A couple converted a van into a home to avoid crippling rent and are now traveling across continents in the vehicle - accompanied by their beloved dogs
Image by: Crystal Drinkwalter
A couple who converted a van into a home to avoid crippling rent are now travelling across continents with their two dogs - and the coronavirus pandemic will not change their itinerary.
Crystal Drinkwalter, 25, and Jazmyn Canning, 26, decided to spend £15K ($18,400 USD) buying the 92-square-feet 2006 Mercedes Sprinter and turning it into a cosy home instead of renting an apartment.
The couple, who are currently in San Cristobal, Mexico, believe that the rapid spread of the coronavirus will not impact their travels.
Crystal said: "If we were in a big city, we'd be more worried but we are in the middle of nowhere.
"I feel like we are in the safest position.
"We spent the last few days hiding out in the jungle and only seeing four other people so we're not too freaked out.
"We've seen more sheep than people in the last few days.
"It's not going to stop us."
The millennials renovated the van themselves despite not having any plumbing or electrical experience and relied on YouTube videos to show them how to finish the job.
The mobile home includes a kitchen with running water, a pantry and solar panels on the roof - but no toilet.
The couple, from Barrie in Ontario, Canada, both quit their jobs as waitresses and have spent the last year traveling through North America in their mobile home.
Image by: Crystal Drinkwalter
Image by: Crystal Drinkwalter
Image by: Crystal Drinkwalter
They are now in San Cristobal, Mexico, and plan to continue exploring Central America and South America with their hounds Bella, seven, and Izzy, five.
Jazmyn said: “We didn’t want the van to just be a travel mobile, we wanted it to be our own home mobile.”
Crystal added: “The cost of living definitely deterred us from getting an apartment.
“Rent for a one bedroom apartment in the Toronto area starts at $880 [1200 CAD] and then you are paying bills on top of that.
“How can you do the things you want to do when all your money is going into the roof above your head?
“We wanted to make life our job, rather than make our job our life.”
The pair took five months finding the perfect van and a further eight months to turn it into their home.
“We found a 2006 Mercedes Sprinter with no rust,” said Crystal.
“It took us eight months to outfit the van and it was a lot of trial and error.
“We had no prior plumbing, electrical work or carpentry skills.
“YouTube was our biggest educator.
“We were working full time while we were building.
“The van cost $10,200 [14,000 CAD] and the build cost $8,200 [11,000 CAD].”
The greatest challenge was equipping the van to be a “four season vehicle” so that it could survive the bitter Canadian winter.
“We needed a four season van with a heater as it is freezing about eight months of the year in Canada,” said Crystal.
The tiny home includes a kitchen, a reading nook and a pantry - but no toilet.
“At the front of the van we have a bench that pulls out into a small bed and we call it our reading nook,” said Jazmyn.
“We put our kitchen at the right side of the van.
“It has 127 liters of running water.
“We have a cooktop, a sink and a fridge which can hold 72 beer cans.
“We also have a floor-to-ceiling pantry and that’s where we store all our dried goods, pots and pans, dog food and coffee.
“In the back half of the van we have a bed that we can fold away.
“Our electricity comes from two AGM batteries that are fueled by our solar panels on our roof.
“We don’t have a bathroom.
“We didn’t really want to clean a toilet in such a small place.
“There are so many amenities out there and everyone is kind enough to let us use the bathroom.
“We let the dogs out all the time so when they go to the bathroom, we go to the bathroom.
“We use a shovel and we leave no trace.
“But we do have an outdoors shower.”
Image by: Crystal Drinkwalter
Image by: Crystal Drinkwalter
Image by: Crystal Drinkwalter
Image by: Crystal Drinkwalter
Image by: Crystal Drinkwalter
The van was finished in January 2019 and in February the couple set off on their travels.
They journeyed to the west coast of Canada before entering the United States.
“We went to Washington, Oregon, Utah, California and Arizona,” said Crystal.
