Let’s back up a minute. Who remembers when I ran a contest with Cathay back during the holidays where the winner would get to travel with me as their guide? Anyone? Bueller? That trip actually happened last month. To everyone who said I wouldn’t go through with it and travel with a complete stranger overseas… you.were.wrong. Oh it happened alright. Am I crazy? Bitch I might be.
Hannah and I first met while boarding a 777 together. We landed in Hong Kong 14 hours later, checked into five hotels together, ate every meal together, became each other’s photog, and eventually became best travel buddies. Think about this for a second. Think about how horribly wrong this could have gone – to take a complete stranger to the other side of the world, one who has never ever traveled abroad. This was Hannah’s first trip overseas, but this didn’t scare me off. This made it THAT much better, to be the first person to show her just how beautiful this crazy world can be. Talk about brave, both she and I. But I think the real winner here is my longterm partner, Cathay Pacific.
I’ve wanted to take a reader on a trip with me for quite some time. I receive many messages from you guys wanting to jump in my suitcase or experience my life for a day, and it was about time something like this took place (not the jump in the suitcase part). Cathay Pacific made it happen when we launched our #BucketListWithLesley campaign in December 2015. Contestants entered by uploading an Instagram photo on their own account while answering the following:
What’s on your Asia travel bucket list for 2016? Find Asian influences in your area or from your travels. Share destinations that inspire and motivate you to seek out new cultures, cuisines, and adventures.
Simple enough, right? Hannah probably thought so. After uploading just one photo throughout the week long contest, she caught my attention since she’d never been out of the US, but she obviously possessed the courage and desire to travel overseas – with a complete stranger might I add. She got creative and sought Asian influences where she lived in Maine. Here’s her entry:
“When I learned of #BucketListWithLesley I had to give it a shot. It was second nature, I reacted with such excitement. It’s not everyday that a trip to Asia is nearly handed to you on a silver platter by your favorite travel journalist and spirit animal, yes you @lesleyannemurphy, and @cathaypacific! But today is that day.
Having never traveled internationally, I sought out Asian influences in my area. My journey to Asia begins with Asia West, a store nestled in Portland, Maine that serves as our pocket of Asian influence. Once inside you’ll be transported across the world. This photo is just one example of the colors, intricately designed textiles and statuary I would find in Asia. The colors and intricacy pictured here are mimicked all throughout Asian culture from its history and its people to the architecture, land, and wildlife.
There is so much to be explored and discovered in Asia. Let’s brush the surface and uncover what we can with the time we’re given. Here’s to dreaming, exploring, discovering, and learning.”
If that doesn’t give you all the feels, I don’t know what does.
I remember arriving to Boston Logan International Airport to check into our direct flight to Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific‘s hub. I was actually a bit nervous as I made my way through securing and towards the gate. I’m never nervous when traveling, but take a trip with a complete stranger for two weeks and see how you start the journey! Would she be a weird eater? Would she want to party until the wee hours of the morning? Does she snore? (Yes, we shared a room!) Would she have a weird, annoying fetish? Was she a nervous flyer? YOU NEVER KNOW, Y’ALL.
The nerves soon subsided when I realized how amazing this trip was about to be. Not only was Hannah ready for any adventure thrown at her, but she loved everything I did – quality breakfasts, workouts, photography, exploring no matter the temperature, and forgoing sleep if that meant being able to work from the world’s largest bed while eating yummy room service. A match made in travel heaven, we were. And no, she didn’t possess any weird eating habits or fetishes! Phew!
From Hong Kong to Bangkok to Chiang Mai to Krabi, Thailand, we conquered a small, beautiful, and extremely warm slice of southeast Asia together.
Our own little food tour through Hong Kong 
On top of Breeze Restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand 
Cruising on a longtail boat from Krabi, Thailand
When you travel with any companion – whether it be a sister, a brother, a spouse, a friend, a church group – it can be tough to spend so much togetherness with someone else while sticking to an itinerary. Different personality types and opinions can clash, and frankly, traveling with the wrong person can ruin a trip. I definitely lucked out during this Asia Tour with Cathay Pacific. Thanks for joining us, Hannah! Until the next adventure together!
Over to you! Would you travel with a complete stranger if you had the chance? You never know when I could launch the next #BucketListWithLesley campaign!
I am so happy you had an awesome travel partner. She had to have had the time of her life. You are amazing, and like I said when I saw this was happening, If I weren’t an old lady, I would have fought like h*** to do this. I adore you, if I was still 30, awe, this would have been amaze…
Aw thanks, Donna! Would’ve been amaze for sure 🙂
If its with you Lesley, then absolutely yes. I love that you will try anything and you would be an amazing tour guide. I really do hope you run this competition again. Cheers to the amazing work you do and I love the Snap Chats.
Cheers, Christine! Thanks for the kind words and for following along!
I loved following this adventure on snapchat! It looked like you guys had a blast and I was drooling over some of the scenery. Take me somewhere tropical next!
Would love to! And so happy you love following along 😉
Awesome! that you do this I’ll do the same if I have a career like yours. It’s nice and fun to find somebody who likes to do and travel and become "cool buddies". I like what you do Lesley, if only I’m young like your age. Hanna is so lucky and your pictures are adorable.
Thanks so much, Elaine! Appreciate your sweet words!
Nearly impossible to love a stranger more than I love you! Such a surreal, amazing, gluttonizing (is that even a word), exciting, life changing, hilarious, soul searching experience. I can’t wait for the next one 😉 XOXOXOXOXO
P.S…. It’s going to be very hard to find another airline I love as much as Cathay Pacific. SPOILED!
Awesome adventure exploring SE Asia! Followed it all on Snapchat. Glad you took my recommendation on Oddies Foodies. Yummy!!
This is such an amazing idea and looks like a fantastic trip! Asia is beautiful, and sharing it with someone new totally heightens the experience 🙂
I’d travel with you in a heartbeat 🙂