Justin Was Here

Live prodigal.

Justin Jones — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:56:02 +0000

My last blog was titled, “The Prodigal Backpacker Returns” and the title got me thinking about prodigal sons and what that term really means...

The Prodigal Backpacker Returns

Justin Jones — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 23:03:01 +0000

I flew into Los Angeles 2 weeks ago. It was perfect timing, as there were lots of parties in Hollywood and Johnny had some sweet sunset gigs. So, I Crashed at Johnny’s house for a few days and rocked Hollywood with

Some People Call it Reverse Culture Shock.

Justin Jones — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 07:47:50 +0000

When a backpacker travels for a long period of time, experiencing the intricacies and unique nuances of another culture (i.e. partying, boozing, and sexing with foreigners), they can become so accustomed to this new culture that their home culture suddenly seems foreign. Some people call this Reverse Culture Shock. I've got a different name for it...

A Big Decision That Made Itself

Justin Jones — Sun, 24 May 2009 03:54:20 +0000

My visa was expiring in a week and I had to make a big decision. I didn’t have to be back in California by mid-June for my sister’s wedding, so I wanted to extend the visa and stay an extra month in Byron Bay, working and partying and enjoying the last days of the Aussie summer...

It’s gonna be scary..

Justin Jones — Mon, 18 May 2009 12:15:50 +0000

We said goodbye at a bus stop. I can’t even begin to tell you how many people I’ve said goodbye to at a bus stop. They are sad places for me. Robin and I sat on a ledge and waited for the bus and I felt like a nervous little kid, avoiding eye contact and...

My East Coast Adventure

Justin Jones — Mon, 11 May 2009 06:53:07 +0000

It was a bright and sunny day when Robin and I boarded the Greyhound bus to leave Bryon and head up to Noosa to meet with Anna, Stina, Helena, Fan, and Eve (affectionately referred to hereafter Swedes). Robin was leaving Byron for good, with flights already booked to...

Another Spin of the Wheel

Justin Jones — Tue, 05 May 2009 08:55:59 +0000

Maybe all the beautiful and amazing things that have happened to me in my life are the benevolent workings of some omnipotent creator. Or maybe I'm just a lucky bastard. Maybe its Karma, or maybe it's just random chance, but...

A Stupid Idea

Justin Jones — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 06:52:36 +0000

Years ago, told my friend John Murphy that I wanted to try being homeless for a few months. And I meant it – I wanted to be properly homeless. Sleep on the streets. Eat what I could find or what I could buy with money panhandled from the kindness of strangers. I wanted...

Busy Weeks and Beautiful Mornings

Justin Jones — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 07:30:30 +0000

It was a busy week. I started getting some real shifts at Tribal Travel, a little travel agency / internet café where I sell East Coast backpacker tours to fresh-off-the-greyhound travelers. It’s repetitive and mind numbing work, like..

Campsite Slums and Luxury Beachside Holiday Homes… or… Still a Broke Drunk.

Justin Jones — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 00:31:45 +0000

Lou once wrote me a text message from Bryon Bay, when she was traveling with her dad in Australia, and I was still living in Nelson, New Zealand. The message said something like “oh man, you can practically smell the sex, drugs, and booze in this town..

A Race Around The World

Justin Jones — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 08:01:43 +0000

In late December, 2008, I challenged Lou to a race around the world – possibly the coolest idea I’ve ever had. I was working at the

Cheers Bro…G’day Mate!

Justin Jones — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 22:50:21 +0000

I spent my last night in New Zealand at Gaby and Blake’s house. They were feeling burnt out from a long week of partying, so I had to hit the town on my own – what kind of life-a-holic would I be if I let my last night in NZ be sober and

On the Road (Again)

Justin Jones — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 09:36:10 +0000

We had all partied pretty hard on Sunday – it was a combination going away party for me (and Lou, who leaves Rags next week) and birthday party for Chris. On Laura’s suggestion, a few of us decided to play Wizard Sticks...

How to Dismantle Your Life

Justin Jones — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 06:39:45 +0000

Leaving is the hardest part of travel. You have to say goodbye to everything that has become familiar and comfortable to you, and you have to dive head first into the unknown. But it is that foray into the unknown that makes travel so...

Damn government

Justin Jones — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 03:04:15 +0000

Lou and I just had our visa applications declined. Here is the back story...

