Background: BBC Travel put out an open call for submissions for their ‘Chance Encounters‘ series. It paid well, and it was a chance to be featured on BBC, so I obviously jumped on the opportunity.
The open call requested “…compelling first-person stories about chance encounters: tales of romance, connection or extraordinary kindness.”
While this is a departure from what I normally write about, I really quite like this story. My editor and I went back and forth on it and I spent quite a bit of time crafting it.
I emailed over the beginning of the story and was asked to submit the rest on speculation, but ultimately, the BBC passed on the story.
Even though BBC is passing on it, I like it enough to share here. And, despite the click-baitish title, I hold no ill will toward BBC Travel and hope to work with them in the future. So BBC, if you’re reading this, call me!
So, I present to you: The Story BBC Travel Rejected
My first night in Thailand, I matched with a guy on Tinder, we had apparently both swiped right. He invited me for drinks, but I was tired, jet lagged, borderline exhausted.
“Maybe we could meet tomorrow?” I suggested.
But tonight was the only time he was free. He was traveling with a friend, and she was sick. The rest of the time they had plans together.
“Sorry it didn’t work out then,” I told him, setting my phone down.
As I lay in bed in a cheap guesthouse, halfway around the world from my familiar life, it hit me. Wasn’t this why I had left home? Adventure, excitement, the possibility of something new— wasn’t this why I had sold everything I owned and come to the other side of the world with only what I could carry in a used backpack?
But now, when an attractive, seemingly interesting guy asks me for drinks, I can’t be bothered.
I grabbed the phone off the table to text him again.
“Actually let’s grab a beer,” I told him.
That night we met for beers and engaged in the usual first date banter. Where are you from, what do you do, etc. Afterwards we decided to grab more beer to take back to my guesthouse.
We stayed up all night discussing things with more substance. Politics, religion, racism. There was something between us and we both felt it. That indescribable feeling that writers have wasted so many words trying to describe. Chemistry, connection, timing, attraction –- it all seemed to come together at once.
As the sun began to rise on this small Thai island, we realized we were the cliché tourists: sitting on the beach watching the sunrise and still sipping beers as others went for their morning runs.
We spent the next two years dating, seeing nearly twenty countries together. Our love story played out all over the world.
We hurled tomatoes at strangers in Spain during La Tomatina, the world’s largest tomato fight. We trekked through the jungles of Malaysia in search of the corpse flower, the world’s largest flower.
We shared his first white Christmas when we came home to the states to meet my friends and family. We rode hot air balloons over the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia.
We went scuba diving off an idyllic island in Indonesia and traveled all of Iceland by car in search of the best waterfalls.
We climbed the temples of Myanmar.
We sat on top of a stupa in Kathmandu and smoked hashish. We had authentic Turkish baths in Istanbul. We shared the perfect plate of pasta in Italy and had more than a little wine to wash it down.
We’ve been whale watching in Sri Lanka. We’ve argued on the streets of Bangkok. Twice.
At one point there was talk of marriage, kids even. I thought of proposing on the hot air balloon ride.
But eventually, the distance became too much. Never knowing when we would next see one another. During our first year of dating, we went three months without seeing one another. It was a relationship dependent on wifi, we joked.
We realized that as much as we cared for one another, the conditions were impossible. I feel if relationships are difficult then long distance relationships where you both live on different continents are even more so. His job as a flight attendant allowed us to see one another often, but it was always unsure, never certain.
We realized it would never work unless one of us quit traveling, and neither of us were ready for that. We had both left our homes and given up everything to follow our common dream of seeing the world, and the thing that had brought us together played the lead in our undoing.
It turns out travel was our real first love.
Today, he’s still one of my best friends. I’m actually flying to Bangkok to meet him tomorrow.
All from a single swipe right.
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Awwww this is such a lovely story, I also had a long distance relationship for 4 years with someone I met travelling, only for it to finish for similar reasons. The love of the road eh? Xxx
Four year on a long distance? Impressive! We only made it two but managed to salvage a really great friendship out of it. Yeah, the sacrifices we make for travel I suppose.
You need to write more like this Nathan. You really really do. I can so see YOU in this and I love it!!
Thank you, it’s something I’ve been kind of going back and forth over. I’m not really comfortable talking about myself but the few times I’ve done somewhat personal pieces they’ve done the best. I almost sold this story to another site when BBC passed on it but I thought I’d put it on my own site and see how it does. I have to figure out the line between discussing enough of my personal life so that readers feel they know me and also having a private life. I’m sure you know the struggle!
This is beautiful Nathan, a good read to start my day <3
Thank you! I appreciate you saying that. I was pretty proud of how the story turned out.
