JetSetMeister

"“But because truly being here is so much; because everything here apparently needs us, this..."

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:00:06 -0800

““But because truly being here is so much; because everything here apparently needs us,...

Always do #1. Love to do # 8, 9, 15, 20, 21. Should really make...

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:55:23 -0800

Always do #1.

Love to do # 8, 9, 15, 20, 21.

Should really make an effort to do #3, 4, 7, 22, 31.

Currently focused on #28.

Favorite thing ever: #19. #23-25 aren’t too bad either.

$328 flight LAX to Seoul on Kayak.com/buzz LAX-ICN from Dec 12...

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 23:39:00 -0700

$328 flight LAX to Seoul on Kayak.com/buzz

LAX-ICN from Dec 12 to Jan 11 - if you fancy spending the holidays in Korea, jump on it now. Stay in a chic flat in Seoul while wining and dining your way through the bustling Asian capital.

Need a breather? Take a side trip to Jeju island, the South Korean version of Hawaii, popular with honeymooners who wear matching outfits.

Visit the DMZ and catch a brief glimpse of life in North Korea…at least what they want you to see.

Devour Korean BBQ every night and get more than your fill of kimchi - you can definitely afford it with a flight this cheap!

The case of the $200 flight to Central America

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:53:58 -0700

What usually happens when i find out about an amazingly cheap airfare is that when I go to check it...

Driving along Kauai’s North Shore

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 10:01:05 -0700

Driving along Kauai’s North Shore

Sunset over Anini Beach in Kauai Went for an evening drive just...

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 10:01:05 -0700

Sunset over Anini Beach in Kauai

Went for an evening drive just because. Chose a random road and followed it as it twisted and turned until I found myself driving along the shore. Pulled over and watch as the sun sank into the flaming sky.

And then I looked to the right

Sat, 27 Aug 2011 16:33:05 -0700

And then I looked to the right

What I found at the end of the road

Sat, 27 Aug 2011 16:00:06 -0700

What I found at the end of the road

My morning drive in Kauai

Sat, 27 Aug 2011 14:24:00 -0700

My morning drive in Kauai

Wandered down some steps...

Fri, 27 May 2011 10:00:06 -0700

..and encountered this unexpected view of the Presidio

Despite the obvious challenges before us, we are committed to being the change our world needs, the heroines our world deserves, and have the tenacity to dream big enough to actually make it happen.

Thu, 26 May 2011 13:20:30 -0700

www.iamthatgirl.com

Travel networking site Triptrotting mentioned my entry for their...

Wed, 18 May 2011 12:52:49 -0700

Travel networking site Triptrotting mentioned my entry for their Ultimate Triptrotter competition on their Facebook page. Sweet!

The prize: a summer of paid travel around the world. It’s like Christmas in July.

VOTE FOR ME on Facebook! Just type “Jenna Meister” in the blank field and hit enter. You’ll see my shining face smiling at you because you’re voting.

The top 50 people with the most votes will make a brief video about why they should be chosen. Then I’ll really have to get creative. Any great ideas?

"Life is indeed bloody short and no one is going to give you a gold star for playing it safe"

Tue, 17 May 2011 13:04:35 -0700

““Life is indeed bloody short and no one is going to give you a gold star for playing it...

Thanks to all who voted for me and Jet Set Zero in the Webby...

Mon, 09 May 2011 17:17:35 -0700

Thanks to all who voted for me and Jet Set Zero in the Webby Awards People’s Voice contest! Looks like the NY Times may have beaten us, but our tell-it-like-it-is DIY show is tops in my book. And all of you who voted are super tops in my book! Your incredible support has been so encouraging.

Jet Set Zero’s Thailand episodes are coming soon! Check out the sneak peek above.

GET A ROOM: ABODE OF THE WEEK It’s Cinco de Mayo today,...

Thu, 05 May 2011 19:13:00 -0700

GET A ROOM: ABODE OF THE WEEK

It’s Cinco de Mayo today, which means margaritas and party sombreros for many festive Americans. South of the border, today is remembered as Mexico’s victory day over the French in the Battle of Puebla. Say hola to La Purificadora, a boutique hotel in Puebla, two hours outside of Mexico City.

