Jeffrey Kung And Eunice Tan On How Travel Brought Them Closer Together

In a small alcove overlooking the Petronas Twin Towers atop the Wet Deck, W Kuala Lumpur’s rooftop poolside bar, Jeffrey Kung and Eunice Jaymie Tan are reminded of one of their first dates in Kuala Lumpur. “Oddly, we had one of our first dates here. It was the first place we actually had kind of an after-dinner drink,” Jeffrey shares. “It was just kind of the two of us in our own little world.”

Separated by continents, the newlywed couple first met through social media before tying the knot last December. Despite having built their lives in different countries—with Jeffrey’s roots being in Los Angeles and career debut in Taiwan, and Malaysian-born Eunice having lived in Melbourne for seven years—the couple frequently travelled to visit each other, strengthening their bond with each trip.

“To me, the Wet Deck gives me a taste of the new world. It’s very globalised, but it’s still Malaysia,” Eunice says. “I like how all the seats are open. You’re not locked into a booth. You’re not locked into a convention—you’re connected.”

From tasting scorpion in Tianjin, China, to tranquil relaxation in Amanoi, Vietnam, the couple has built countless memories together across the globe. Yet, one date in Koh Phangan, Thailand, stands out. “Forever etched in my heart, it was when a lizard took a dump in my dinner. It was one of our first dates,” Eunice laughs.

“It was a hippie, eco-friendly restaurant. I thought it was going to be really cool,” Jeffrey adds. “We were sitting beneath a beautiful pagoda under the night sky with good music. When all of a sudden, this thing plops on her plate. I look up, and it’s a giant lizard. It took a number two on her dinner.”

Yet, despite the awkward start, the memory still holds dear. “It’s not about where you go; it’s about who you’re with,” Eunice explains. “I’ve gone to places that were very, very beautiful. And it’s not that the company was not good, but I wasn’t as close to them, so it didn’t taste as sweet. In contrast, Koh Phangan is somewhere I probably would not have gone on my own. But it was a trip that brought us so close that we began our relationship. We became a real couple after that.”

While travelling can sometimes feel like ticking tasks off a bucket list, for Eunice and Jeffrey, it isn’t always about the destination. “The best thing about travelling is not the events or sites that you see, but the people that you meet. It’s a different kind of connection,” Jeffrey says. “Just like the people that you’ll never see again, you kind of remember those conversations.”

“There’s so much learning you do when you meet someone totally new,” Eunice adds. “And I feel like each person offers you value. They offer you a different perspective. And, so, you change when you return.”

Photographer: Bakri “Bak” Hafiz Hisham

Styling: Mughni Che Din & Shaza Sofi

Makeup: Nicco B. & Sinyao from Noire Makeup Atelier

Cover photo:

On Jeffrey Kung: BOSS suit and leather shoes; timepiece, Jeffrey’s own. On Eunice Jaymie Tan: Longchamp Crepe Jersey dress and suede dark brown thigh-high boots; earrings and bracelet, Eunice’s own.