Aaron & Shauna

The JacksonCrabbs

Aaron & Shauna

Since 2002, Aaron has lived, traveled and worked in America, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and Thailand. Plus he has taken holidays to Costa Rica, Fiji, Mexico, Philippines and Vietnam.

Since 2002, Shauna has lived, traveled and worked in Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and Spain. Plus she has taken holidays to America, China, England, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

Skipping forward to 2007, Shauna and I decided to cohabitate in Calgary, Alberta Canada. Our vision was to move in together, build a wealth of cash and move to a warm aired, oceanside community within 12-months! What actually happened is we found ourselves happily residing in Canada taking trips to America until we had, had enough of the minus 30-Celsius winters. Which is when we decided to pack our bags and head for South Korea to teach English, en route back to Australia!

Our adventures in South Korea surmounted a strong front for further travel into the heart of many other SE Asian cultures. We found ourselves lost in the differences between first world and third world amenities. Nearing the end of 2011, with little money left in our pockets we returned to Alberta, Canada. Upon our return we spent sometime with our families and discovered a quaint little town called Stony Plain.
Stony Plain, Alberta has become our home for just over 3-years now, as we have been slowly paying off our travel debts and building careers.

This Spring and Summer, we hope to begin building this blog with information about Central Alberta, Canada and the many sun-destinations we have planned for future travels. Until then... Happy New Year 2015

Hiking in the Wagner Natural Area, Central Alberta

North America » Canada » Alberta » Stony Plain June 26th 2012

The JacksonCrabbs

Its pretty fair to say that living in Edmonton you are not going to be spoiled with spectacular views of the Canadian Rocky Mountains (since they are a mere 3-hour drive to the west)but there are plenty of surreal vegitation areas, species of flora, birds, bugs and wildlife to keep any novice hiker thrilled to the gils. You see, this is my first time living in the Central region of Alberta. This region for me is like a shiny new toy for any little kid at Christmas time. I want to spend my days hiking around, using my new compass, drinking from glacier streams while trying to avoid "beaver fever" and drawing maps to secret hidden off-the-beaten path trails. I'm an adventurer. I've always loved hiking through places I have never been. Heck... I'll even drive ... read more

The World's Largest... Day Trip Photo Conclusion

North America » Canada » Alberta » Barrhead May 22nd 2012

Barrhead

The JacksonCrabbs

It'd be a blast to recapture everything we discussed, saw, drank and viewed on the remainder of our Victoria Day Road Trip but here is a Photo-Conclusion and a Wrap Up of all the places we stopped, kilometers we drove and time it took to start at home in Stony Plain and end up back at home. We hope you enjoy this photo-conclusion. As we look forward to many more random road trips throughout the summer of 2012! World's Largest Destinations - The Wool Toque, Morinville, Alberta The Weathervane, Westlock, Alberta The Blue Heron, Barrhead, Alberta The Wagon Wheel & Pick Axe, Fort Assiniboine, Alberta The Battle Between a Bear & Swan, Swan Hills, Alberta The Fallen Four Memorial, Mayerthorpe, Alberta Random Stops - French Murals, Legal, Alberta Roadhouse Pub, Whitecourt, Alberta Kilometers ... read more

Victoria Day... from Morinville to Westlock

North America » Canada » Alberta » Westlock May 20th 2012

Bugnet Mural

The JacksonCrabbs

Our photo-opps with Jesus completed, we walked to the sidewalk before jogging across the street. Hopping into our vehicle I made a quick u-turn on 100th Avenue and headed back out to Highway 2. Heading north just outside of Morinville we spotted a tourist sign stating "Legal, home of the French Murals."Giggling because our own small town boasts numerous murals, I said, "Let's see if Legal's murals are anywhere near as exquisite as Stony Plains'?" Eye-balling me out her peripherral vision Shauna simplified to, "Really?" "Why not?" "Sure... let's see what they are," she replied astonished by my lust for misadventure. Nineteen kilometers later I hung a right onto secondary road 642. Speeding past two slow moving vehicles, I tilted the moonroof closed as a farmer kicked up field dust in his tractor sending billows of ... read more

Victoria Day... from Stony Plain to Morinville

North America » Canada » Alberta » Stony Plain May 20th 2012

Get Up And Go

The JacksonCrabbs

A brief history of Victoria Day*. Victoria Day (in French: Fête de la Reine) is a federal Canadian public holiday celebrated in six of the ten provinces and all three territories. It falls on the last Monday before May 25th, in honour of Queen Victoria's birthday. The date is also, simultaneously, connected to the current reigning Canadian sovereign's official birthday. It is informally considered the beginning of the summer season in Canada. The birthday of Queen Victoria was a day for celebration in Canada long before its url=http://en.wik... read more