“We then came into Mexico, taking the ferry from Baja, a state in Northern Mexico, to mainland Mexico.
“We are almost at the border of Guatemala now.
“We are going to do all of Central America and we will ship the van from Panama to Colombia.
“From Colombia, we will go to Ecuador, Peru, Chile and maybe Brazil.”
In the last year, the couple have only paid for camping once.
“We sleep for free every night,” said Jazmyn.
“We feel a sense of security in the van.”
“The dogs help us out,” added Crystal.
“They are the perfect alarm system when we are sleeping.
“They let us know if anyone is outside the van.”
The couple said that the desire to take their beloved Australian shepherds with them on their travels motivated them to convert the van.
Jazmyn said: “We really enjoyed traveling together but we always had to leave the dogs behind.
“We decided that if we built up the van, we could travel with the dogs and then they could be our adventure buddies.
“They are the sweetest, most intelligent dogs.
“They are honestly our babies.
“They keep us going - and calm and happy.”
As an LGBTQ couple traveling alone together, Jazmyn and Crystal said they have to take extra precautions.
The couple, who call themselves ‘Van Wives’ on social media, even considered changing their license plate which showed the moniker.
“Our license plate says ‘Van Wives’ and we were thinking about changing it.
“But we are just going to be who we are and we get so much more positivity than negativity from that license plate.
“When we were at the American border, the border security officer said: ‘It’s a shame that you two are gay.'
“But we have moved on from it.
“As an LGBTQ couple, we have to do our research.
“We haven’t had any issue at all in Mexico.
“They have a lot of Pride flags all over the streets.”
The adventurous pair have experienced many breakdowns on their travels but they have learnt to fix most mechanical problems themselves.
“Our vehicle is 13-years-old now, so there are issues that come up,” Jazmyn said.
“It just needs some TLC every now and again.
“You need to get new tires, do your breaks, check the ball joints.
“It has never been anything that is very detrimental to our travels.”
Crystal said: “We have learnt so much - we can figure it out by ourselves.
“We’ve done an oil change and we’ve changed the filters.
“We have learnt from all those breakdowns.”
The couple added that traveling in a van allows them to feel a part of the countries they visit.
“It’s just about getting to call those beautiful places home,” said Jazmyn.
“We open the back doors and feel totally present.
“We enjoy that we have each other, food on the table and a beautiful view.”
The pair share their travel adventures on their Instagram account and YouTube channel under the handle @vanwives.
Image by: Crystal DrinkwalterVideo by: Gabriella Petty
Meet Loki - an overly affectionate raven who likes to CUDDLE
Image by: Elliot Manarin
A filmmaker has become best friends with a raven - and says the bird often comes inside for a cuddle.
The seven-year-old called Loki has grown up in captivity and now has a bond so strong with its owner that it regularly seeks him out for an embrace.
Elliot Manarin was offered Loki by a breeder after its owner passed away - and initially discovered a spiky personality.
But years of hard work, love and attention has seen the pair become best friends - with the animal even comforting the 33-year-old when his mum died.
Elliot, from Essex, says that ravens are misunderstood creatures and are not too dissimilar to humans.
The duo now exchange gifts and share jokes - growing so close that Elliot no longer sees Loki as a bird.
He said: "Loki's owner had passed away and was left to fend for himself for a few weeks before relatives of his owner eventually discovered him.
"He was returned to the breeder who offered him to us. He had no name and was apparently a well mannered and tame bird.
"This was far from the case. Loki was hyper-aggressive and riddled with chronic anxiety.
"He was scared of humans and acted on fight or flight. His mental health, as well as his physical condition, was very poor, his feathers were matte and he was missing his tail.
"It's taken years to establish a bond with Loki.
"I'm not a corvid expert, but over time I have become an expert on Loki.
"Through trial and error, I had to learn what was triggering his aggressiveness and work with him to build trust and make him feel safe and secure.
