Jennifer - jawilso's Guestbook - please leave a comment

26th February 2012

New Zealand
It's just like Lord of the Rings.

From Blog: First days in Fantasy land: Coromandel and Waitomo

6th February 2012

Love your itinerary...
but if you can afford six weeks in Australia when you return from New Zealand, then you can likely afford to travel via Singapore through Malaysia to Thailand. Tiger flies from Perth to Singapore for about AUS$168 (depending on the date it could be more). Air Asia has more connections to KL, so you will have to research flights on discount and regular airlines. There are enough travelblogs by people who have started their Southeast Asia tour in Singapore to give you an idea of the best routes, but I would recommend the Cameron Higlands and Penang on you way north. In Thailand, I recommend Krabi and nearby Railey Beach and the Phi Phi islands (I vacationed there in 2009), Phuket (but not Patong Beach) and then across to Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao on your way to Bangkok. Chiang Mai is a must (I lived there in 1974-5). And In Vietnam I like Dalat where I lived from 1956-64, and visited most recently in 2009. I don't want to prejudiced your entire itinerary, but just make sure you save enough money to visit China, and if you end up in the north try to get there before winter.

From Blog: Brisbane, Byron Bay, and the Blues

4th February 2012

Home and Away
Bob Carlsen

So you are off to New Zealnd next...
we look forward to your blogs, hopefully very informative, as we will be there in October 2012. Then we suppose you are off to Southeast Asia?

From Blog: Surfer's Paradise: Its not just for surfers

4th February 2012

Home and Away
Bob Carlsen

Don't spend too much money in Australia...
so that you won't have enough to see Southeast Asia properly. You spend for one day in Australia what you spend four days in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos. Singapore is expensive and Malaysia somewhat. What is your future itinerary and when will you get there? I'm partial to that part of the world having spent so much time there.

From Blog: Brisbane, Byron Bay, and the Blues

6th February 2012

jawilso
Jennifer

Australia v. South East Asia
I have been giving a lot of thought to my itinerary lately. My general approach to deciding on the length of time in a place is to stay long enough to justify the cost of the transport there, and to spread it over a few days to make my daily budget. For Australia I bought a three month train pass, so it doesn't really matter how fast I travel. Plus, like you said the daily cost of living in Australia is so high it doesn't make sense to take my time here. My plan right now is to spend about 6 weeks traveling in Australia when I get back from New Zealand, then start my South East Asia trip. Depending on the cost of flights, I will probably start with a month in Thailand, 2 weeks each in Cambodia and Laos, and 3 weeks in Vietnam. Then 5 weeks in Hong Kong and China. I am still debating about Malaysia and Singapore. I would like to see them, but since they would require separate flights I don't think it would be cost effective to include them. None of this is set in stone yet so I would welcome suggestions. :)

From Blog: Brisbane, Byron Bay, and the Blues

2nd February 2012

Mom
non-member comment

kewl
I can't wait to see ALL your pictures. And meet you in Europe. Hi from your fellow Wal-Martians from 3 diferent stores that you worked at.

From Blog: Wild Kangaroos and the Great Ocean Road

16th January 2012

dad
non-member comment

costs
Hi Jenny, You mentioned that you debated the cost of tour or driving, how about a little more detail about that for those who might be considering the same trip?

From Blog: Tiny Penguins, Lazy Koalas, and Fuzzy Sheep on Phillip Island

16th January 2012

jawilso
Jennifer

Costs
You can get a day tour to Phillip Island for $90 and you can get a day tour of the Great Ocean Road for about $100. If you want to do two days on the Ocean road it costs about $189. So basically it would have been almost $300 a piece for what we wanted to do. The way we did it it cost about $120 in gasoline for the Great Ocean Road and another $50 for Phillip Island round trip. The tickets to see the attractions of Phillip Island cost $30 for all three. We stayed a camp site on the great ocean road for $25 and of course we had to feed ourselves, but that wasn't included in the tour costs anyway. So it was about $50 apeice to see Phillip Island and the same again to see the Great Ocean Road. If you were driving by yourself it would not be cost effective to drive, but if you can split the gasoline costs it is alot cheaper.

From Blog: Tiny Penguins, Lazy Koalas, and Fuzzy Sheep on Phillip Island

16th January 2012

anonymous
non-member comment

The giant fountain is called 'Hofplein' On special significant national occasions associated with the Royal family or National soccer team they make the water Orange

From Blog: Rotterdam: off the Backpacker Track

16th January 2012

anonymous
non-member comment

It is a bird. On Tuesday and Saturday the market is there so they are hanging around for food!

From Blog: Rotterdam: off the Backpacker Track

14th January 2012

Jimmy, Cindi, Aunt Cathy, Mom, Tommy, and Jen
non-member comment

Australia
Is crocodile dundee nice in person?

From Blog: Sydney Secrets

14th January 2012

Jimmy, Cindi, Aunt Cathy, Mom, Tommy, and Jen
non-member comment

Poster
Nice poster.

From Blog: Thanksgiving in Australia

14th January 2012

Jimmy, Cindi, Aunt Cathy, Mom, Tommy, and Jen
non-member comment

Koala
Koala was fine. Send more.

From Blog: Tiny Penguins, Lazy Koalas, and Fuzzy Sheep on Phillip Island

14th January 2012

Aunt Cathy
non-member comment

"Fuzzy" sheep
Those sheep do not look fuzzy to me. They're nothing like the sheep we have here. Now THOSE are some fuzzy sheep! (Work on this also.)

