World Travellers is back with a bang despite my recent internet and laptop problems in Eastern Europe. We now meet a “double J” – Jenn and Jack with the catchline and website “who needs maps”? these guys have got me wondering if I got it all wrong as my first ever backpacking trip I’d have been useless without my maps!!
World Travellers: Jack and Jenn Zip-Lining in Laos.
Who are you?
Jack is a fearless, adventure seeker, “I’ll eat anything” Aussie from Melbourne. I am the fearful, accident prone, “what are the risks” chick from LA. Together, we are Who Needs Maps, a long distance couples travels blog.
Where are you from?
Jack is from Melbourne, Australia and I am from Los Angeles, USA.
World Travellers: Monkeys at Koh Phi Phi Thailand
Where have you been?
Together we have been to a few places in the US, Mexico, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Indonesia. We have both traveled New Zealand and Europe separately, before we met.
Where are you now?
I am in Los Angeles and Jack is in Melbourne at the moment, so he will be moving to the States in December! Finally, the end to our long distance!
World Travellers: Who needs Maps at Mahout Training Chang Mai Thailand
What are the top 3 places you’ve visited?
Hanoi, Vietnam- we loved the culture, the coffee, the museums. It was great fun and we look forward to go back.
San Francisco- We love the vibe in San Fran and the laid back nature of the city. It is super beautiful and there is so much to do there!
Luang Prabang, Laos- We were so amazed with how charming this city was. The whole city is a UNESCO Heritage site! Our favorite was seeing the Kuang Si Falls.
World Travellers: Jenn at Jack at Falls
What is the best travel experience you’ve had?
Since we are a long distance couple, we don’t see each other often unless we travel. So as cheesy as this may sound, any time we travel and we are together has been the best! Every experience is what you make it! If I had to name some, it would be when we went to Waterbom in Bali on our last day of our Southeast Asia trip. It was like being little kids again!
What is the worst travel experience you’ve had?
Probably when we went to Whitehaven beach. We were supposed to do a reef and sail tour around the Whitsundays and they forgot to tell us the boat that takes you sailing was out of commission for 4 months. How could you not tell us there is no boat after knowing for 4 months! So they sent us off to a hotel resort that was closed, we didn’t have food, we didn’t sail the Whitsundays, and we only got an hour on Whitehaven Beach as opposed to a full day. It was just disappointing because it was such a bucket list adventure for us!
World Travellers: Jenn and Jack at the great Barrier Reef
What is the funniest travel experience you’ve had?
I became a legend for my stitches experience in Southeast Asia. We were staying in a hotel in Hoi An and we were getting ready for bed. I was in bed and we turned on the air conditioning, but the air was so strong it blew out the panel and it nailed me right in between my eyes. I ended up getting stitches in some old Vietnamese ladies house, which was terrifying! My parents called me and yelled at me saying “We told you not to do any crazy adventures!!” All I could mutter back was “But I was in bed!” So pathetic! Jack took great care of me though! At the time it was pretty scary but in the end it turned out to be really funny, and I was a legend!
What is the scariest travel experience you’ve had?
Using any bus service in Asia! They were relentless drivers, especially around mountain corners and we always thought we were going to crash or tip over. Nothing too horrible!
World Travellers: Jack and Jenn kayaking in Vang Vieng
What is the most random job you have had on your travels?
I used to work for music festivals and promote ticket sales at hostels, while Jack always did web reviews!
How do you fund your travels?
Jack worked for a whole year in between his studies and does a few things for the Melbourne races so he saves up with random jobs. I work full time in the entertainment industry.
What 3 tips would you give a new traveller before they set off on their adventure?
-Every experience is what you make it. If it is lame, have fun with it! If it wasn’t what you expected, it is still a new experience!
-If you don’t like something, change it. Hotel sucks? Change it. City isn’t what you thought? Go somewhere else!
-Try everything at least once. Eat bugs in Asia, skydive in NZ, face your fears and try it at least once! At least you can say you gave it a shot!
What are your future travel plans?
Because Jack is moving to LA, we are going to try to start weekend trips from LA, so really exploring California and its surroundings! But the biggest thing for us, is eventually head to South America.
Biography
We are Jack and Jenn from Who Needs Maps. We are a long distance couple, from America and Australia, so why not meet in the middle and use travel as an excuse! We are thrill seekers, food lovers, world travelers, adventure finders, misadventure attracters, and a fun loving couple who just wants to explore the world together. We hope to inspire, inform and entertain people through our experiences and stories! Embrace the fun, enjoy the craziness, and let’s take on the world!
Website: http://www.whoneedsmaps.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whoneedsmapstravel
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/whoneedsmaps/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Who_Needs_Maps
Thanks to Jenn and Jack for being the latest in my series of World Travellers! If you travel the world and run a travel blog or are a travel writer, please get in touch, you can be featured (there’s a HUGE waiting list at present), either e-mail jonny (at) dontstopliving (dot) net or head to my contacts page and get connected! You can also subscribe to Don’t Stop Living by filling in the form below! Safe travels!