By Simon Tang and Julie Lin

We are Simon and Julie, a newlywed couple from Taipei, Taiwan. We got married a few months ago and just returned from our honeymoon trip across the UK, Ireland and France. It was our first time traveling together as a couple, and it was a life-changing and eye-opening experience. We loved the trip and we want to share our story with other couples who are thinking of traveling together. We believe that traveling together is one of the best ways to strengthen your relationship, learn more about each other, and grow as people.

He Says: Why We Decided to Travel Together

I have always loved traveling and exploring new places. I think traveling is a great way to broaden your horizons, challenge yourself, and have fun. I have traveled to many countries before, mostly with my friends or by myself. But I have never traveled with a partner before, let alone a wife.

When Julie and I got engaged, we decided to have a destination wedding in Bali, Indonesia. We invited our families and close friends to join us for a week of celebration and relaxation. It was a beautiful and memorable wedding, and we were very happy and grateful.

After the wedding, we wanted to have a honeymoon trip that would be different from our usual vacations. We wanted to have a trip that would be more adventurous, more cultural, and more romantic. We wanted to have a trip that would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

We decided to travel to Europe, a continent that neither of us had visited before. We chose three countries that we were interested in: the UK, Ireland, and France. We planned to spend 20 days in total, visiting the major cities and attractions, as well as some off-the-beaten-path places. We booked our flights, hotels, and tours online, and we did a lot of research on the places we wanted to see and the things we wanted to do.

We were very excited and nervous about our trip. We knew that traveling together would be a test of our relationship, as we would have to face many challenges and uncertainties along the way. We also knew that traveling together would be an opportunity to bond with each other, as we would have to share many experiences and memories along the way. We hoped that our trip would be a success, and that we would come back as a better couple.

She Says: How We Prepared for Our Trip

I have always enjoyed traveling and discovering new places. I think traveling is a great way to enrich your life, educate yourself, and have fun. I have traveled to many countries before, mostly with my family or by myself. But I have never traveled with a partner before, let alone a husband.

When Simon and I got married, we decided to have a honeymoon trip that would be different from our usual vacations. We decided to travel to Europe, a continent that neither of us had visited before. We chose three countries that we were curious about: the UK, Ireland, and France. We planned to spend 20 days in total, visiting the major cities and attractions, as well as some hidden gems. We booked our flights, hotels, and tours online, and we did a lot of research on the places we wanted to see and the things we wanted to do.

We were very excited and nervous about our trip. We knew that traveling together would be a challenge for our relationship, as we would have to deal with many difficulties and surprises along the way. We also knew that traveling together would be a chance to connect with each other, as we would have to share many experiences and emotions along the way. We hoped that our trip would be a success, and that we would come back as a better couple.

To prepare for our trip, we had to do a lot of things. We had to pack our bags, exchange our money, buy our travel insurance, and get our visas. We also had to make sure that we had everything we needed for our trip, such as our passports, tickets, maps, guides, and cameras. We tried to pack as light as possible, but we also wanted to bring some souvenirs and gifts for our families and friends.

One of the things that we had to consider was the language barrier. Since we were traveling to countries where English was the main language, we thought that we would not have much trouble communicating with the locals. However, we also knew that there might be some differences in accents, slang, and expressions that could cause some confusion or misunderstanding. I speak better English than Simon, so he had to rely on me to get around. I was happy to help him, but I also wanted him to learn some basic words and phrases that could be useful for our trip.

Another thing that we had to consider was the cultural difference. Since we were traveling to countries that had different histories, traditions, and customs from ours, we thought that we would have to be respectful and open-minded. We also wanted to learn as much as we could about the cultures and people that we would encounter. We did some research on the internet, but we also wanted to talk to the locals and get their perspectives and insights. We were looking forward to experiencing the diversity and richness of Europe.

He Says: What We Did and Saw in Our Trip

Our trip was amazing and unforgettable. We visited many places and saw many things that we had never seen before. We also met many people and learned many things that we had never known before. We had a lot of fun and a lot of challenges. Here are some of the highlights of our trip.

