Mysterious Travelers

Who are these mysterious travelers?

Come meet a Jack and a few of his travel buddies that help make the world go round.
*Lots of pictures, lots of travelers so it may take a minute to load!

Excogitate Jack

A teacher trained in the deadly arts of literature, Jack has both traveled and lived around the world. He was also something of an athlete in his younger and sleeker days. He may have won awards at both. Something of a photographer, a prolific writer, and maybe an independent movie director, Jack started this whole travel site and newsletter just for gits and shrins.

While certainly not an expert on anything and a bloke that tries not to come off as a know-it-all or an obnoxious sort who asks local bars if they have Bintang Beer, Jack is- wait, do you know where there's some Bintang Beer? Oh, well let me tell you a story about it. . .

Anyway, Jack's qualifications are as myriad as they are unimpressive compared some some of the folks he's crossed paths with over the years. In short, internet-friendly list form, you might want to ask him a question if you're curious about some of these aspects. Jack has. . .

Backpacked through 35 countries on five continents
Lived for about half his adult life in Asia
Spent a little more than a year doing a gap year trip, long after uni
a bad habit of picking up foreign slang (like uni) even though he's an American; he's not trying to be pretentious, promise
run a half-marathon, a full one, and an ultrathon (a process he would like to not repeat) and countless 5 & 10ks
been robbed on more than one occasion, there are currently gypsy curses out on the thieves
been to 49 states and is saving Alaska for last
studied a couple of Japanese sword arts of Iaido and Kendo, but he's still a beginner
kind of learned a few other languages and even tried to use his laughable Spanish in South America
sat in the ocean and celebrated Australian Independence Day
put about 60,000 miles on various cars doing road trips around North America
written a dozen books, many of which are unpublished, most of which are unread
won a dance competition, on TV, for money prizes
eaten a lot of roasted bugs
hiked around the jungle in Thailand
used to work as a freelance reporter
become almost obsessed with visiting waterfalls
discovered an abandoned construction yard in a forest in rural Japan
taken the FSOT (if you know the acronym you'll know what we're talkin' about ) and passed it
difficulty getting up in the morning
played through Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy 3 way too many times
drawn an entire comic book series
had his work published in two different magazines
met a lot of interesting and talented people over the years
became good friends with a dirty, shaggy dog on a mountainside Buddhist temple in Korea
has been sick with H1N1, food poisoning, Bali Belly, and Achy Breaky Heart
survived a frightening encounter with a bear that turned out to be a moose
has met his favorite actor, favorite band, and kind of met his favorite author
doesn't follow sports much, except for March Madness and Korean Women Pro Basketball
knows that pizza is the most superior of all foods
watches too many videos of cute puppies
become too verbose and should stop with this stupid list.

A Beautiful and Scientific Traveler wrote in saying. . .

-has been to six continents
-spent three years living in Africa
-speaks Arabic decently and Swahili poorly
-has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro
-has been trapped on a bus in a road block by an angry Peruvian mob
-had lunch stolen by a pack of Argentinian coatis
-can scrub laundry by hand as well as the best African mamas
-has handled many snakes and spiders
-has been bitten in the ass by a donkey
-was on The Price is Right
-is only a few cats away from being a crazy cat lady
-has helped tranquilize rhinos and track wounded elephants
-works with chimps (but sadly not with roller skates)
-an excellent cook
-may have kidnapped a hippo at some point
-has sung in the same place Elvis once did
-has run a half marathon, a zombie run, and a glow run
-is the scourge of Bourbon Street
-enjoys climbing on dinosaurs
-develops programs to teach people about animals
-enjoys outwitting her cats way too much
-once had her hammock stolen

A Molto Bravo Traveler wrote in saying. . .

-she is a freelance photographer (a lot of weddings and portraits), but also small business, portraits, and nature photography
-recently she's been taking pictures all over Cuba and India (Havana, Trinidad, Santiago de Cuba, Rajastan, Varanasi, Mumbai)
-she's also been to Lisbon, Portugal
-she is outgoing and helpful to wayward travelers
-she is also a teacher
-she is pleasant to chat with on a train
-she's a nice, pretty Italian girl
-her photos are becoming more famous!
-If you want to contact her for a job, let Jack know!

This Devilishly Handsome Traveler wrote in, saying. . .