"In the early days, it was exceptionally tough and we nearly had to have him rehomed, but we all persevered and now we have a loving bird who is happy, healthy and enjoying life to the fullest.
"He is a truly unique individual bursting with so much character. We often exchange gifts and he loves to play with his puzzle toys.
"He has a taste for trickery and can often be found tormenting some of the staff, undoing their shoelaces and trying to trip them up.
Image by: Elliot Manarin
Image by: Elliot Manarin
Image by: Elliot Manarin
Image by: Elliot Manarin
"If given the chance will steal anything he can get his beak on, money, food padlocks anything.
"If we don't provide him with the adequate currency he will disappear and hide whatever item he has stolen until we provide suitable payment.
"Each item he steals has a value unique to him for example, a cleaning sponge is worth about 3 grapes, a padlock, a chocolate biscuit!
"If we don't provide him with what he wants the item stays hidden, sometimes for months!"
Elliot said he has now grown to view Loki as more than a bird, adding that ravens are much more like humans that we would think.
He said: "Loki is very much like a human, ravens have complex emotions coupled with their exceptional intelligence to problem solve, stimulation and companionship remain a top priority.
"We need to devise new games and tasks for him to work out whilst keeping his mental health in check, not allowing that to overcome him.
"But like most of us, he just wants companionship, he enjoys spending time with us and being in our company.
"People are also fascinated with his vocalisations of which he has many, these all symbolise various emotions from jealousy, fear, anticipation and joy.
"He's been known to laugh and chuckle at the precise moment someone tells a joke, slips over or otherwise endures something humorous.
"If he sees me trying to locate an item he's stolen and having difficulties, the sound of an evil chuckle can be heard coming from his aviary as he watches me bumble around in bewilderment!
Elliott said he has shared numerous moments with Loki - including one that particularly sticks out.
He said: "When my mum passed away two years ago, he knew I was sad. It wasn't emotional mirroring like dogs, this was something much more sentient.
"He walked over to me and locked eyes. He hopped onto my lap and rolled upside down onto his back, legs in the air.
"He rocked side to side whilst cooing the most dainty, affectionate sounds. I'd never heard him make these vocalisations and to this day he's never done it since.
"There is so much going on in their minds we don't really give them credit for. I've learnt so much from him and stopped looking at him as a bird a long time ago."
Loki was rehomed at Coda Falconry in Waltham Abbey, Essex.
Video by: Elliot Manarin
Spectacular video shows moment Peak District waterfall appeared to flow BACKWARDS during Storm Ciara
Video by: Helen Gant
This is the spectacular moment a waterfall in the Peak District appeared to flow BACKWARDS during Storm Ciara as it was battered by high winds.
Helen Gant filmed the extraordinary footage of water cascading upwards at Kinder Downfall in Derbyshire on Sunday (9/2).
Powerful winds caused the 98ft (30m) waterfall to blow in the opposite direction at the natural beauty spot which is located on the edge of Kinder Scout mountain peak.
Helen uploaded the footage to her Facebook page with the caption "Not crowded up here today" where it has been shared and viewed hundreds of times.
Keen hiker Helen said: "I've been scrambling up hills and mountains since I was little.
"Watching the downfall blowing up was pretty exhilarating.
“I've been up there quite a few times when it's been blowing uphill but this was the most spectacular so far."
When frozen in harsh winters, the downfall is also a venue for daredevils to take part in ice-climbing.
The natural wonder is part of the famous Pennine Way trail, which begins in the Peak District and stretches for 268 miles all the way to Kirk Yetholm at the Scottish Borders.
Helen, 45, a school data manager, said: “I’ve only really got into climbing recently but I have been walking and rambling since I was a kid.
"I love it and walk a lot. My mum and dad used to take us out to the hills all the time so I have been doing it forever.
“It was really exciting to see the falls behave like that. It was crazy. It was exhilarating walking along the top.
