Vacationers of the Week: Aon and Lan, Deer is Travelling
Vacationer Magazine crossed the globe to connect with content creators and bloggers, Aon (32) and Lan (34). Even though they can’t officially get married in Thailand, they have been together for seven years, making them perfectly paired partners who enjoy traveling. Aon and Lan are based in Bangkok and live in Silom, the city’s gay neighborhood, and they are our Vacationers of the Week!
Vacationer Magazine: What trip or travel experience sparked your passion for travel?
Aon and Lan: When we first started dating, it was important for us to find something that we could do together and enjoy. We decided that travel was the perfect passion for us to share. We enjoy planning our trips together and taking in all of the sights and sounds that come with exploring a new place. We love experiencing new cultures, meeting new people, and trying new foods. We love taking photos together and creating memories that will last us a lifetime. We both agree that traveling together has been a great way to strengthen our relationship, as it helps us to appreciate and value each other.
What inspires you to travel?
As a gay couple, we find that traveling is a great way to explore the world and find new perspectives. We love to challenge ourselves to experience different cultures and customs and to learn more about the world around us. We also find a lot of inspiration in meeting new people and learning about their lives and experiences. We believe that traveling can open our eyes to new possibilities and broaden our understanding of the world. Ultimately, we are inspired to travel to expand our horizons and discover new experiences.
Tell us if how you identify influences the way your travel. If so, how?
We both identify as gay men. Being a part of the LGBTQIA community has had a huge impact on our travels, particularly in terms of the places we choose to visit. We’ve chosen to focus our travels on places that are more open and accepting of our community, and we’ve had the opportunity to meet and connect with fellow LGBTQIA travelers in many parts of the world. Being able to explore the world as an openly gay couple has been incredibly liberating, and it’s opened up a whole new world of possibilities for us in terms of travel. We’ve experienced so much more richness and depth in our travels because of this.
How long have you been traveling together? What was your first trip together? Would you recommend it to other LGBTQ+ travelers?
We have been traveling together for six years now! Our first trip together was to Thailand, and we loved it. We had the chance to explore so many different cultures and locations, including Japan, Hong Kong, Laos, Vietnam, Singapore, Taiwan, and Macao. We would definitely recommend it to other LGBTQ+ travelers, as we had great experiences and felt safe and accepted.
Was it naturally easy to start traveling with one another? What are the perks of traveling as a couple?
Traveling as a couple has been an amazing journey for us! It wasn’t easy at first, as we were learning how to navigate different cultures, languages, and customs. We had to adapt to one another’s pace and preferences, as well as manage our budget. However, the rewards have been far greater than any of the challenges we faced.
One of the biggest perks of traveling as a couple is that we get to experience and explore so much more than either of us could on our own. We get to share our adventures, and there’s no one else we’d rather have by our side.
How would you describe your travel style in a few words?
Go with the flow!
What are three things LGBTQ+ travelers should do when visiting Bangkok?
I would say Bangkok is so gay-friendly, you don’t need to think about places being LGBTQ+ friendly, people are mostly very friendly. At least we never had issues!
As for places, I would recommend you BACC (modern art museum, free of charge entry and air-con), Train Market (trendy night market with a lot of nice fusion food), and Lumpini Park (since there are not many green zones in Bangkok).
What are your top three favorite places to visit? Why?
We still enjoying Thailand even though we live here! Taiwan and Japan would probably be second and third places, but our ranking is not too serious, we possibly just love being active and exploring new destinations together.
What three places are still on your bucket list to visit? Why?
Our bucket list is ever-growing, but the three places we would love to visit, in particular, are Indonesia, South Africa, and Spain. Indonesia for its rich cultural heritage and beautiful scenery, South Africa for its diverse wildlife and stunning landscapes, and Spain for its friendly people and exciting cities. We would love to experience the unique culture, cuisine, and attractions that each of these countries has to offer!
What’s one thing you never forget to pack in your suitcase?
We never forget to pack our skin care products when we travel. We take special care to ensure our skin stays healthy and hydrated, even when we’re on the go. We always make sure to bring face wash, moisturizer, sunblock, and our favorite face masks. We’ve also learned to bring travel-sized containers of our favorite products so that we don’t have to compromise our skincare routine, no matter where we’re going.
You’re going on a road trip or a long-haul flight. What singer or band is always on your playlist?
We love Tame Impala and Arctic Monkeys. So always them!