Sickly Business and Excitement about the Future

Justin Jones — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 07:56:26 +0000

I’ve got the day off, so I feel like I should blog. I’ve been sick with a fever for the last 4 days. I mean, really sick. The last time I felt this bad was that week in Illinois and Wisconsin a couple years ago that I blogged about under the title “Probably the worst week of my life.”

A Raglan Xmas

Justin Jones — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 06:18:51 +0000

There are a lot of people all over the world who I wish I could spend the Holidays with. But the truth of the matter is, that I'm an itinerant, selfish bastard and I'll be spending the holidays in paradise with a few new friends and a whole lot of sunshine.

Just A Bonus

Justin Jones — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 05:58:33 +0000

I’ve learned that I need to take periodic breaks from life at the hostel in order to maintain my sanity. The other day I worked the morning shift at the hostel and I didn’t have to be back in Raglan until 4PM the next day for my Marlin shift, so I decided to hit the road...

Breaking Point

Justin Jones — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 02:41:42 +0000

There are only so many times you can politely tell someone to shut the fuck up before you actually say, "SHUT THE FUCK UP." Everyone has their breaking point. Actually, we all have multiple breaking points – even when it comes to things we truly love. Like how you can only ride a rollercoaster so many times before you lose that stomach-in-your-throat feeling of recklessness and simple childlike fun – eventually, it’s just another bumpy ride that leaves you with a dizzy head and a queasy stomach.

Politics, Finances and Moustaches

Justin Jones — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 02:31:11 +0000

From where I stand, poised with a Phoenix palm tree on the shores of the Tasman sea, things in the world seem to be looking up – at least things in my world… well, mostly. So here is what’s happening in my world...

Maybe I wasn’t built for this…

Justin Jones — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 01:26:29 +0000

Yesterday I took a day trip into Hamilton to pick up a friend from the Hospital (long story) and to do a bit of much needed shopping (I was running out of wearable underwear, if you must know). Hamilton is only a 45 minute drive from my quiet little home in Raglan, but...

Raglan Surf and Fragile Bones

Justin Jones — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 01:20:31 +0000

It was my second day surfing Narunui Beach in Raglan. The day before I had taken a lesson with Zen and Debs, local pros who liked to pass on their love for surf by teaching eager young learners the ropes. Under their expert tutelage, my big foam board glided through the crashing whitewater and I popped up on my first wave.

Raglan: A New Horizon

Justin Jones — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:51:43 +0000

It was Sunday morning in Auckland and I had to drag myself out of bed at an all-too-early hour with a slight hangover and an impending sense of having to be responsible. I had a lot to get done that morning, and not a lot of time to work with.

Skyscrapers & Possibilities – My return to Auckland

Justin Jones — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:08:05 +0000

It’s all coming together now... or at least it’s going to have to start coming together soon or I’ll find myself out in the gutter somewhere, or on a street corner juggling rocks for spare change. But don’t despair just yet, as I said – it’s all coming together now..

The Road to Auckland

Justin Jones — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 06:48:17 +0000

So Mimi and I have been cruising around the North Island for the last 2 weeks (almost) and everything was going very smoothly up until the other day… So here is the latest update: We left Wellington and cruised randomly around the North, visiting weird country townships and awesome cruisy beach towns. We landed in New Plymouth for [...]

Goodbye Nelson

Justin Jones — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 07:42:22 +0000

The alarm on my cell phone started to scream out its obnoxious and terrible song. A combination of pulsing vibrato and too-cheerful music – the only thing that can really wake me up in the morning. I stumbled out of bed and fumbled to the kitchen to brew myself a cup of ambition.

What are we running from? (and why you shouldnt read this blog)

Justin Jones — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 06:42:59 +0000

We’re all running from something. It’s a conversation I’ve often had over a glass of cheap wine in some strange city with a group of other international runaways. Why do we choose to live life on the road? Why do we force ourselves into a life where we are constantly making and breaking social connections – it’s exhausting. Mentally and emotionally draining. And yet we totally fucking love it.

Working in Blenheim

Justin Jones — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 09:26:32 +0000

Blenheim is one of those towns that doesn't really need to exist. It's like the service station / rest stop / roach motel encampments that spring up at the halfway point of a long and dusty road. These towns only exist out of necessity - like a trade-route settlement in the middle of the desert.

Just another Taco Tuesday

Justin Jones — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:33:36 +0000

Back in my norcal days, Taco Tuesday was my favorite drinking day of the week. There were almost never any tacos involved, but we didn't mind -- we were out to destroy our stomachs and livers with booze, not cheap Mexican food.