"I’ve been up a few times as I can see Kinder from my garden.
"I love exploring it when it does that. I’ve never seen it as dramatic as it was last Sunday though.
“The water was coming over the footpath so you get absolutely soaked when you get up there.”
Helen, of New Mills, Derbys., said she felt completely safe up the top and said others should not attempt the climb unless they feel comfortable.
She added: “It felt perfectly safe because the wind was constant. It was buffeting a bit but it was never blowing us towards the edge, always inland.
“I say it’s perfectly safe but I don’t want to encourage anyone to go up there this weekend. We felt secure in those conditions.
“It was still exciting, but you always have to take the risks carefully. A couple of days later it was incredible too, as it was frozen and covered in ice.
“People do go ice climbing on it sometimes, but its nowhere near stable enough at the moment.”
A mum has spoken of her "heartbreak" after her 12-week-old baby contracted coronavirus - in what is thought to be one of the UK's youngest cases
Image by: Jade Watson
A single mum has spoken of her "heartbreak" after her 12-week-old baby contracted coronavirus - in what is thought to be one of the UK's youngest cases to date.
Little Winter-Rose Watson was admitted to hospital on Friday morning (3 April) suffering from a severe temperature and struggling to breathe.
According to distraught mum Jade Watson, doctors initially ruled Covid-19 out but tests the next day confirmed the virus, she said.
Brave Winter-Rose was placed on a drip and left to fight for her life, as experts told the mum-of-two there was "nothing else" they could do.
Miraculously, within 48 hours the baby's condition had improved so drastically she was allowed to return home, where she remains in recovery now.
Jade, 27, from Burnley, Lancs., said: "It was the worst experience of my entire life, I was so scared.
"To see my baby struggling like that was so painful, I couldn't believe what was happening.
"I'm so grateful she was able to pull through."
Jade is speaking about her ordeal to warn other parents about being vigilant and staying indoors, following reports babies were not as susceptible to the virus.
Image by: Jade Watson
Jade said: "She's still got the virus and I don't know if I've had it or not, as the only symptom I had was a headache that wouldn't go away, even after taking headache pills.
"My son was with me a couple of days before Winter went into hospital, but now he has to isolate with his dad at his home as we don't know if he could have it too.
"It's been such a difficult time as I've not been able to have anyone come and visit. Even when I was in the hospital I was on my own, it was hard.
"You need support at times like this, but with this whole situation, it must be so difficult for people who are in hospital alone, not having anyone to come and visit them.
"That was the hardest thing - having no-one to support me at the hospital.
"I did receive a lot of nice messages from people online though. That was quite overwhelming, and made me cry but it's what got me through."
Jade said doctors are continuing to check on Winter-Rose's condition every day, and family members drop food and other items outside her house.
She added: "There's been talk of this virus not affecting babies the same way as others, but it does, and it has affected Winter so much. I had never seen her looking so helpless.
"I'd only been out of the house really to go to Lidl and Home Bargains but people need to listen to the advice, and stay indoors."
Dr Chris Gardner, Deputy Medical Director and Consultant Paediatrician at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "We do not comment on individual cases but we are pleased to report that no babies or children cared for at the trust have needed oxygen or any respiratory support as a result of Covid-19 in keeping with the fact that this virus generally causes only a mild illness in children.
"We are however ready and able to provide all additional support including stabilisation, ventilation and transfer to intensive care and have good links with specialist children’s centres around the country for any future children who may require this.
"We would also like to reiterate the plea for people to stay at home to protect themselves and others.
"If you do need to go out please observe social distancing guidelines, and make sure you wash your hands thoroughly and frequently.
"Children do however still get sick with other serious and treatable conditions apart from COVID-19 which often presents as only a mild illness in this age group.
"If your child is unwell and you are concerned, we want to see them.
"Do not delay in connecting with NHS111, your GP or in serious cases the emergency department. This is particularly important for young children and babies such as Winter-Rose."