From Blog: Tiny Penguins, Lazy Koalas, and Fuzzy Sheep on Phillip Island

14th January 2012

Just Jimmy
non-member comment

Penguins
Penguins not tiny enough. Please work on this for future posts.

From Blog: Tiny Penguins, Lazy Koalas, and Fuzzy Sheep on Phillip Island

14th January 2012

Same folks as before
non-member comment

Wowsers,
Also good.

From Blog: Tiny Penguins, Lazy Koalas, and Fuzzy Sheep on Phillip Island

14th January 2012

Jimmy, Cindi, Aunt Cathy, Mom, Tommy, and Jen
non-member comment

Wow!
Good.

From Blog: Driving, Melbourne, and the New Year

21st December 2011

Anais from France
non-member comment

Good memories
Hi Jennifer ! It is incredible to see these pictures ! I have lived in the fruitshack in 2005/06 for about 4 months, I wrote on that door ... It is weird to see that absolutely nothing has changed... except maybe the kitchen that seems cleaner ! I am sure you had great times there as well as I did.. I will never forget the place and on top of that the people I met there... many of them are still in my heart.. Thanks for the pictures.. PS: Pepe did not change at all !!!!! neither did Michael !

From Blog: The Fruitshack: Leeton Australia

21st November 2011

Nancy Clemens
non-member comment

Hi
Jenny, How are you? I hope you are well. I want to thank you for the lovely Christmas card. I got yesterday in the mail. Your card is the first of the season! It was good to hear from you. I have been following your blog. It sounds and looks like you have met many really nice people. I hope you are enjoying yourself. We will miss you too this Christmas. I hope you will be with your friends on Christmas. Have a nice dinner. I will be thinking of you. I will check in on your folks at Christmas time. We are having the Olson Christmas in a couple of weeks. I will try to send you pictures. I am not very good at emails with pictures, but I will try. So what's new here. Brad and Casey are expecting in May. We are all very excited about having a new little one. Sarah Brizgis just got hired as a 1st grade teacher at Marseilles Elementary. She starts next Monday. She is so excited about getting this position. Christopher brought a house in Ottawa in May. He moved in on June 1st and is very happy there. Tim is still in Cincinnati working of Krogers. He is doing great. I am fine. I am teaching myself to crochet so I can make a baby blanklet. Uncle Larry spent the summer and fall painting the buildings out on the farm in Grand Ridge. A big job- but he got in done and it looks great. He and Nancy are leaving this Friday for a short trip to Nashville and the Grand Olde Opry. So anyway that is all my news for now. Stay safe and take care, love you, Aunt Nancy

From Blog: Spring at the Fruitshack: Leeton Australia

21st November 2011

Nancy Clemens
non-member comment

Hi
Jenny, How are you? I hope you are well. I want to thank you for the lovely Christmas card. I got yesterday in the mail. Your card is the first of the season! It was good to hear from you. I have been following your blog. It sounds and looks like you have met many really nice people. I hope you are enjoying yourself. We will miss you too this Christmas. I hope you will be with your friends on Christmas. Have a nice dinner. I will be thinking of you. I will check in on your folks at Christmas time. We are having the Olson Christmas in a couple of weeks. I will try to send you pictures. I am not very good at emails with pictures, but I will try. So what's new here. Brad and Casey are expecting in May. We are all very excited about having a new little one. Sarah Brizgis just got hired as a 1st grade teacher at Marseilles Elementary. She starts next Monday. She is so excited about getting this position. Christopher brought a house in Ottawa in May. He moved in on June 1st and is very happy there. Tim is still in Cincinnati working of Krogers. He is doing great. I am fine. I am teaching myself to crochet so I can make a baby blanklet. Uncle Larry spent the summer and fall painting the buildings out on the farm in Grand Ridge. A big job- but he got in done and it looks great. He and Nancy are leaving this Friday for a short trip to Nashville and the Grand Olde Opry. So anyway that is all my news for now. Stay safe and take care, love you, Aunt Nancy

From Blog: Spring at the Fruitshack: Leeton Australia

29th October 2011

Dianne
non-member comment

28 th October 2011
To all staff thankyou so kindly making my birthday cake. It was wonderful and delicous. Could you please do a brouche. Are your kittens the one that is displayed for sale Thankyou again so much Dianne

From Blog: Mick's Bakehouse: Leeton Australia

13th September 2011

pat leonard
non-member comment

happy to hear from u
sounds like everything is going super for you-would love to work in the bakery. keep us informed! Love, Pat

From Blog: Mick's Bakehouse: Leeton Australia

12th August 2011

jawilso
Jennifer

Cold
It is cold here, usually about 40 degrees at night and then about 60 when it warms up in the day. Still not as cold as it gets for Christmas in Illinois.

11th August 2011

jenny's dad
non-member comment

July weather
The group at the Christmas dinner looks dressed for the cold. Was it that cold, or was that more for a christmas kind of look?

28th June 2011

jawilso
Jennifer

Internet prices
I know it is ridiculously amount to spend on internet. I really feel that everything is ridiculously expensive. The first week I was here I paid 25 dollars at the hostel for unlimited internet for the week. And then I bought a portable modem for 49 dollars. It connects my laptop to the internet on the 3G network. It came with a month worth of internet usage, or 3 gigabytes. Now I just have to pay 29 dollars a month for internet and I can get it wherever I go. The cell phone was my fault as well. I brought my US phone with me and I would have been able to just get a sim card. But I lost it at the LA airport so I had to get a new phone for 49 dollars and I added 15 dollars credit to it so that potential employers can call me.

From Blog: An entry in which I discuss random facts learned about Australia from my museum visits.

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