What City Are You?

Justin Jones — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 23:58:20 +0000

It was yet another hung-over Saturday morning at the Voda office, and I was trying to keep my eyes open, while groggily surfing CNN’s website and catching up on my American politics. It was a cold, grey morning, but Sublime was on the radio and I was daydreaming about my life back in sunny Southern California when I stumbled onto a web page that asked the question, “Which city are you?”

The Palace

Justin Jones — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 06:00:41 +0000

The Palace was the kind of place where you felt immediately at home, and at the same time, immediately out of place. It was the kind of hostel where everyone seemed to already know each other, which can make the new nomad on the block feel a bit like an outsider.

Hitching Up New Zealand’s West Coast

Justin Jones — Mon, 19 May 2008 13:26:13 +0000

So I’m hitchhiking up the West Coast of New Zealand’s south Island and I get dropped off somewhere outside the picturesque little lakeside town of Wanaka, where an endless winding road meets another endless winding road. The junction of Freedom and Bedlam, miles from nowhere, and exactly where I want to be. The harsh, New [...]

Twitter Updates for 2008-05-17

Justin Jones — Sat, 17 May 2008 23:59:59 +0000

I wish i had my old partner in crime with me tonight! #

Twitter Updates for 2008-05-10

Justin Jones — Sat, 10 May 2008 23:59:59 +0000

I think iron and wine is the soundtrack to my life. It always seems to fit. #

Twitter Updates for 2008-05-01

Justin Jones — Thu, 01 May 2008 23:59:59 +0000

Tonight we all decided to dress like eachother. Iffy is me, gjoni is jane, and i’m mimi-the blonde german. Dressed in drag and ready for … #

Twitter Updates for 2008-04-30

Justin Jones — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:59:59 +0000

Ended up going out last night for uk paul’s b day. Beers. Tequila shots. German girls. Good times. And too little sleep. #

Twitter Updates for 2008-04-29

Justin Jones — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:59:59 +0000

Long day at the vodafone shop today.. Looking forward to dinner, a beer, and some sleep! #

Twitter Updates for 2008-04-28

Justin Jones — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:59:59 +0000

My first mobile tweet! Just set it up to post my tweets to my blog every day. Annoying? Probably. Deal with it. # My first mobile tweet! Just set it up to post my tweets to my blog every day. Annoying? Probably. Deal with it. # My first mobile tweet! Just set it up to post my [...]

Twitter Updates for 2008-04-27

Justin Jones — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 23:59:59 +0000

going to start mobile twittering! #

…to the top of Mount Roy

Justin Jones — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:00:08 +0000

After a few days of chilling out by the lake in the picturesque town of Wanaka, some friends and I decided to hike to the top of Mount Roy. the trek took the whole day, and it certainly took a lot out of us. We were vastly unprepared for the journey...

live it, love it… but for god’s sake, don’t forget to blog it!

Justin Jones — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 08:28:58 +0000

As usual, I have to apologize for being such a slack blogger. You probably know by now that when I'm not updating the blog, I'm out living life... and loving every minute of it. When you're having fun, exploring the world, meeting great people, and drinking local brews with local booze-hounds...

Franz Josef

Justin Jones — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 07:21:21 +0000

The little township of Franz Josef doesnt have much. There is one small market, 2 bars, and a couple of backpackers hostels. But this sleepy little two road town is home to one of the biggest tourist draws on New Zealand's West Coast: The Franz Josef Glacier.

42 Below

Justin Jones — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 04:11:49 +0000

The center of New Zealand is located on the 42nd longitudinal parallel, and thats where the NZ vodka brand, 42 Below comes from. it is a stong, clean vodka, made using water pumped up from under an extinct volcano — very pure. 42 Below comes in a bunch of different flavors, one of which is [...]

Bungee!

Justin Jones — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 04:09:19 +0000

A friend’s Bungee jump — yeah, I’m a wuss… but not really — I did a skydive in Israel last year for Christ’s sake (ha! Christ…Israel…sorry) I’m just traveling on a budget that includes copious amounts of booze, and no jumping out of or off of things… but yeah… check out Petra’s jump!

Lake Pukaki Camp

Justin Jones — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 21:31:28 +0000

Just a time-lapsed video of me and some other campers setting up our little tent city on the wooded shores of Lake Pukaki.