Image by: Jade Watson
Image by: Jade Watson
The single mum, who also has a six-year-old son, said: “On Thursday she had a really bad temperature, it was about 38.5 degrees.
“So I contacted 111 and they advised me to stay at home.
"But at about 5am on Friday I’d set my alarm to check on her and she’d got really warm, even more than she was before.
"I didn’t even need to touch her, there was heat just coming off her. She was gasping for breath.
“I called for an ambulance but it took around three hours to get here. Her temperature had gone down slightly but it was still 39.1.”
Winter-Rose was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital.
Jade said it was "heartbreaking" to see her little girl in so much pain but it was made worse by the fact she had to go through the ordeal alone, without the comfort of having her family and friends around her.
The single mum claims upon arrival at the hospital with her daughter a senior doctor told her babies did not get Covid-19 and they would not be testing the 12 week old.
She said: “That really upset me, and they could see that.
"A consultant said he still wanted to give her a test though and they put a cannula in her hand and tried to put a catheter in her too, it was heartbreaking.”
It usually takes 24 to 48 hours for a coronavirus test to come back, so while doctors waited for the results, Jade says they carried out other checks and placed Winter-Rose on antibiotics to try to bring her fever down.
She added: "They put needles in her spine to check for meningitis and gave her antibiotics, but they didn't work.
"And on Saturday morning the doctor came and told me she had tested positive for coronavirus.
"It was the worst thing in the world to hear.
"She was on a drip to try to get her fluids back up but there was nothing else they could do to help her fight it."
Over the weekend, Winter-Rose's condition improved and she was allowed to go back to her home in Burnley on Monday morning, where Jade was told to isolate with the 12-week-old for 14 days.
Image by: Jade WatsonVideo by: Jade Watson
Shocking video shows a supermarket line HUNDREDS OF METERS LONG – as people panic buy supplies in the USA
Image by: Video Contributor 50
This shocking video shows a line hundreds of meters long outside a Costco supermarket in Irvine, California on Saturday, March 14, 2020.
“There were hundreds if not thousands of people in line,” said an onlooker, who shot the video at 9.18AM, as he was passing in his car.
“What makes it even more crazy is that Orange County is not a hot spot for coronavirus,” he added.
“Roughly 10 people have only recently been diagnosed with it and zero deaths.”
Video by: Video Contributor 50
A real life BFG who stands at a staggering 7ft 1in struggles to fit in aeroplane seats - but drives around in a TINY smart car
Image by: Lee Mclean SWNS
A real life BFG who stands at a staggering 7ft 1in struggles to fit in aeroplane seats - but drives around in a TINY smart car.
Towering Lydon Sutcliffe, 32, makes his colleagues laugh each morning when he drives into work - after squeezing his huge frame into his mum’s 60-inch high Smart Fortwo.
The friendly giant says he was mocked tirelessly as a boy for being so tall - after hitting 6ft when he was just ten - but his struggles have pushed him to help others.
No order is too tall for Lydon, who splits his time between his job as a disability support worker, a university counsellor and studying psychotherapy.
He had also appeared as an extra in Hollywood blockbuster, Rogue One and as a body double in Solo: A Star Wars story.
And the lofty bloke gets funny looks when he drives around Blackpool, Lancs., where he lives, as he travels in the tiny £16k 2016-model smart.
His Nissan Navara pickup truck broke down sometime in 2016 which left him with no choice but to drive his mum’s Smart - and he’s loved driving it ever since.
Lydon, from Blackpool, Lancs., said: “I bought the Smart four years ago for my mum because she needed a car.
“At the time I was driving a Nissan Navara pick up truck but it broke down and I thought I’d try to drive the Smart - and I fit. So I said why not?
“Everyone keeps asking me when I'm going to get a bigger car but it’s actually comfortable.
“When I get on planes it’s always a struggle because I have to buy extra seats or sit on Business Class just to fit. My legs always stick out.
