One of the most life-altering travel experiences I’ve ever had was meeting my future husband. We met a long time back in the Philippines. For a few months, I traveled alone throughout Southeast Asia. After finishing my dive course on Indonesia’s Gili Air Island, I wasn’t sure where to go next.

I was seeking a suitable location to learn to surf. I was told about San Fernando, a small Philippine town on Luzon Island, by my dive instructor. It seemed like the ideal spot for me. I bought a plane ticket right away, and I got to San Fernando two days later.

The dormitory at the hostel I stayed in was huge and had many beds. Campbell was among the many travelers that I met. We had adjoining beds in the dorm, truth be told. He traveled solo also and we loved one another, so we began going together to the ocean side, surfing and going out around evening time. Due to coincidental similarities in our travel plans, we decided to continue our journey together.