• In the UK, we visited London, Edinburgh, and Liverpool. We saw the famous landmarks, such as the Big Ben, the Tower Bridge, the Buckingham Palace, the Westminster Abbey, and the London Eye. We also visited the museums, such as the British Museum, the National Gallery, and the Tate Modern. We enjoyed the culture and the entertainment, such as the musicals, the pubs, and the markets. We also took a day trip to Stonehenge, the mysterious prehistoric monument. In Edinburgh, we explored the castle, the old town, and the royal mile. We also hiked up to Arthur’s Seat, the hill that overlooks the city. In Liverpool, we visited the Beatles Museum, the Albert Dock, and the Anfield Stadium. We also took a ferry across the Mersey, the river that inspired the famous song.
• In Ireland, we visited Dublin, Cork, and Galway. We saw the historic and religious sites, such as the Trinity College, the St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Blarney Castle, and the Cliffs of Moher. We also experienced the nature and the countryside, such as the Ring of Kerry, the Killarney National Park, and the Aran Islands. We enjoyed the food and the drink, such as the Guinness, the Irish stew, and the soda bread. We also listened to the music and the stories, such as the Irish folk, the U2, and the legends of leprechauns and fairies.
• In France, we visited Paris, Lyon, and Nice. We saw the iconic and romantic sights, such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Notre Dame, and the Arc de Triomphe. We also visited the art and the culture, such as the Musee d’Orsay, the Pompidou Center, and the Montmartre. We enjoyed the cuisine and the wine, such as the croissant, the cheese, the crepe, and the champagne. We also explored the history and the architecture, such as the Versailles, the Lyon Cathedral, and the Nice Promenade.

She Says: What We Felt and Learned in Our Trip

Our trip was wonderful and memorable. We felt many emotions and learned many lessons that we had never felt or learned before. We also faced many problems and solved many issues that we had never faced or solved before. We had a lot of joy and a lot of stress. Here are some of the insights of our trip.

• Traveling together made us closer and stronger as a couple. We had to work as a team, to plan, to decide, to communicate, and to compromise. We had to support each other, to comfort, to encourage, and to appreciate. We had to trust each other, to respect, to listen, and to understand. We had to share everything, from the good to the bad, from the happy to the sad, from the exciting to the boring. We had to deal with everything, from the flights to the hotels, from the weather to the traffic, from the language to the culture. We had to enjoy everything, from the sights to the sounds, from the tastes to the smells, from the people to the animals. We had to learn everything, from the history to the geography, from the art to the science, from the politics to the religion. We had to grow together, as individuals and as a couple.
• Traveling together also made us realize our differences and weaknesses as a couple. We had to face our conflicts, to argue, to disagree, and to apologize. We had to accept our flaws, to admit, to forgive, and to improve. We had to respect our preferences, to choose, to compromise, and to balance. We had to adjust our expectations, to be realistic, to be flexible, and to be positive. We had to overcome our challenges, to be patient, to be brave, and to be creative. We had to cope with our stress, to be calm, to be kind, and to be humorous. We had to learn from our mistakes, to be humble, to be open, and to be wise. We had to grow together as a couple. We had to grow together, as individuals and as a couple.
• Traveling together also made us appreciate our similarities and strengths as a couple. We had to celebrate our achievements, to praise, to thank, and to reward. We had to enjoy our hobbies, to play, to laugh, and to have fun. We had to share our passions, to inspire, to motivate, and to support. We had to express our feelings, to love, to hug, and to kiss. We had to cherish our moments, to remember, to capture, and to treasure. We had to make our memories, to create, to surprise, and to delight. We had to dream together, to imagine, to plan, and to hope. We had to grow together, as individuals and as a couple.

Join us here tomorrow for part two of Simon and Julie’s story on traveling as a couple. They share their tips and practical advice on how to make it work.