Fiordland and Milford Sound

Justin Jones — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 03:54:38 +0000

Fiordland National Park in New Zealand is 12,120 square kilometers of fiords, waterfalls, and general glacier-carved awesomeness. Join me on my journey into the Fiordlands where we visit The Chasm and take a scenic cruise on the Milford Sound.

My Birthday Abroad

Justin Jones — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 03:53:24 +0000

Feb. 28th was my birthday, and I celebrated it with a bus full of strangers / new friends at a sweet little camping lodge at Rangitata, on New Zealand’s South Island. The day started on a sad note, as new friend Aussie Steve was leaving us in Christchurch, and we were pressing on to the Rangitata [...]

Pandora Withdrawals

Justin Jones — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 03:08:03 +0000

I’m addicted to Pandora.com. And since I came to New Zealand, I’ve been too far off the grid to get my daily Pandora fix of perfectly personalized music. You can’t really fire up the laptop and get online while you’re camping in the woods near lake Tekapo on New Zealand’s South Island. So when I finally [...]

A Day in Kaikoura

Justin Jones — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 02:49:37 +0000

Here is a video diary of a day I spent in Kaikoura, just a stop along the road on the Flying Kiwi Adventure Bus Tour.

bus / camp / drink / sleep / repeat

Justin Jones — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:28:06 +0000

Things have been off to a pretty good start here on this trip, except for the weather. The day I flew in to Auckland, it was sunny, but that evening a storm rolled over the North Island we had nothing but rain and wind for the next few days.

Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonder-stink

Justin Jones — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:27:41 +0000

Wai-O-Tapu means "Sacred Waters" in the Maori language, and the Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland is a sort of touristic tribute to the natural beauty and supernatural stink of these sulfurous geo-thermal...

Auckland and the Fat Camel

Justin Jones — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 09:44:57 +0000

Here is a quick video update from the Fat Camel Hostel in Auckland!

Home is where the Kiwis are.

Justin Jones — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:17:13 +0000

Well, hello from Auckland, NZ! Yes, thats right folks, after months of jibber jabber and blah blah blah, I finally made it! My flight landed early this morning, and I’ve just been walking around Auckland for the last few hours, trying to shake this jet lag and get my bearings. Actually, the jet lag [...]

Leaving for New Zealand now!

Justin Jones — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 23:49:14 +0000

I'm on my way out the door right now! here is a quick video blog i threw together to say bye! the next time you see my beautiful face, I'll be in NZ!

Niggy Tardust

Justin Jones — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 22:31:48 +0000

Many of you know that Saul Williams is sort of a hero / inspiration to me. He’s a super-talented poet and and slam artist, as well as a a writer, actor, activist (i guess you can say that), etc. Well, he just released a music video to his cover of U2’s Bloody [...]

Things I still have to do before I leave for New Zealand

Justin Jones — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 05:06:50 +0000

I’ve traveled a lot in my life, but never before have I left without any plan of coming back. I could be gone for 6 months, a year, 2 years… who knows!? It’s a weird feeling — having to tie up every loose end in your life. It’s a bit like knowing when you’re [...]

Video Blogobabble

Justin Jones — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 08:19:09 +0000

Links: Fortune Cookie Betty’s Rock Bar Punch Face (the band we saw at Betty’s) LifeCasting (not this kind of Life Casting) Justin.TV iJustine.com (yeah, I have a crush on her)

Diamond Day

Justin Jones — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 14:28:07 +0000

Damn, it’s after 6AM and I’ve been up all night. I finally got around to learning how to use Sony Vegas to edit my videos and I put this together, my first real video blog! Love it. So, I had to seriously degrade the video quality to get the file size small enough for YouTube (switched [...]

About Justin Jones

Justin Jones — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 05:32:49 +0000

Why Don’t I have a Wikipedia page yet? I mean, come on fans — let’s make it happen! Here is a clip from my new about me page…fact or fiction…you decide! The story of by birth is an interesting one. I have to start by telling the tale of my lumberjack father and my beautiful farm-girl [...]

Travel Tales

Justin Jones — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 10:27:36 +0000

In an effort to blog on a more regular basis I’ve decided to begin writing about things other than what is currently going on in my life. This should give me something to fill the gaps between blog-worthy events and should make for some cool themes that you’ll enjoy reading about. For starters, I’d [...]

NYE 08 Pics!

