Hi. We’re Ian and Jenny. A Canadian couple who once spent our lives in corporate jobs, overtime meetings, and countless weekend deadlines. Until we didn’t.
A few years ago, we left everything we had built in Toronto and moved back home to Calgary. At the time, we had every intention of launching a startup, but the more we pushed, the more we realized something didn’t feel right. Our energy had shifted. We weren’t chasing business goals anymore. We were chasing something else.
While working through it all, we started traveling. First it was three-week river cruises. Then it turned into a few months. And somewhere in the middle of all that, we fell in love with long-term travel. Ian was the one who brought up the idea of starting a YouTube channel. It completely caught me off guard. He’s the more private one in the relationship, so I said yes before he could change his mind.
That’s how Chasing the Chungs was born. And after nine months on the road, a few broken suitcases, and more overpacked luggage than I’d like to admit, we’re doing it all over again.
This time, we’re calling it “The Second Chase.”
Why We’re Calling It The Second Chase
When we started The Chase, it was about breaking routine and finding freedom through travel. That journey taught us a lot about slowing down, connecting with people, and learning as we go. The Second Chase is simply the next step; a chance to grow, experiment, and get better at what we love doing. We’re still figuring things out, but this time we’re more intentional with our storytelling, filming, and editing. It’s not about perfection; it’s about progress. And we want our viewers to grow with us, share their thoughts, and be part of this journey.
Where We’re Headed (And Why We Picked These Places)
We’re visiting 10 countries over 202 days. Here’s the rough order, plus a few thoughts along the way.
China
Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Wangxian Valley. Xiamen.
We’ve never been to China before, so there’s a mix of excitement and curiosity here. Some places made the list because they’re blowing up on social media. Others were added simply because they’re lesser-known. We’re hoping to visit the cyberpunk-style cities, eat ridiculously spicy food, and reunite with Fubao, the panda that started it all.
Vietnam
Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Sapa, Ha Long Bay, Quy Nhon, Da Nang.
We’re calling this the “reset” leg of the trip. Sapa is a place I’ve dreamed of visiting for years. It looks like something out of a storybook, especially in winter. We’re also looking forward to the contrast. After China’s mega-cities, Vietnam will be slower. We’ll spend more time on the beach, take longer coffee breaks, and hopefully breathe a little deeper.
Cambodia
Siem Reap, Angkor Wat, Phnom Penh.
This one’s been high on our bucket list for a while. We’re both excited to walk through the Angkor temples and take in the ancient architecture. Ian is especially looking forward to Phnom Penh and the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center — he’s always had a deep interest in history and this will be a meaningful visit.
Thailand
Bangkok, surrounding islands.
We’ve done the floating markets, temples, and night trains before, so this time we’re looking for something new. Ian’s most excited about Jurassic World: The Exhibition in Bangkok. He’s been talking about it for months. The plan is to split time between the city and nearby islands, and of course, eat as much mango sticky rice as humanly possible.
Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur, surrounding islands.
Malaysia was one of the biggest surprises on our last trip. We fell in love with its diversity, warmth, and food. This time, we’re back to explore more!
Singapore
A short stop, but one we couldn’t skip. We’ll revisit a few old favorites. Marina Bay Sands, Chinatown, and Satay Street. And if we’re lucky, we’ll find a good deal on chili crab.
Indonesia
Jakarta and Komodo Islands.
We’re finally crossing off a bucket list destination: the pink beach at Komodo. I discovered it years ago on Instagram and it’s stuck in my mind ever since. We’ll see how pink it really is. Fingers crossed for good weather and a Komodo dragon sighting.
South Korea
Seoul, Busan, more.
Korea is always a must for us. It’s where I was born and where Ian discovered his favorite beach (shoutout to Haeundae). We saved Korea for spring to hopefully catch cherry blossom season. This time, we’re hoping to visit smaller traditional villages outside the city, and maybe take a ferry over to Japan.
Japan
Tokyo and beyond.
Japan is our last international stop before we board a 15-day transpacific cruise back to Canada. We’ll do a mix of new places and old favorites. We’ll also document what life looks like on a cruise ship such as cabin tours, food, daily routines and end the trip with a short stop in Vancouver.
Why We’re Calling It The Second Chase
Our YouTube videos will be a mix of cinematic edits, talking to camera, voiceovers, drone shots, and whatever else we figure out along the way. The truth is, we’re still learning. The storytelling, the gear, the editing are things we’re experimenting as we go.
We’re not trying to be influencers. We’re just two people trying to make this work and grow our channel one episode at a time.
We’ll share what we spent in each place, and write blog posts that go deeper into what we’ve learned, such as packing mistakes, travel tips, where to save money, and all the unexpected stuff that never makes it into the videos.
We want this to be helpful, but also a little fun to follow.
🎥 Follow the Journey on YouTube
Want to see how our 202-day adventure through Asia unfolds?
We’re capturing each city in near real-time through cinematic visuals, thoughtful storytelling, and detailed breakdowns of what it really costs to travel long-term. This isn’t a highlight reel — it’s an honest look at how we’re choosing to live life differently.
From sweeping drone shots to quieter everyday moments, every episode is edited with care and designed to show what slow, intentional travel can look like. No flashy gimmicks. No forced drama. Just the two of us chasing something meaningful — one destination at a time.
→ Subscribe to Chasing the Chungs on YouTube to follow along, episode by episode.
For behind-the-scenes snapshots and extra travel tips, you can also find us on Instagram @chasing.jenny. And right here on our blog, we’ll keep sharing deeper stories, city guides, and practical advice from the road.
Thanks for reading. Hope we’ll see you in the comments.
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