-Traveled to 18 countries on 4 different continents.
-Lived and worked in Asia for nearly a decade
-Taught at every level of the education system in S. Korea (kindergarten-university)
-Helped design the standardized national college entrance exam in South Korea, not the other one where they kill you
-Done karaoke way too many times.
-Seen a Chinese new year festival in Singapore while eating an Indian meal.
-Attempting to learn two different languages.
-Been inside an Egyptian pyramid.
-Drove all day and night from Santa Cruz California to Zion National Park in S. Utah to be first in line to get back country passes.
-Been kicked off too many beaches to remember for illegally camping.
-Had a bar stool smashed over my head as part of a drinking game on a Greek island.
-Hiked the entire Lost Coast in 5 days.
-Slept in airports on 3 different continents.
-Drank beers on a Nile river cruise.
-Crashed an Irish wedding.
-Won a ramen noodle cooking competition.
-Hung out with drunk Korean celebrities.
-Gotten in a drunken philosophy argument, at night, on a beach in Busan, while attending a film festival.
-Got all settled down and married to a pretty girl and her cute dog
-Is great to share beer and fried chicken with

This Ravishing Dancing Traveler . . .

•High school English Teacher
•Proud Native Minnesotan
•Has lived and worked internationally for 5.5 years,
Currently living in Torreón, Mexico
• 2x marathon runner (as of next Sunday)
• Wine, chocolate, and coffee lover
• Social media addict

Tae Kwon Do student
impervious to cold weather
but seems to be drawn to warm weather, beaches, and poolsides
loves to travel
dabbles in photography
has helped elephants and clumsy students realize their potential
is a master of the selfie and sudden social media picture pose
is a former dancer, with a uniform and intimidating choreography and everything
used to skate (of course)
may be a hopeless K-pop addict, but has yet to admit she has a problem and taken that first step

This Delightful and Smiling Traveler. . .

has worked and taught in Asia
regularly volunteers for charities
tries to distract with her wiles while playing pool
likes to explore
once got her feet eaten by fish, it was fun!
is currently living and working in India
is a Hoosier
loves Korean food
also loves Indian food
isn't too keen on hiking mountains, but is keen at getting to the top (however that works!)
soldiers seem to find her irresistible
helped feed the homeless in Seoul

This Lovely And Limber Traveler. . .

-originally from North Vancouver, Canada
-nurse and doula plus a passion for fashion
-travelled in New Zealand, all over United States, Cambodia, Vietnam, Japan, China, Korea, Tibet, Singapore, Thailand, Australia
-lived in Korea, New Zealand, and China
-planning to travel nurse
-hobbies include travel, photography, pole dance, yoga, scaling mountains, coffee and chocolate.
-is a mad Karaoke performer
-owns some very interesting shoes, knee high socks, and leggings
-may have swum in a sacred pond and may now be cursed
-spent an awesome bar crawl night with some hip Americans
-took a road trip across North America
-is a stellar photographer
-check out my blog: trnscontinental.wordpress.com

This Bouncy and Bewitching Traveler. . .

•I have been to Europe twice
•I've never been out west
•I've seen the Eiffel Tower at night (which is truly something spectacular!) •the most amazing city I've been to is Rome
•I've been to Niagara Falls
•I love finding new and exciting places around where I live
•I could go to a park every day.
•I'm a big kid and love life
•I may be one of the most positive people you will ever meet.
•music is a huge passion of mine
•I love to sing and dance.
•I once sang a solo in front of over 1600 people
•I really love waterfalls
•I love running and love racing
•my therapy and my time to myself is going for a run on a trail. There's almost no better feeling
•I'm a single mom of two little girls
•I love kids and work with them for a living
•my dream is to get a RV and travel the US and stop at every major national park, ending at the Redwood Forest (which is on my bucket list!) •I love to read.
•I enjoy watching documentaries
•I rarely ever turn my TV on. My kids and I don't watch TV
•I've gone para-sailing
•live music/concerts make me excited •going skinny dipping at night in a lake with the stars shining so vividly is one of the most freeing experiences I've ever had
•I'm a free spirit and truly enjoy the little things in life
•I have an incredible desire in me every day to go travel and see some place new. And while I am a single mom, I have vowed to take my girls to as many fun, exciting, and cheap places as I can. I want them to discover new things and enjoy the outdoors as much as me.
•making new memories and having new experiences in life is what you will remember when you're older, not all the things you were able to buy.