So, just like with my previous blogging attempts, I think I'll be reposting a lot of interesting things that I've written in other places (interesting to me, at least). This is a post I wrote today in a travelblog.org discussion forum entitled, "Does blogging keep you in touch?": In 2005, I had a friend head out for six months in Southeast Asia. He kept a travel blog and I learned a lot from his experience. First, as a reader, I learned just how inspiring and interesting it is to have a friend doing such a thing. His blog kept me up [View Full Entry]

---

---

So Seattle is unique in America, in that the only way to get around is by boat or boat-plane. Here's the proof: [img=http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p112/julespenk/Jules%20and%20Sofie%20in%20the%20Americas/1%20-%20USA/0%20-%20Seattle%20and%20Vancouver%20BC/2%20-%20Seattle%20city/IMG_5480.jpg] Weird huh. All the people have to live on water, in fact, some don't even want to admit they do, going so far as to modify boats so much that they look like normal houses that you and me would live in: [img=http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p112/julespenk/Jules%20and%20Sofie%20in%20the [View Full Entry]

---

---

Fresh the trip begins, sending fond memories of Vancouver awash now, for memories of new. Scenery's changing. Brighter skies so to speak, not that one could imagine they grew brighter still, world's different, I'm excited. The start, welcome to Amtrak service from Seattle to San Diego, a track leading to many paths that were to follow. Memories forged already as I chuckle to myself. The image of two Aussie's drained from the week's past events dragging the 30 tonnes of luggage behind their person. Step one out of the cab to a bus stop which must have seemed far too many [View Full Entry]

---

---

My initial plans had been to buzz over to Loren's place in the prosperous hamlet of the USofA's Pacific Northwest, Seattle, then travel down the reputedly gorgeous Oregan coastline and meet up with Sofie in San Frantabulous. Well, as time went by, it just didn't seem fair and right (or proper) to have the lady travel all that way on her own (esp. given that we'd already semi-agreed that I would also travel a bit further on my own after her ca. 4 months was up.....) So, I arrange a quick sojourn for a week or so to take in Seattle [View Full Entry]

---

---

Hello everyone! I'm slowly posting some pictures here on the blog. I plan on finding another site where you can browse through all of them more easily. It takes a bit of time to upload them, so I'll be updating these pages over the next couple of days. Thanks again for all your comments, and I'm so glad that you all were able to share in our adventures! :-) Hugs, Jen [View Full Entry]

---

---

Well, it is 7:00 in the morning and we are finally on the plane - 11 hours after leaving my house with only two hours sleep. Our very first flight of many on our trip around the world. Jordan and Calvin stayed up all night - those two are die hards when it comes to not sleeping, they always have been. I have yet to meet a child who surpassed Jordan's and Calvin's ability to stay up until sunrise. I still can't tell which one of them is worse - I always fall asleep. Calvin, we will miss you so much!!! [View Full Entry]

---

---

This is my first real foray into blogging with a real purpose. I started this travel blog to journal all my exploits in my senior year of college and afterwards. I wish I had started this last winter, so that I could truly chronicle my impressions and experiences in Alaska, Bellingham, and across Europe. No use crying over spilled milk though, just stay tuned for some adventures this year including Rock Creek, MT, Boise, ID, Chicago IL, (Maybe) and Auckland, New Zealand, (God willing). I'll also be blogging about my trips around Washington, both in the East and West. Some of [View Full Entry]

---

---

Visited Countries Map [View Full Entry]

---

---

On Thursday we traveled out to Whidbey Island, Heather in the car and Joe (my cousin) his 7 month old daughter Stella and another family (Vlad, Nat and Joey ) in Joe’s boat. The house we rented was amazing; right on the waters edge, sound system in every room and a lift even thought there were only 3 floors. The owners had built it about 4 years before on some land his grandparents had. If we had to be really picky we would suggest a hot tub in the yard and a bath, especially one on the top floor overlooking the [View Full Entry]

---

---

Well, by now, most of you know that we made it back. London was a little hairy given the terrorist plot, but we made it out (we had a three hour delay, which given the circumstances, we didn't think was too bad. In case you're wondering, the reason we didn't blog from the Seychelles was because we didn't have Internet access. We stayed on the island of Pralin, which is remote and pretty sparce from a population standpoint. We loved it. The Seychelles must be what Hawaii was like 50 years ago. We now have had our pictures developed and have [View Full Entry]

---

---