RSSSubscribe via RSS / Email

#rtwsoon Interview: Gerard & Kieu – GQ trippin

#rtwsoon Interview: Gerard & Kieu – GQ trippin

It’s been nearly 3 months since our last #rtwsoon interview so we’re delighted to finally be able to bring you another one! Gerard and Kieu of GQ trippin are taking off around the world in just 68 days and any itinerary that includes Holi in India, Songkran in Thailand and a visit to our homeland of Australia sounds pretty great to us!

Who are you?Gerard and Kieu

We’re Gerard and Kieu. GQ for short.

We’re Californians. We travel. We eat. And we’re always hungry for more. San Jose natives, we’ve been each others’ “lobster” for the last 7 years (and counting). We met through a mutual friend at, of all places, a nightclub.

Together, we’ve backpacked Europe, cruised the Mediterranean and celebrated one awesome New Years in Brazil.

G: I’m a gadget guy who wishes there was more time in the day so he could catch up on some XBOX games. My professional career consisted of 6 years in Marketing, and I recently completed my MBA at UMASS Amherst. I’m a foodie and believe you should always leave room for dessert!

Thanks to my former job, I’ve been to almost all corners of the US – New York, Seattle, Miami and Chicago to name a few. The only Q-less trips I’ve taken abroad were to Costa Rica and Spain.

Q: I’m a lefty with a minor case of OCD. Shoes are my guilty pleasure. Burrata mozzarella is my latest obsession. I watch I Love Lucy reruns and sometimes I really do dream in black and white. I’m an Italophile. I like to have a plan. Spontaneity is not in my blood.

I caught the bug early on. Before G, I’ve been to Hawaii and Germany. Studied a semester in Paris and have visited the Motherland Vietnam more times than I can count.

Rio De Janeiro - December 2010

Rio De Janeiro - December 2010

Where are you going on your RTW?

We’re slowing things down, opting for a mini RTW as opposed to a full one in order to spend more time in one place.

That said, we’re trippin’ through Pan-Asia with stops in Australia, Singapore, S. Korea, China, Cambodia and Vietnam. We do have a basic itinerary, but you know that’s always subject to change while you’re on the road. 😉

Other known stops — New Years in New Zealand, Holi in India, Songkran in Thailand and a wedding in Hawaii — are just a few reasons our half-way RTW is mapped out the way it is.

And aside from our one-way ticket to Auckland (and ongoing to Melbourne), that’s pretty much it. Even though it’s not in us to be entirely spontaneous, we are leaving the majority of the itinerary open and flexible for whatever may come our way.

When are you leaving?

We leave for New Zealand on December 27, 2011 (yikes!).

We wanted to stay long enough to spend Christmas with the family, but also could not pass up the opportunity to ring in the New Year (first!) half-way across the globe.

New York City - June 2005

New York City - June 2005

Why did you decide to go on this trip?

A 12-day vacation is not much of a vacation if you ask me. We’ve maxed it every which way possible in the Corporate world, including manipulating sick days and holidays. You know what they say, Go big or go home.

We’re going big (obviously). It’s always been a goal of ours to be able to one day travel long-term. Reality is there are certain things we hope to accomplish in our twenties that we wouldn’t be able to do otherwise in our forties or later, at least not in the same way. Timing just worked out perfectly for us now so we’re going to seize the day.

And besides, G always says, if the world is really going to end in 2012, we might as well go out with a bang!

What will you be doing to pass the time before your travels?

We don’t really have much time left.

Fortunate for G, he was laid off. He’s enjoying his funemployment and recently signed-up and started training for a half marathon slated for November! His new hobby — connecting with like-minded travelers through Twitter.

I am still working and dread the day I have to break the news to my boss (soon, eh). Currently planning one kick-ass going away party ever!

This will be the longest time we will be away so we’re both making a conscious effort to spent some quality time with our family and friends.

If you could give just one piece of advice to a fellow #rtwsoon traveler, what would it be?

Maximize your corporate insurance policy. Shots for travel are not cheap and man are those malaria pills expensive! If you wear glasses, get a backup pair. Or did you know you can use your vision insurance for sunglasses? And as much as you hate visiting the dentist, you don’t want to know how much a regular cleaning actually costs. Plus think how great it’d be to have those pearly whites just in time for the most amazing adventure of your life! 😀 Safe trippin’!

Visit Gerard & Kieu’s Website: GQ trippin
Follow Gerard & Kieu on Twitter: @gqtrippin

If you’re heading around-the-world in the next 12 months and would like to be featured here, please contact us.

6 Comments

  1. WordPress › Error

    There has been a critical error on this website.

    Learn more about troubleshooting WordPress.