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How does a traveler get a sense of the true nature of a place? Filmmakers Florian Thalhofer and Mark Simon chose to tour each other's countries (Germany and the United States, respectively), skip the tourist traps, and interview people. Each artist picked his route based on readers' suggestions. Florian traveled by motorbike. Mark drove a car. Together, they weave a story that shows us far more about each country than the average vacation would...

It took a drunken promise, the desire for adventure, a requirement to give something back, and a fetish for formal wear to get Heath Buck and Douglas Campbell to embark on an overland trek from Hong Kong to London while dressed in black tie. Along the way, the two friends blogged and posted photos and video on their site, The Tuxedo Travels.

From wrestling in India to herbal baths in Vietnam, the guys in bow ties found plenty of adventures to share, not the least of which included laughing yoga, the world's worst toilet, working for a Dao hill tribe, and the inevitable transportation breakdown.

After their trip, Heath and Doug had a chance to chat with us about their favorite moments and share some interesting facts about their travel tuxes.

What made you guys decide to travel together?

Heath: Drunk in Hong Kong is how this story starts! I came up with the idea over a spring roll-infused drinking session at a Thai karaoke restaurant, and Doug agreed to accompany me despite the fact that we'd known each other less than two weeks.

Doug: I knew Heath just long enough to realize he's got a screw loose, which was good enough for me. Heath followed up on his inebriated idea with a phone call a year later (having asked all his other friends, and with no more joiners) and once again convinced me to join the project.

For my part, and as the bleeding-heart philanthropist of the two, I insisted on introducing a charity angle. Heath agreed provided that we do something more original than just collect cash for a chosen organization. We wanted our donating audience to see a more direct use of their money. Read the full profile...