Justin Jones — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 10:17:51 +0000

Hey all- I finally put up the pics from NYE 08 in San Francisco! thanks to everyone for a great time! [slideshow=2] This is just a sampling of some of the best pics — you can find them all on my Flickr account.

A Year on the Road

Justin Jones — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 10:00:35 +0000

It’s hard to believe, but I’ve been technically homeless for over a year now. My lease in LA ended in December of 2006, and since then, I’ve been couch surfing around the states and gallivanting all over the globe for various reasons. 2007 was an awesome year for me, and I think it [...]

back from oblivion

Justin Jones — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 09:07:25 +0000

Well hello there cats and kittens — I’m back. “From where?” You might ask. Well, I’m not sure exactly, but it was a strange and deranged world of too much booze and not enough real conscious thought. Sure, I’ve been thinking a lot, but it’s been a little too much Act 1 Hamlet, and not enough [...]

LA, Life, and Life in LA

Justin Jones — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 01:31:07 +0000

Yes, I’m still in LA after over a week of boozing, bumming, and slumming. I haven’t felt like this much of a piece of shit since the days when I was living in Johnny’s one bedroom apartment with Murph on the couch and me on the inflatable mattress. Thats 3 people in a [...]

Planning a Trip Backpacking Abroad

Justin Jones — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 11:12:20 +0000

So, you’re ready to strap on that overstuffed backpack and take a trip overseas. Maybe you’ll make it a euro-trip, hopping Eurail trains and sipping café au lait in Parisian cafes one day, then downing giant mugs of bohemian lager in Munich the next day. Or maybe you’ll head to South East Asia [...]

Decisions, Chance and Happenstance

Justin Jones — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 03:00:13 +0000

I hate making decisions for myself. Whenever I’m faced with a real decision, my overly analytical mind will start churning with discomfort while weighing options and figuring in consequence. This is a strange and crippling affliction for a nomad like myself. I live my life on a whim, always open to whatever the [...]

Travel Around the World in 2008

Justin Jones — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 07:41:26 +0000

Want to travel around the world? Stupid question — of course you do! we’ll I just heard the news that Global Scavenger Hunt is looking for 50 travelers to join their around the world travel adventure competition. Now, before you get too excited, I have to tell you that this isn’t an Amazing Race type travel [...]

roots

Justin Jones — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 07:03:46 +0000

I’ve begun to grow roots. A temporary set, to be sure, but roots none the less. And this is certainly not something I’m used to. I should have been in New Zealand by now, or maybe in Oz, bumming around on some beach in shorts and sandals and my favorite summertime t-shirt – the one [...]

B-Listers and Little Burgers

Justin Jones — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 08:13:27 +0000

Leave it to me to have the most stereotypical of LA experiences, the minute I get back in town. No, I wasn’t beaten by the cops or “discovered” as the next reality TV star, but if I had downed a couple more mojitos and had a bit more of the old Hollywood schmoozitude, those [...]

Reconciling with the Digital World…and Hello from Ohio

Justin Jones — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 19:57:11 +0000

Well, It’s that time of year again and I’m back in Ohio, grinding out the travel fair circuit. First of all, I have to apologize for the brief hiatus. In a cloud of exhaustion, made foggier by the previous night’s consumption of The Glenlivet,I managed to leave my laptop power cable and my cellphone charger in [...]

Study in Western Europe

Justin Jones — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 09:04:23 +0000

When I was in college I spent a summer studying abroad in London. It was an incredible experience not only because I learned a lot, met some cool people, and got to study British literature in the places where it was actually written, but also because it provided me with a jump-off point to [...]

Working in Western Europe

Justin Jones — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 08:43:45 +0000

According to timeday.org, Americans “work nearly nine full weeks (350 hours) LONGER per year than our peers in Western Europe do.” So what the hell are we still doing here in America? Okay, I don’t mean to get all anti-American, but that’s a lot of time spent in a cubicle when (if I lived and worked in [...]

Teaching to Travel – a life on the road

Justin Jones — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 08:29:49 +0000

Teaching English Abroad — the life of a nomad. World travelers and neo-nomads are always looking for a way to earn some travel cash without hanging up their backpack and heading home. While it is possible to pick up short-term jobs on the road, there’s only so many beers you can pour and only so [...]