“But I’ve got no issues with the smart. It’s like driving a go-kart for me and it’s a convertible so I do enjoy sticking my head out.
“People always do double takes when they see me in it, just because of how goofy it is - but I love it.”
The former Wimbledon groundskeeper became a support worker five years ago but said it’s been his lifelong ambition to help people in need.
Image by: Lee Mclean SWNS
Image by: Lee Mclean SWNS
Image by: Lee Mclean SWNS
Image by: Lee Mclean SWNS
Image by: Lee Mclean SWNS
Lydon, who claims to be able to hug 20 people at once, said: “I think it’s so important we talk about our issues and I want to help as many people who're struggling as I can.
“As a tall person you suffer a lot of abuse throughout your childhood, you get mocked a lot and get made to feel horrible about yourself and many suffer with depression.
“But I want to spread positivity, and encourage people to talk. That’s my mission - I’m a big guy, with a big message.
“At work they call me the BFG, and that’s what I want to be. A big friendly giant.”
Lydon, who lives with his girlfriend, has lived an interesting life and has his own big name fans - as tennis legends Andy Murray, Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal all approached him for pictures at Wimbledon.
He also played the role of “tall Ant” on ITV’s Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway and a tall Jimmy Carr on 8 out of 10 cats.
He’s a big fan of Tyson Fury, who similarly battled his own mental health issues before becoming a boxing world champion, and has met him on several occasions.
The part-time stand-up comic said: “I’ve met Tyson Fury - he’s a great guy and I think it’s nice to see him have success after everything he’s been through with his mental health.
“I’m probably the only person who makes him look small, like a little brother.”
Lydon’s parents aren’t particularly tall, with his dad standing at 6ft 3in and his mum 5ft 6in - but his sister Rachel stands at 5ft 10in and his “little” brother Spencer is a short 6ft 6in.
His striking height means his encounters with people centre around his towering presence.
Lydon, who wears a size 15 shoe, said: "I had a woman recently ask me to pick something up for her at the supermarket, and thankfully she helped me get some of the things on the lower shelves I can’t reach.
“A lot of people will also assume I’m a basketball player or ask if I am one, and I always tell them my preferred sport is actually miniature golf.”
He consumes over 8,000 calories a day to satisfy his massive appetite, but says he’s always been skinny.
Lydon, who weighs 22 stone, said: “I was always really skinny but now I eat a lot. I eat thousands of calories every day, people think I’m greedy but I’m just a big lad.
“If I order a Maccies I’ll get a grand BigMac, three double cheeseburgers, three large fries, 20 chicken nuggets, two cokes and a milkshake to treat myself.
"People don't realise how expensive it is to be tall."
Video by: Ashley Moran
This is the hilarious moment a man is forced to shave his own head after his girlfriend convinced him she could cut hair
Image by: Arizona Eastwood
This is the moment a man is forced to shave his head after his girlfriend convinced him she could cut hair - and completely ''ruined'' his do.
Arizona Eastwood, 29, and Max Braham, 28, are stuck together while the country is on 'lockdown' - despite only being an item for several months.
Due to the short-term nature of their relationship the pair are still finding out things about each other - like special skills.
It was on this basis that Arizona managed to persuade Max that she was qualified to give him a much-needed trim - with amusing results.
She captured her builder boyfriend's reaction as he realised that she had tricked him - and he doesn't look too pleased.
Image by: Arizona Eastwood
Image by: Arizona Eastwood
Image by: Arizona Eastwood
Image by: Arizona Eastwood
Image by: Arizona Eastwood
Luckily Max eventually saw the funny side and is now sporting a shaved look around the couple's home in Cheltenham, Glos.
Assistant television director Arizona said: "We are struck in isolation and Max needed a hair cut.
"We've only been together seven months and are still learning new things about each other.
"So I told him I could cut hair, much to his surprise - and he believed me.