Really, totally love this story and so relatable!! I was in a similar situation (ldr) and mutually agreed ok this is not working, so can we be friends. One year after, we still update each other on whatever gorgeous scenes we stumble upon on our journeys. Still the best of friends!
For sure! It’s great because things didn’t end on a bad note- it’s not that we fought or hate one another. The reality of the situation just got to be too much! I actually even let him read the post before I published it!
Aww this is such a bittersweet story. I’m glad you posted this here despite being a departure from your usual fare. It’s indeed a challenge for us to meet The One, isn’t it?
Aw Nathan, this is seriously such a beautiful story and I love that the two of you remain so close! You’re right you don’t talk about yourself much on your blog but after knowing you personally and reading this I think you should! I really love how technology is making it easier for people to meet people whether for love or just people who are interested in the same things as you! You found love using technology and countless friends in the blogging world thanks to technology!
Thank you! I appreciate you saying that. For me it’s walking a line between how much I want to discuss my private life and also wanting people to feel like they know me a bit. But, as you and Scott found out, meet me in person and give me a drink or two and there’s nothing I won’t discuss! I’ll try writing about myself a bit more and see how it goes. So far, so good!
Nice story! Well written!
Thank you, I appreciate you saying that!
Such a wonderful story and can’t believe the BBC rejected this. Fantastic red.
Oh, what a great story and proof of the romance of travel. I’m sorry BBC didn’t take it but I’m glad you shared it with us. And I’m happy you’re still best friends!
Great story. Too bad it didn’t work out for you but as said in the end probably travel was your bigger love. I’m not sure that I would ever be able to do that kind of a relationship where I don’t see the other person for 3 months or so. But I guess most of the people don’t and then it just happens.
This is also one of those stories that prove that the best things in life always happen when you least expect them and you haven’t planned them but you just decide to get out of you comfort zone and go with the flow.
I guess it’s hard your story to be approved by BBC but it’s their loss that they haven’t decided to publish it.
I feel ya, I have been traveling for the most part of 6 years now. And while I have many, many wonderful people I would have never come across if I wasn’t traveling, traveling made us part ways again. But who knows: One day there might be one someone and our paths align and we’ll be traveling together 🙂
Happy continued travels & many more chance encounters!
C
What a beautiful story you have there, thanks for sharing it with all of us.
Beautiful story. Loved the raw emotions and the honesty with which you have shared it. Glad to know that despite everything you guys are still friends. A great read!
It’s a lovely story! Such a shame the BBC rejected it – especially after all your back and forth with the editor. I’m glad you decided to share it here though, and that you are still in a good place with each other. Hope you are having a great time catching up.
Feeling a little teary 🙁 Such a beautiful swipe right story. Glad you guys have kept an amazing friendship. Maybe one day………
Beautiful stuff man. It reads like any of the best romance novels out there. As you write it, I can envision it all perfectly. Except for Cappadocia as I’ve been there and flew in a balloon so my memories took over lol. Anyways, I’m not sure why BBC would pass on it. You know I love your foodie stuff especially the pictures but you should write more like this…
Thanks! I appreciate you saying that. I’m testing this kind of writing out to see how it goes and if it’s received well then I’ll do more like this. So far the response has been pretty good! So cool you did the balloon rides also- it’s been a highlight of my trip!
That’s incredible and I have to say I’m the gal who doesn’t text back when I’m too tired or can’t be bothered…. I know, I know…… too lazy to get out of my own way huh! You inspired me Nathan…. and gave me a great yarn – cannot imagine why BBC rejected it.
I am reminded of something Jessica Lange said in an interview when asked how she got so lucky to have had such great men in her life (Paco Grande, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Sam Shepard). She replied, “How did they get so lucky?”
Great story. You have a lot more . . .
great story:-) It is BBC’s loss!
Thank you, I appreciate you saying that! I really love that story. It’s one of my favorites!
That’s a bitter-sweet story that was well written. What was BBC Travel thinking?
Thank you for saying that! I really love that story. I was really hoping they would take the piece but next time, hopefully!
Hey Nathan! I stumbled on your site in Nomadicmatt’s course. Just wanted to say hello and OMGee I lOVE food and your site and stories are great! Thanks for sharing your rejected BBC story — it’s interesting where travel ends up taking us in life 🙂
Thank you, Trang! I appreciate you saying that. I assume if you’re also in the course you must be starting a new blog. Best of luck with it and although I’m far from an expert if you ever have any questions you feel I could help with feel free to contact me.
Nathan! Saw you’re coming to Matt’s conference in Austin in Sept. I’ll see you there!
Sounds great- I’m looking forward to it!