20 Things You Didn’t Know About Us

We’ve been writing this blog for a few years now and thought it was time you got to know us a bit more.

So, without further ado, here are ten things you probably don’t know about us and 10 you might even be glad you didn’t.

Micki

I grew up on a farm in the middle of the Canadian prairies. I can milk a cow, clean a chicken coop and grow vegetables. Sadly, these are not useful skills in the world of travel blogging. But I am well set up for the zombie apocalypse.

Micki and the Polynesian Pig
My new buddy…

I have a pig call that’s completely irresistible to Polynesian pigs. I discovered and perfected it while touring New Zealand for a few months a dozen years back. When I start a-calling, pigs come a-running.

I really, really despise black licorice. One word. Ewww…

I once ate a live meal worm. For a vegetarian that’s especially hard. It was a challenge in the Mitsubishi City Race (like a small scale Amazing Race) and I just had to do it. Even considering I’m a vegetarian, I’d take the meal worm over licorice any day.

I used to be a neuroscientist. I have the degree and everything to prove it. If you get me drunk enough, I’ll even tell you the title of my dissertation (though you’d probably need to be even more drunk to care).

Charles and I were once chased by the military police in Taiwan. We were only looking for an Italian restaurant. I swear.

I’m a closet martial arts nerd. I’ve taken classes in both styles of Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Taejitsu, Jujitsu and a lot of other itsus :).

Micki and Bruce Lee
Sadly, that’s not really Bruce Lee. I had to settle for a wax copy. He looks happy to see me 😉

I only speak one language fluently, despite traveling so much. I just seem to lack the gene for learning languages naturally. I am working on learning Spanish though, and I’m improving a bit every week. Being Canadian, I can also read a sizable amount of French. I think it has to do with all our grocery labels being bilingual.

A guy once pulled a Crocodile Dundee knife on Charles and me in the middle of the Australian Outback. Luckily, we can both talk our way into, or out of, almost anything so we’re still here. It was a pretty crazy evening though and we were quite happy to survive until morning.

I don’t wear jewelry. I started taking it off during Tae Kwon Do class, never remembered to put it back on, and then decided I just didn’t care about it. That said, I do still wear the engagement ring we bought from a guy in a hut in the jungles of Indonesia.

Charles

I’m a great baker. I have a definite sweet tooth for baked goods so when I can’t buy what I’m craving, I make it myself. Cookies and brownies are my favorites but I make everything from cupcakes and pies to homemade ice cream if the mood strikes me.

Charles Baking Goodies
Some of Charles’ homemade goodies

I’m embarrassed that I can’t juggle yet. Among my friends I’m known as a tinkerer. I’m the king of trivial things and there’s not much I don’t master before moving on to something new. That being said, I’ve started juggling a dozen times in my life and just when it seems I’m rounding a corner I lose ambition and do something else. When I eventually go back to it I have to start all over again. It’s working itself towards the top of my to do list once again.

We were once chased through a jungle in Indonesia by a water buffalo. They’re bigger than you’d think and when the local guy you’re following starts to run you don’t ask questions. You just hoof it out of there as fast as you can and hope for the best.

Scary Water Buffalo
I swear, they looked more vicious when they were chasing us

Potatoes are the base of almost all of my favorite meals. If it wasn’t for Mexican, Thai and pasta I would have potatoes of some sort every meal. And yes, I crave starch.

I hate social media. There, I said it. Sorry if that sounds bad, but if it wasn’t for Micki and the realities of blogging I would never update Facebook or throw a Tweet out. You can probably guess who handles the vast majority of social media for our site. Sorry, Micki.

I’m a super taster. I find most foods over spiced and over seasoned. Probably why I have an affinity for simple starchy foods and can’t stand eating fish. Even the best that the ocean has to offer is still too fishy for me. Trust me, I keep trying and hoping my taste buds die off. As far a super powers go, it’s more a pain than a blessing.

Barefoot Nomads at Waterfall
Not a sock in sight

I can’t stand wearing socks and shoes. I don’t mind sandals when we’re out and about but I’m always happiest barefoot around the house or yard. Put me on sand or grass and my feet almost dance with happiness.

I don’t like wine. However, I can pick out any scent or flavor in a glass of it, from blackberry to grass to oak. That being said, I do enjoy checking out vineyards from around the world, however it’s more for the ambiance than the wine. Micki’s barely forgiven me for throwing away a promising career as a professional wine taster.

I used to have a fear of the telephone. Don’t laugh, I’m serious. I never had a problem calling friends or family, but cold calling or calling to order a pizza nearly gave me a panic attack. I’m sure it had to do with a telephone prank gone bad as a kid, however after no end of teasing from Micki I finally pushed past it. I’m happy to say that now I’m telephonophobia free.

I love searching online. It doesn’t matter what the topic is or how small the need to find out, I love the hunt for answers. My dream job might be as a professional Googler. I have no idea if it’s thrill of the chase or just the fact that I know someone, somewhere, at some point, wrote about something I need the answer to. If I could do that successfully from the comfort of a hammock or a deck a few feet from a gorgeous ocean beach I would consider my pursuit of happiness complete. That is, until I got bored and went looking for something else to do…