Jack and Jill Travel
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Jack and Jill Travel
  • Home
  • About Us
    • What’s In My Bag
    • How We Afford Our Travel Lifestyle
    • Tools and Resources
    • Safety When Traveling Solo (and Female)
  • Destinations
    • Americas
      • Argentina
      • Canada
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Cuba
      • Ecuador
      • Galapagos
      • Guatemala
      • Mexico
      • Nicaragua
      • Patagonia
      • Peru
      • United States
    • Asia
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • Hong Kong
      • Indonesia
      • Japan
      • Myanmar
      • South Korea
      • Sri Lanka
      • Taiwan
      • Thailand
      • Tibet
      • Vietnam
    • W. Europe
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • France
      • Germany
      • Iceland
      • Italy
      • Spain
      • Switzerland
      • United Kingdom
    • Europe
      • Armenia
      • Bulgaria
      • Croatia
      • Georgia (Republic)
      • Greece
      • Kosovo
      • Macedonia
      • Montenegro
      • Poland
      • Portugal
      • Turkey
    • Africa
      • Egypt
      • Ethiopia
      • Lesotho
      • Morocco
      • South Africa
      • Sudan
    • Central Asia/Greater Middle East
      • Iran
      • Kyrgyzstan
      • Turkmenistan
  • Van Life
    • Solar Power Setup For Van Living
    • FAQ
  • Shop
    • Shop Jack and Jill Travel
    • Must Have Travel Accessories Under $25
    • Books Around the World
    • Unconventional Gift Ideas
  • Blog
    • Epic Hikes
    • Top Adventures
    • Roadtrip
    • Van Life

Eco-Friendly Gift Ideas For Adventurers and Travelers

Tips November 5, 2018

I promise you won’t find gag gifts, or single-use items, or “fad” items. Instead you’ll find products I truly love (and have bought with my own money), causes I support, and gifts that do good. Conspicuous waste should never be celebrated.

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Dinner preparation. The smoke helps keep mosquitoes at bay.

Under $25: Must Have Travel Accessories for No-Fuss Travelers (Updated 2024)

Travel Tips May 9, 2018

From camera protection, to portable door alarm, these are must-have travel items under $25 for practical, non-sense travelers.

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What We've Been Up To

This winter seems to go by so fast. This winter seems to go by so fast.
The rolling hills of California are where I first The rolling hills of California are where I first discovered my love for the outdoors. No matter where life takes me, being here always feels like coming home.
Gaaaaah, I still can’t believe I made it to The Gaaaaah, I still can’t believe I made it to The Wave. I’ve put this place out of my mind after many, many, many attempts to get a permit. Then a friend entered and won on his very first attempt 😂 and thankfully was generous enough to extend an invitation. It was a little bit of rush and a squeeze job between coming back from Mexico and Christmas but whoa, I’m glad I made it happen.
Can’t believe it took me this long to check out Can’t believe it took me this long to check out the climbing at El Potrero Chico, home of so many long bolted routes. I had so much fun I’m planning a return visit in a couple of months.
I’ve seen so very little of my own home country I’ve seen so very little of my own home country - Indonesia - so I try to squeeze in a trip to see more of it whenever I go visit my family. I finally had to chance to visit Tana Toraja last year. Old traditions still prevail here and they revolve around funerals and care of ancestors. I found it endlessly fascinating. 

1st pic: A row of rice silos and houses with the sloping roof characteristic of the Toraja area. The houses are decorated by buffalo horns which is a sign of prestige and wealth.

2nd pic: if it looks like I was dressed for a funeral, I was! Funerals can last for days and relatives travel from all around the country to pay respect. We picked up a pig from the market on the way as a wedding gift. It was heartbreaking to see all the sacrificial animals (tons of buffalos, pigs, deers and even a horse). I had to walk away during the slaughter.
———
Have you ever been to Toraja? If you find yourself in the region, I highly recommend spending a few days here and hire a guide. Your guesthouse owner can most likely recommend one. If you visit in July-August, you get a chance to see Ma’nene, the cleaning the corpses ceremony. Besides funeral related activities, the surrounding landscape is beautiful. Plan an extra day to ride around on a motorbike.
Throwback to my time flying solo in Kyrgyzstan, th Throwback to my time flying solo in Kyrgyzstan, the beginning of my love affair with the region, a place I can keep going back again and again if only it were easier to get to. 