Youth Hostels in western Europe

Justin Jones — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 08:13:09 +0000

You can find a good youth hostel just about anywhere you go, but there seems to be a concentration of top-notch hostels in Western Europe. Some of these youth hostels in western Europe are downright legendary, and some are just solid cheap places to crash – either way, there are loads of options, so you’ll [...]

Stateside

Justin Jones — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 23:00:32 +0000

just a quick update. I made it safely back to the states and I’m currently in Los Angeles. All in all, the Malaysia trip was great — a perfect mixture of work and party. I just updated my Flickr account with the pics — they arent ordered or captioned yet, but check out the slide show here! actually, [...]

Teaching English in Western Europe

Justin Jones — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 04:05:53 +0000

Teaching English in Western Europe can be difficult for American citizens. This is because English speakers from all over the EU are able to work legally and easily in any other EU country. So, much of the demand for native English speakers / teachers is covered by the UK. It is still possible to [...]

Work Abroad – Available Jobs

Justin Jones — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 03:55:22 +0000

Work abroad jobs. No matter what you resume looks like, chances are, there is a job abroad for you. People often ask us what kind of work is available overseas. Generally speaking, any kind of job you can have at home, you can find overseas. So, whether you’re graduating from college with a degree in [...]

4-Year Degrees Abroad

Justin Jones — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 03:42:45 +0000

Every year, more and more American students choose to study abroad for a semester or for a year, but many Americans don’t know that they can pursue a 4 year degree abroad. There are many options for students looking to spend all 4 years abroad. The first step would probably to learn the language of [...]

Weedy Sea Dragons and Other Evolutionary Anomalies

Justin Jones — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 12:05:57 +0000

My skin itched everywhere. This uncomfortable condition was partially caused by the layer of salty dried sweat on my skin, partly from my cracked, sunburnt skin, and partly from the bites of mosquitoes whatever insects had infested my mattress. I was sweating in the shade, feeling nauseous from the smell of sewage and filth rising from [...]

Malaysia Update

Justin Jones — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 05:20:16 +0000

Just a quick update from Malaysia: I’m still in Langkawi, about to catch a flight to Kuala Lumpur where I’ll do who-knows-what for the next few days. I might try to get out of the city, as island life here in Langkawi has spoiled and I’m not sure how i’ll respond to the bustle of [...]

Beach Bungalow Bumming

Justin Jones — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 06:05:13 +0000

Reckless abuse of hotel mini bars will break your wallet, No matter how good the exchange rates are. So, after two weeks of living the 5 star life, I’ve managed to maneuver my bank account dangerously close to the edge of broke. I’ve got a stomach full of Tiger beer and a wallet on empty, but [...]

Langkawi Island

Justin Jones — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 20:03:58 +0000

I’m sitting outside of my bungalow in Langkawi as I write this post. I can hear the low rumble of the crashing surf in the distance, just 20 yards off. It’s 8pm, the sun has just set and the crickets (or whatever local bug they happen to be) are singing all around me, creating an [...]

Penang

Justin Jones — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 13:49:03 +0000

“Lady boy? only 50 Ringit!” My cab driver proposed while shuttling me back to my hotel from a bar on Penang road. That’s less than 15 dollars US. I was a bit drunk but better judgment prevailed. “no thanks,” I said. Penang is an interesting place. It’s an island on the west coast of [...]

KL

Justin Jones — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 10:29:42 +0000

Check out this video from my first day in Malaysia. I was staying in a hotel just outside Kuala Lumpur — a real classy place, 5 stars and all that. Certainly a step above my days as a dirty backpacker! (don’t worry, I’m still dirty) Anyway, I discovered an awesome bit of the famed Asian [...]

Malaysia

Justin Jones — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 09:55:02 +0000

Hello from Kuala Lumpur! I’ve been in Kuala Lumpur (KL, as the locals call it) for something like 4 or 5 days now — I’ve lost track of time already. There’s a lot to say, and unfortunately, I just don’t have the time to say it right now! I’ve been running around this city like a [...]

What Makes a Great Youth Hostel

Justin Jones — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 21:05:23 +0000

Good youth hostels are almost as common as dirty backpackers in European cities, but a great youth hostel can be harder to come by. Great youth hostels are the stuff of legends. You’ve all heard the stories, passed down from adventurous Euro-trippers, coming back from a stay at the Flying Pig in Amsterdam or [...]

Corporate Jobs Overseas

Justin Jones — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 04:12:02 +0000

Working overseas doesn’t mean you have to clean hostel bathrooms and tend bar just to make ends meet. There are other options for those with marketable skills and college degrees who want to venture overseas and find a corporate job abroad. A large number of overseas workers actually work for American companies with international branches [...]

