Falling was the easiest thing to do

In a time now past, the scenario would have been a dream. To the left, the waves crashed gracefully on sand lit by a clear night sky. The moon had reached a turgid state, as if its illumination would burst from the circular entrapment, spilling out over the torrid horizon. The beach was desolate for miles, leaving only our tent to occupy the fine, white sand. Yet, the occupants of our previous encounter no longer existed, and the schism between our bodies seemed to grow larger than the area of our transient shelter. The magic we once shared had faded, and no amount of force could bring it back.

Whether you aspire to find it, or it forcefully inserts itself into your world, travel romances are an essential piece to the traveling puzzle. The beauty being that they always seems to land in the place their jagged edges and obscure shape are supposed to fit. Travel romances are fast, fun, and emotionally charged, with anyone who has experienced the phenomena unable to forget it. The inexplicable link between two wandering souls is a bond chosen recipients wouldn’t trade for the world.



So how does one end up in a travel romance? To start, one has to be on the road. While this can occur anywhere outside of the confines of your own home, it typically becomes the result of passion-fueled conversations between two total strangers in a far off, distant land. Often times the parties are from different places, but find an unexpected amount of common bonds. With both being in a place foreign to themselves, the idea of finding someone so similar is striking. Before either party has time to actualize what's happening, the two are immersed in an incredibly strong connection, feeling twists and turns in their stomachs akin to dropping from great heights.

Travel romances are like travel experiences; they come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes you meet someone whom you feel as if you’ve been looking for all of eternity, and yet, after a few days, your paths may begin to stray in opposing directions. Other times, your new formed duo may explore the vast world for weeks or months in joyful unison. Maybe you are one of the lucky ones whom find your paths are irreversibly intwined. The fact is, all of these are beautiful, meaningful, and not something to scoff at. Linear time does not exist while traveling, with measurement only based on what you’ve felt and lived while in commune with one another. Duration has no say in the matter.

One unavoidable caveat of transient relationships is what to do when your paths first become seperated. In the age of the internet, even if our bodies are miles apart, social media can keep us connected. Bangkok is only a few clicks and flights away from Paris, so lovers can be reunited at the drop of a hat. But does this actually present a good option? Wasn’t part of the initial magic of the experience having a serendipitous meeting in a foreign land, with only fate as your guide? Can that same magic work its way through wires and wifi, or will you find yourself on the shores of the pacific ocean, wondering where the past love got lost on the way? That question, of course, can only be answered by those on either end of the glowing, touch screen.


For those in the midst of travel, or on the verge of taking the leap, the only advice one can tender is make yourself open to the opportunity at hand. Fall in love with new places and people. Speak your mind and feed your soul. Let the journey you’ve embarked upon fully run its course, and everything else will fall into place. Who knows, maybe once you find your true path, you’ll realize that you are sharing the space with someone you never knew existed, and will never again live without. 



Photos courtesy of Them Resort, Travelettes, and We Heart It