This was also the beginning of my realization that I get quite lonely going on trekking expeditions by myself - even when I go with a guide. I find it more rewarding to share the experience with new friends and how we always end up supporting each other through the hardest parts. It's something in my mind lately as I'm planning this year's travels.

It's interesting to notice how my preferences and style and types of experience I seek have evolved throughout the years. There's no right way to travel, just your own way.
Colorado wears October well. Colorado wears October well.
It's the season for alpine start 😐. Getting out It's the season for alpine start 😐. Getting out of a warm sleeping bag while it's still dark out is so very hard, but it's nice to get most of the walking done before it gets too warm. Plus, those afternoon thunderstorms are no joke. Plus, hot breakfast and coffee on trail while watching sunrise is 🥰. So in short, I don't love it but alpine start does have its perks. 
📷: @aniellowz on our way to Wetterhorn.
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Arizona, Epic Hikes, Top Adventures, Utah January 18, 2025

Hiking The Wave, Arizona

It costs $6 to enter the lottery. I’ve entered the lottery so many times that I’m honestly afraid to check how much I’ve spent on this longshot. Spoiler alert: it lived up to the hype!

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Gear Talk March 20, 2024

What’s in My Adventure Backpack. My Favorite Gear 2024 Edition.

A list of trusty, durable gear I take on my adventure trips that I personally own and have used for many years. I’m quite happy with it.

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Epic Hikes, Pakistan February 27, 2024

The Fairy Meadows in Pakistan and Hiking Nanga Parbat Basecamp

After a harrowing jeep ride on one of the world’s most dangerous ride, we finally made it to Fairy Meadows in Pakistan. But the highlight of the visit was the hike to Nanga Parbat basecamp the next day.

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Colorado February 20, 2024

Backpacking to Conondrum Hot Spring in Colorado

Conundrum Hot Springs is one of the most popular backpacking trips in Colorado. A friend was lucky enough to snag the highly coveted Conundrum permit. Even though I’m not a big fan of hot springs, it was too good of an opportunity to pass up.

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Colorado February 10, 2024

Should You Rent A Jeep and Go Off Roading in Ouray? Yes, You Should.

A jeep will give you access to over 500 miles of off-highway trails and some of Colorado’s most stunning landscapes. We love hitting the roads behind the wheels of a 4×4 jeep. It’s so much fun and a great way to explore the backcountry.

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Colorado mountain range in late summer
Colorado, Epic Hikes June 7, 2022

A Lazy Outdoorist Guide to Backpacking Colorado’s Four Pass Loop

Backpacking Maroon Bells Four Pass Loop on Labor Day weekend was a blast! Check our gear recommendations and tips to enjoy this popular trail.

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Colorado, Special, Top Adventures September 9, 2021

Hiking Mt. Sneffels and Why It’s My Favorite 14er

A favorite 14er for many (including mine), Mt. Sneffels is gorgeous. We took the Lavender Couloir, or the standard route to the summit.

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Colorado, Roadtrip August 17, 2021

10 Unique Adventures Along Colorado’s One Million Dollar Highway

Here are 10 of my favorite, adventurous thing to do when visiting Ouray, Silverton, and Tellurida. From offroading to 14ers, the San Juan Mountains is an outdoor lover’s ideal playground.

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Raja Ampat viewpoint Harfat Peaks in Misool
Raja Ampat, Top Adventures February 9, 2021

Visiting Raja Ampat, Indonesia’s Most Beautiful Diving Destination

So even though visiting Raja Ampat has always been a dream of mine for years, I waited to visit until both Jack and I got scuba certified and have gotten some dives under our belt.

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Bike ride Denver
Colorado December 2, 2020

Life Update: From California to Colorado

It took a pandemic but we finally pulled the trigger and said goodbye to California, our home for the past 16+ years. It’s a bittersweet feeling because I love California. How can I not? But change is good, right? Right?

