The “Passport to People” interview series features inspiring, creative souls I’ve met while traveling.

Meet Ruchi and Avi, a husband and wife team chronicling all their favorite eats on their Youtube channel, Second Breakfast.

The Indian couple sold everything they had two years ago and have been traveling around the world since! I met Ruchi back in October 2016 at the TBEX Asia ’17 Conference and remember clicking instantly over our shared love of food! Then in May 2017, I reunited with Ruchi and her husband, Avi in Saigon, where the two were right at the beginning of their adventures living out of a suitcase. Avi and Ruchi have the kind of love every couple wants, one based in friendship first. The dynamic of their relationship is so awesome, I would happily play third wheel to their date nights any day! They also have inspired me immensely with their video work. When I first met Ruchi, she was still figuring out her storytelling platform and luckily she found her calling in the medium of videography. Avi is a great cameraman, handling all the filming and footage, while Ruchi owns the screen with her authenticity and informative narratives. If you haven’t already, you should hit the ‘Subscribe’ button on their Youtube channel, Second Breakfast, deploying a fresh, new video release (usually about food!) every week! Let’s get to know the couple more, shall we?

Q: Hello Ruchi and Avi! To give the readers some background, how long have you two been dating?

5 years!

Q: Do you have a bucket list as a couple?

Roadtrip across Chile, seeing the Northern Lights, cycling across Japan, and living in a van in New Zealand.

Q: What was the first trip you took together?

Thailand and Cambodia!

Check out Ruchi and Avi’s amazing food videos!

Q: So let’s jump into the couple talk! How do you get some privacy if your with traveling full-time together?

Avi: LOL, what’s that?

Q: Haha, following up to that question, how do you keep the relationship fresh after being with each other all the time?

Ruchi: By not having kids *laughs*. No, but seriously you have to prioritize.

Q: Is there a keepsake one of you has gotten for the other on a trip that remains sentimental or is something you can’t forget?

Ruchi: He just bought me a stuffed donkey here in Mexico!

Interested in visiting Oaxaca, Mexico? Check out the City Guide: Oaxaca.

Q: What do you “know now” that you wish you “knew then”?

Ruchi: Lay off the instagram. It’s making a lot of places less incredible in real life!

Q: What is a good place to travel to but you would never want to live there?

Both: We love Malaysia but can’t see ourselves settling there!

Q: Any strange travel rituals?

Both: We always look for Vietnamese restaurants in every place we travel to.

Q: Who is your travel hero?

Both: Anthony Bourdain for sure. He’s the reason we started making videos!

Explore Hokkaido, Japan with Second Breakfast!

Q: You have just won a trip around the world! List twelve cities on your flight path.

Ruchi: New Delhi, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Siem Reap, Saigon, Tokyo, Taipei, Seoul, Moscow⁠—where can we go from Moscow?
Avi: … New York? Buenos Aires? Medellin.

Q: Biggest lessons learned on the road?

Avi: The best things in life are not things.

Q: Do-it-yourself or pre-packaged experiences?

Ruchi: Definitely DIY. The trip begins when you start planning!

Here are some pictures taken on Ruchi and Avi’s travels

Q: Best foreign word you know and why?

Ruchi: I know the word for “chili” in so many languages. Gotta make sure I get my spicy food while on the road!

Q: What’s your best travel-related investment?

Avi: Uniqlo jackets that fold into the size of a small loaf of bread.

Q: And finally, the most important skill you’ve learned on the road?

Ruchi: Packing light!
Avi: And being able to fall asleep or work from anywhere!

Be sure to check out their Youtube channel and social media!

Youtube \\ Second Breakfast
Instagram \\ @ruchikashankar