Komodo. Not only can you find some of the last Komodo dragons in the wild here, but you can also find a handful of pink beaches and go swimming with manta rays!

5. Becoming Mermaids in the Philippines

Kirstie learned how to swim a few weeks before we arrived in the Philippines and it was perfect timing. The Philippines is home to some of the most stunning marine life, waterfalls, and sandbars we have ever seen. With over 7,000 islands to see, it is easy to see why Kirstie picked up swimming so fast. 

Kirstie and Christine are the lesbian couple behind the @OnAirplaneMode__ Instagram handle (and an associated travel blog).  Their adventures have taken them through Asia, Europe, and India. Their motto is “Travel. Hustle. Repeat.”