Youth Hostel Websites – Booking and Reviews

Justin Jones — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 03:14:33 +0000

The best way to find a good youth hostel is to go check it out in person. The second best way? Get your nomad friends to recommend their favorite hostels. But let’s be fair, not everyone has a Justin Jones travel guru (and nightlife connoisseur) in their lives, and not everyone has the time [...]

Getting Certified to Teach English Abroad

Justin Jones — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 20:33:38 +0000

According to teach abroad expert, Dave Sperling, of Dave’s ESL Café, getting experience and certifications for teaching abroad is more important than ever. In an interview with student traveler, Sperling says: I think ESL is much more of a career now. And it’s also a lot more competitive too. The good jobs, certainly. And if you [...]

Direct Enrollment (Study Abroad in English speaking countries)

Justin Jones — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 08:04:25 +0000

When deciding where to study abroad, you should also consider how you want to study abroad. Many students don’t realize that they have options. There are three general types of study abroad programs: Study Abroad programs with other students from your university – You’ll be part of a group of students from your [...]

Youth Hostels 101

Justin Jones — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 02:54:22 +0000

Any seasoned backpacker knows what a youth hostel is, and has certainly stayed in his fair share of grungy dungeons and budget paradises. But the first-time traveler and the novice backpacker might need some pointers on where to stay, where to book, how to meet people, and what to expect at youth hostels. So, we [...]

Teach Abraod 101

Justin Jones — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 01:14:05 +0000

Hello and welcome to Teach Abroad 101! here at Teach Abroad Blog, and at Student Traveler, we get a lot of questions about how to teach abroad, so we decided to put together this helpful list of answers to some of the more common questions. Teaching Abroad is a great way to really [...]

Work Abroad 101

Justin Jones — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 00:25:50 +0000

Working abroad is probably the best way to really gain insight into a foreign culture because when you live in a place for an extended period of time, you are able to really immerse yourself in the daily life. You’ll be eating, sleeping talking, and working abroad – you’ll be a part of the [...]

Study Abroad 101

Justin Jones — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 23:26:01 +0000

At Student Traveler and the Study Abroad Blog HQ, we are constantly bombarded with your questions about the details of studying abroad. The questions range from how to choose a host country and study program to what to pack in your suitcase. While we can’t answer every question individually, we do have a [...]

Bachelor / ette

Justin Jones — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 03:56:37 +0000

My ride to Palm Springs called me at 5PM and flaked. It was Micah and D’s Bachelor / ette party that weekend, and I really didn’t want to miss it. I scoured the web for a Greyhound bus or a train that would get me in to town with enough time to still hit [...]

what happens when you hitchhike on the internet..

Justin Jones — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 02:56:19 +0000

“I want to throw this asshole’s suitcase out of the car and leave without him,” grumbled the well dressed Indian man sitting next in the driver’s seat with a tinge of frustration that didn’t match his calm, clean-cut exterior. I was somewhere in Milpitas, hitching a ride to Los Angles with this closet animal. Outside the [...]

Where the hell is Justin Jones?

Justin Jones — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 01:33:50 +0000

Where? When? I can hardly answer those questions myself. It’s not that I’ve been traveling so much that I forget where I am or where I’ve been (that happens more than you’d believe). It’s more because I’ve been lost in my own head, in a daze of web design and bourbon. I left Los Angles [...]

4th

Justin Jones — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 09:51:03 +0000

Just a quick update. Yes, I’m still in LA. I never seem to be able to leave this crazy city. Even with all its faults, it’s still one of my favorite places to be. I don’t care about the superficiality, the traffic, or the so-called smog problem. the If this nomad could have [...]

Erotica LA and Downtown Debauchery

Justin Jones — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 05:26:50 +0000

The debauchery, continues, but where do I start this story? Actually, I have no idea when the start of this bout of lunacy was, and there certainly hasn’t been an end. The madness just continues unabated as my life spirals wildly out of control – and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Jason [...]

Catch up..

Justin Jones — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 11:25:16 +0000

It’s been a while since my last post. I feel like I’m eternally apologizing for not updating this blog. For the last few months, I’ve been on a super-nomad rampage. When you’re living life, it’s hard to make time to blog – and I’ve certainly been living life. I left LA approximately two [...]