Three Months of Northern Alberta

North America » Canada » Alberta » Stony Plain May 12th 2012

Truckin'

The JacksonCrabbs

I would like to say that in three months nothing has changed much except for our minimalistic views on our lifestyle choices. But then I would be lying to you. And I am just not comfortable with this. However, what I can show you is a story of two people who have finally overcome reverse culture shock and found themselves comfortably living 30 minutes due westof a little city called Edmonton. It was not an easy decision the one that landed us here... after all, I had received a job offer in Whitecourt a virtual jumping off point to the "patch" for many oilfield workers. I spent a few weeks driving back and forth to a job without an office or a building to report to or report from. It did put money in the pocket. ... read more

One Major Decision, part 2

North America » Canada » Alberta » Edmonton February 17th 2012

FJ Cruiser Collage

The JacksonCrabbs

Thursday morning, still with Ian’s thoughts in my head, I wrote it down and tried to crash out. In the morning, I phoned my father-in-law. I posed Ian’s theory to him. Explained what was going on. He spoke for over an hour with me. He gave me his opinion on Ian’s theory and gave sound advice on dealing with salespeople at dealerships. Thanking him I contact Peace River, only to learn that my credit application efforts last night failed because someone this vary morning had purchased the Trail Team Edition. A sigh of relief fell over me. Another FJ gone, they were falling out everywhere. We ended up at Mayfield Toyota, Thursday night to test-drive a 2006 Tacoma 4x4 and a red 2008 FJ. Upon arrival we were given keys to the Tacoma. Taking off out ... read more

One Major Decision Lead to a Week of Foodless, Sleepless, Stressful Days

North America » Canada » Alberta » Edmonton February 13th 2012

2006 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 2DR

The JacksonCrabbs

It's true... as they say, buying a new vehicle whether it has zero-kilometers/miles or thousands can be nerve wracking, make you stressss-OUT and even make you lose sleep. I know. You shouldn't let it get to you. But what if it meant the difference between getting the job you love or not having that job? That is exactly how all this started. I was offered a job in another small town about an hours drive from home. I accepted. Then declined. Nerves. "How could everything be working out this easily?" I thought. Its not the usual suspect with me. I'm use to working odd jobs while the job I'd prefer is still dangling out there in front of me with the usual labels: over-qualified, too much experience, not enough history. I've heard it all. I always ... read more

Writing for the Local Newspaper

North America » Canada » Alberta » Stony Plain February 2nd 2012

Circulation Areas

The JacksonCrabbs

Its simple... my life is one gigantic research project trying to gather up the latest news worthy topics from around three circulating areas. Each area incorporates 10 to 15 small towns sometimes called hamlets or villages depending on a variety of things including population and zoning for commercial buildings. Its an interesting job, digging through paper files, sheets and sheets of municipal codes, bylaws and personal information only to be blocked out by dark sharpie lines in the interest of Privacy Acts. There comes a time every week when the docket is full, handed into the publisher and I get to sit back for a moment and relive the events of the following week. Glowing with anticipation for tomorrow everything will be printed in black and white. The fun part for me, is wondering which articles ... read more

Jogyesa Temple in January

Asia » South Korea » Seoul » Insadong January 8th 2012

Main Temple

The JacksonCrabbs

Jogyesa Buddhist Temple is located near Anguk Station, off line #3 in the central Insadong area. Here the temple is surrounded by practicing monks and shops which sell everything a monk might need; hats, clothes, winter gloves, incense, burners, bracelets, indoor shoes, socks, Buddha statues, calendars, prayer beads, musical instruments and more. Every shop has something to offer the "well to do being" who visits the temple. There is even a store on the grounds for a variety of other "monk essentials." However this is not why we came to Jogyesa Temple. This is one of the most accessible temples in Seoul besides Bongeunsa Temple on the south end of the city. There are over forty temples throughout South Korea which Lonely Planet introduces within their pages. Inside Seoul proper there are only four temples but ... read more

Denver to Grand Junction and Back

North America » United States » Colorado » Denver November 28th 2011

Departing Denver

The JacksonCrabbs

Traffic at 7:05am along Santa Fe is atrocious unless you are using the carpool lane. Oh yea, carpool for those of you without a clue means 2 or more people in a car unless you like $500 fines? Driving along we made record time to Union Station only to find out Amtrak has moved to 21st and Wewatta streets. Close enough. But close enough to be off when you are trying to catch a train. This is NOT Korea nor Japan. Heck. If I was there, I'd have missed my train. Twice. Dropped off at the office. Checked in. Ticketed. Prepared to climb on board car 512. Jumpin on board the train as its whistle fired up. I found an empty set of seats. Stuffing in my ticket and sitting down. Unbelievable. Space. Leg rests. Power ... read more

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