Just a ‘couple’ of adventure seekers looking to travel the world
Published:Saturday | March 5, 2022 | 12:07 AMKrysta Anderson/Staff Reporter
Spending quality time in the great outdoors has certainly been a breath of fresh air for husband-and-wife duo Kimberley and Hakeem Atkinson. The travelling journey first began with spontaneous road trips across the island. Before they knew it, they were catching flights and developing deeper feelings across international borders. Today, they’re using social media platforms to encourage others to join in on the adventure.
“We got married in January 2020 and, a couple [of] months later, the countrywide lockdown happened. So we were alone 24/7 and really enjoyed that ‘honeymoon’ period. During that time, we made a lot of plans, one of which was to continue making new experiences outside. That lockdown really spurred us on, so we made a commitment that now was our time to have fun,” Kimberley told The Gleaner.
Both homebodies by nature, the global pandemic taught them to take full advantage of life’s exciting opportunities, stepping ‘outside’ of comfort zones, trying new things and sharing in fresh and fun experiences.
Not one to subscribe to the label of travel vloggers, they simply enjoy sharing the good time spent at good places, with the hope that it may inspire couples and other adventure seekers to explore the spot for themselves. “We are just living authentically and exploring organically,” the Atkinsons added.
After touring the countryside and discovering favourite parishes like Portland, St Ann and Trelawny, the duo travelled to Panama and, most recently, the Dominican Republic, to celebrate their second wedding anniversary.
WATERFALL LOVERS
“We walked around every day, ate at a different place every day, had some of the best food ever, sat at cafes and watched people walking by, rode bikes, museum-hopped, went to supermarkets and practised our Spanish, barely,” she said with a laugh. The waterfall lovers went off the beaten path to the San Cristobal province, where they saw not one but two waterfalls and had the most amazing time.
The couple decided to document their excursions via video on their Xo Xo, Kimmy YouTube channel with insights, historical background, candid conversations among themselves and with others, travel tips and, of course, excitement, all while being their authentic selves. “I used to get nervous vlogging in public, but we have so much fun capturing the moments that, if anyone stares, I barely notice anymore. I keep the mindset that these are home videos that we just happen to be sharing with other individuals,” Kimberley revealed.
Both Kimberley and Hakeem are firm believers in travelling as a pair, because doing things together has strengthened their bond. As a team, they hope to keep their content fun and organic. They try not to confine themselves to vlogging everything. If it feels inconvenient at any time, they just put the phones away and bask in the moment. Whenever it feels natural again, the phones can return to play.
High on Kimberley’s adventurous bucket list is a European city tour of London, Amalfi Coast, Paris, Rome, while her husband Hakeem says, “I would love to go to Switzerland, Iceland and definitely Liverpool to watch Liverpool Football Club play at Anfield Stadium.” So, if you’re looking to travel, but you’re not sure if it’s for you, the Atkinsons say “Just go for it. Look up exciting places together and get up and go. Don’t always get caught up in planning. Have a general idea of what you are doing and then go with the flow.”