"It was only after I'd tried to do a fade to the back and sides of his hair that he realised this was all a lie - and he had no choice but to cut all his hair off.
"I couldn't stop laughing. My stomach actually hurt from it and still does when I watch it.
"He didn't find it funny at first but saw the funny side afterwards."
Video by: Gabriella Petty
Student nurse films hairdresser cutting his hair wearing 'Coronavirus suit', mask and gloves at a salon
Image by: Stephen Larkin
A student filmed the "strange" moment his hair was cut by a hairdresser -- wearing full protective clothing including a hazmat suit and face mask.
Stephen Larkin, 26, said he was greeted by two hairdressers wearing white protective overalls who said they were "concerned about the spread of Coronavirus".
Student nurse Stephen said he wasn't put off by the makeshift hazmat suit but said it made him feel like he was getting ready to "have surgery".
The salon worker who cut his hair was dressed head-to-toe in protective overalls, a face mask and gloves at Boxx Hair, Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland, on Thursday (12).
Single Stephen said: "I walked in at about 5pm and they were both stood there, head-to-toe in white suits and masks.
"There was hand sanitiser on the side and I was told to take a seat and someone will be with me shortly.
"Whilst I was waiting everything was being cleaned down and I did feel like I was about to go in for surgery.
"I thought it was funny to start with but it is really strange.
Image by: Stephen Larkin
Image by: Stephen Larkin
Image by: Stephen Larkin
Image by: Stephen Larkin
"When I arrived there was one other person cutting hair and and elderly lady in the chair.
"She looked quite bemused by it all on the way out.
"Getting my hair cut was a very strange and unusual experience. Everyone is just going mad."
Linlithgow is a small town close to Edinburgh with a population of just 19,000 - and it has no confirmed cases.
Stephen added: "It literally is a really small town and it's been pretty normal here up to yet.
"There are no confirmed cases here.
"The hairdresser said she was concerned about the spread of the virus.
"She said that if she keeps the place clean then there's no chance she or anyone else will get it.
"I just found the whole thing very, very strange."
Video by: Gabriella Petty
Incredible video shows two friends pulling off Romantic surprise by dressing up as street performers and flying out to Columbia
Image by: Two Good
This is the moment two men pulled off the perfect romantic surprise by disguising themselves as street performers to stun their partners on holiday in Colombia.
Jonny Rhodes, 28, and Tom Mitchell, 27, booked secret flights so they reunite with their girlfriends who are currently touring through South America.
But the duo took their surprise act one step further by learning a synchronised dance routine and dressing up in inflatable morph suits.
They flew out to Columbia earlier this month and travelled for 14 hours on a coach to track down their loved ones to a cafe terrace in the coastal city of Cartagena
Video footage then shows them performing a choreographed dance flawlessly to roars of laughter before they revealed their true identities to their open-mouthed partners.
They then whisked them off to a nearby five-star hotel.
Jonny's partner Ellie Websdale, 26, said: "It was very emotional - it was the most shocked I've ever been in my entire life.
"I couldn't believe it."
Emily Potter, 27, Tom's partner, added: "It was the shock of my life, my legs were quaking like a little quivering leaf.
"It was the best surprise ever, well done chaps.
"We thought it was a couple of Colombians doing an elaborate bag heist - trying to distract us before nicking all our cash and passports."
The two men - both DJs from Bristol who perform as TWOGOOD - had spent months planning their secret trip that included finding a suitable costume and figuring out exactly where their partners would be when they arrived.
Tom and Jonny had initially told them they couldn't join them on their travelling adventures due to work commitments.
Image by: Two Good
Image by: Two Good
Image by: Two Good
Image by: Two Good
Jonny said: "We realised we had to find a disguise, so the first idea we came up with was to hire a mule and dress up as Colombian singers and serenade them with songs.
"Then we came up with the plan to do a synchronised dance and be street performers, and wear masks and morph suits - but we realised that if we wore morph suits they would see our body shapes and that would maybe give it away.