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ruined mosque in Kassala, Sudan
Sudan June 2, 2020

A Independent Travel Guide to Kassala, Sudan

Kassala is a can’t be miss destination in Sudan. The striking Taka Mountain range, the half-ruined mosque, and the souq are just some of the attractions of Kassala.

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Sudan, Top Adventures March 24, 2020

Visiting Meroe Pyramids, Sudan

Meroe was much bigger than I expected and walking up and down sand dunes was definitely not the easiest. I stayed until the sun set and it was too dark to see. There were pyramids still unexplored. Yet, I was content.

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Yoohoo! I'm Jill

I'm a Colorado-based outdoor lover, world traveler, and road trip warrior. Sharing adventures since 2009. Find me on Instagram (I hang out there a lot).

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Socotra, Yemen. After many failed attempts, I was Socotra, Yemen. After many failed attempts, I was finally able to visit this special island off the coast of Yemen. Famous for its dragon blood trees, Socotra has shot up in popularity recently. Unfortunately its infrastructure hasn't really caught up with demand, resulting in too many visitors concentrated in too few areas. Many campsites simply do not have bathrooms. We - tourists - undoubtedly left quite a significant impact on the environment being there and I felt quite guilty about it. One fellow traveler commented that it's "the most touristy un-touristed place" he's been and it stuck with me. Because it's true. It's still a beautiful island with some unique landscapes, and I feel quite privileged to have been there.
I pushed back some international travels because I I pushed back some international travels because I realised that in the summer, there's nowhere I'd rather be than the mountain ranges of Western states, and that includes Colorado my home state. I can't help but catching 14er fever too even though I like peaks of all kinds and heights. I simply can't wait for more car camping, miles of dirt road, long days exploring, followed by cold beer.
Even if you're just a little bit outdoorsy, it's h Even if you're just a little bit outdoorsy, it's hard not to be caught up in 14er season fever when you live in Colorado. 
----------------
📷: Taking a break during the scree slog up Mt Sneffels (14150') during 4th of July weekend.

#14ersofcolorado #14ers #visitcolorado #mtsneffels
Mia was rescued from a market in BSD. Found orphan Mia was rescued from a market in BSD. Found orphaned and starving, weighing less than 300 g, she's now a spunky and energetic 5 week old kitten. She loves to be held close when she's not going after dust bunnies.

Unfortunately I have to leave the country in 2 weeks so I'm desperately looking for a place for Mia to land. She's located in BSD, Jakarta but I can meet with potential adopter anywhere in greater Jakarta. 

#catloverjakarta #rescuekucing  #adopsikucing #prosteril
Not all campsites are created equal. ---------- # Not all campsites are created equal.

----------
#visitcolorado #visitsilverton #sanjuanmountains
Colorado wears October well. Colorado wears October well.
A few weeks ago we had to say good bye to our gent A few weeks ago we had to say good bye to our gentle giant. His shelter bio stated he was a 12 yo senior so we knew we were on borrowed time even from the start. 

But somehow we were given one more summer, one more year, one more big life change... Then after 9 years of ruling our house and our hearts, the inevitable day came. Still how lucky we are to have those 9 years of memory.

Giving a painless goodbye was the least we could do for the countless moments of joy he had given us. Even when it's far from painless for those left behind.

Sleep tight, old friend. May your dream be filled with endless cuddles, piles of fresh laundry, and sunny spots by a window. I'm so very happy to have had you in my life.
Fall road trips. Pumpkin-everything (saw pumpkin t Fall road trips. Pumpkin-everything (saw pumpkin tortilla chips at Trader Joe's the other day). Crunchy leaves. Migrating birds resting in our trees. Sweater weather.
Our time in Portugal was the closest thing to a ty Our time in Portugal was the closest thing to a typical vacation I'd had in a long time: starting the day with nothing on the agenda, leisurely coffee, indulgent lunches, followed by lazy afternoon strolls... I can get used to this. 

Heh, who am I kidding? 😂😂

#azoresislands
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Hiking The Wave, Arizona

January 18, 2025

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Raja Ampat viewpoint Harfat Peaks in Misool

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February 9, 2021

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