The hotel building used to house a factory where water was purified for ice - hence the name, the purifier. While the hotel still sports some of the original stone walls, these days La Purificadora is a trendy hotspot with a modern aesthetic and a club-like vibe after dark. Its striking glass pool with a view of Puebla’s colonial buildings in the background blend old and new. Floor to ceiling windows and glass closets in the 26 rooms add to the airy feel. Reviews say that service is lacking, but with the music and margaritas flowing, you may not care. Enjoy the fiesta.

¡Salud!

GET A ROOM: ABODE OF THE WEEK Since my mind has been a little...

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 14:31:00 -0700

GET A ROOM: ABODE OF THE WEEK

Since my mind has been a little Ecuador-oriented lately with our season of Jet Set Zero’s Webby nomination, I thought I’d share one of my favorite places to stay in Ecuador. The moment we pulled up to this place (riding in the back of a truck, no less), I knew I wouldn’t want to leave.

Chilcabamba was a romantic, rustic paradise that appeared out of nowhere as we bumped along a dirt road circling the base of Cotopaxi volcano. With stunning views of the volcano, cozy fireplaces in our room, and mouth-watering meals, it was the perfect weekend getaway. The thatched roof and earth tones blended with charming details like wool ponchos provided for extra warmth and a saddle perched high on a beam in one room. A telescope offered incredible glimpses of trekkers who were climbing the volcano. How can you not love a place that has a baby horse in the front yard and an alpaca roaming the grounds?

The crisp air sharpened our senses as my friend Amy and I rode horses into Cotopaxi national park one afternoon. We rode alongside a cliff that dropped into a deep gorge below, spotted wild horses in the park, and felt like the only people in the world.

In the evening, the caretaker Diomedus (yes, he’s part Greek) prepared us a hearty meal of locally-sourced pork chops, chicken, and trout, topped by the most incredible dessert. It was like eating a cloud with the subtle flavor of naranjilla, a fruit native to Ecuador with a citrusy orange flavor. My friend Freddie is a fast eater and usually devours his food before anyone else finishes, but this time, Freddie lingered over the naranjilla mousse longer than any of us, relishing every morsel of flavor.

Which is exactly how I felt about Chilcabamba overall - I wanted to linger as long as possible and savor every moment of it.

Photos by Amy Cao

VOTE HERE

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 14:56:00 -0700

Help Jet Set Zero win a Webby Award! Click here and sign in with Facebook/Twitter/email Go to Online...

Story of a startup: pinching pennies but plenty of passion....

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 17:13:00 -0700

Story of a startup: pinching pennies but plenty of passion.

This is my tireless producer and cameraman who was there with us in Quito every step of the way. From bumpy dirt roads in the back of a truck to climbing mountains and ducking under waterfalls, he did everything we did- walking backward with a video camera.

All of that footage became Jet Set Zero’s Season 6: Quito. And now we’re nominated for a Webby award! Voting ends in 2 days so hurry up and get your vote on.

GET A ROOM: ABODE OF THE WEEK “At night it is so quiet...

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 16:26:00 -0700

GET A ROOM: ABODE OF THE WEEK

“At night it is so quiet that you begin to hear the stars.” -Benedict Allen, Harper’s Abroad

Swoon. In honor of Earth day, please welcome the environmentally sensitive, electricity-free Adrère Amellal Oasis. The name is Berber for “white mountain,” and at times it’s hard to tell where the mountain ends and the resort begins. With a tagline like “A Place out of Time,” you know you’re not only off the clock, but off the grid.

Indeed, this eco-friendly retreat seems to have stepped out of time. Alexander the Great journeyed here in 331 BC seeking answers from the renowned oracle of Amun. Located a nine-hour drive from Cairo at Egypt’s Siwa Oasis, the hotel’s design (it’s made out of Earth) blends in with its desert surroundings. The 40 hand-built rooms are all unique and dressed with furnishings crafted by skilled Berber artisans. With no electricity, the rooms are lit only with beeswax candles and light from the stars.

Sand dunes stretch on forever. Salt lakes beckon from the sun.

And those desert stars, in the vast, encompassing silence, sing.

Art created from your DNA: kind of weird or super cool?

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:17:55 -0700

Science, meet art. Just stumbled across this Groupon for a large canvas print of your own DNA. A...