"We did some digging on the internet and found some inflatable morph suits and we thought they were perfect, they'd never be able to guess it was us."
Jonny said it took all their detective skills to confirm where the partners would be on the day.
He added: "So we had the outfits set and the only thing now was to locate exactly where they were going to be.
"We had some friends out there and they could tell us where they would be on what day, and luckily my brother Chris was out there travelling already so he arranged to meet them on the day so we would know exactly where they were."
They flew into Medellin on the February 13 before taking a 14 hour coach journey to Cartagena.
With the plan set, the duo inflated their brightly coloured morph suits and hailed a taxi, before heading to perform their dance routine for their unaware girlfriends.
Tom said: "We could barely see through the masks to locate the girls table, so we had to act as if we were actual performers.
"We spent about five minutes with the general public first going down the street and entertaining them before we made it over to their table.
"Then we pressed play on the bluetooth speaker and then did the dance and did the grand reveal which you could see on the video."
In the video, Jonny and Tom can be seen dancing arm in arm and spinning round each other, before encouraging Ellie, and Emily to join in.
Then, after the girls sat back down, the duo bowed and stood side by side before ripping off their masks and revealing their true identities - and the girls instantly start to scream.
Tom added: "When the girls screamed everyone in the square went silent and the police came out, no one knew what was going on.
"Then everyone applauded and cheered when they realised that obviously this must be a reuniting of two couples."
Video by: Two Good
Second home owners who have fled to seaside properties claim they have become victims of vigilante 'hate crimes' from furious locals
Image by: Wayne Lewis
Wealthy second home owners who fled to their seaside houses to isolate
say the abuse and attacks they receive from locals should be classed as a 'HATE CRIME'.
Some families have ignored warnings to stay in primary residences and travelled to small towns and villagers in tourism hotspots like Cornwall.
Businessman Tony Willis was among those who left London with his family with his family from London to their holiday home in Devon before the coronavirus travel ban begun.
But he said he has been targeted by vigilantes who wrote 'go home' in the dirt on the rear window of his car.
A 'threatening' leaflet was also put on his doorstep which reiterated the message.
And Tony said the way second home owners have been targeted should be treated by police as a "hate crime."
He bought the house in Bigbury-on-Sea in Devon around 10-years-ago and claimed he had as much right to be there as anyone else.
Tony told the BBC: ""Over the past week we have had Go Home daubed in the dirt on the back windscreen of our car, leaflets telling us to do the same and someone haranguing me to 'Go Home' from the street outside our house,.
"This is pure harassment and in another context would be considered a hate crime.
"Since the lockdown we decided to stay here because it would be non-essential travel to go back.
"I spend a lot of time in Devon, I carry on a business down here and my wife's from Devon.
"We are following all the rules, we are self-isolating and we only go out when we have to for provisions.
"We love it down here and we're not going to be run out of town by a few idiots."
Image by: Wayne Lewis
Image by: Wayne Lewis
Image by: Wayne Lewis
Devon and Cornwall Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer said the behaviour was "unacceptable".
He said: "This is a family who are probably just as frightened and concerned as everyone else.
"If they are already here we should welcome them and make them feel part of our community.
"This is not a time to turn person against person and for us in the South West to turn against the people of London or vice versa."
Local councillor Beth Huntley said that the majority of properties in the village were holiday lets or second homes, and that most of the population there is elderly.
The member of Bigbury Parish Council said: "We hope the community is free of the virus, but every newcomer brings a threat to the older community.
"It would be lovely if people who own holiday homes stayed close to their homes.
"But I think a conciliatory approach is always a good idea."
Several tourism bosses have urged people to stay away from the South West to stop the spread of coronavirus and protect the services from being overrun.
Malcolm Bell, head of Visit Cornwall, said: "Our advice is do not come. Moving around can easily accelerate the spread of the virus.
"That applies to people with second homes here - and to visitors who had planned a holiday."
