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Travel Bug Within

A travel blog inspiring mid-life adventurers to chase their wanderlust and explore further

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      • Queensland
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Sydney reveals its wow factor during Vivid

June 13, 2017 By Jennifer Johnston Leave a Comment

How to impress a teenager Teenagers these days are pretty hard to impress. With easy access to instant on-line entertainment and their inherent immediate gratification attitude, it’s difficult to know what (if anything) will “wow” them. How about Sydney during the Vivid Festival? Sydney’s 2017 Vivid festival is from May 26 – June 17.  Last … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Australia, Destinations, New South Wales, Single Mum Travel Tales, Stories "outside" of the Travel genre Tagged With: #DiscoverSydney, #Sydney, Attractions in Sydney, Family travel, Teenagers in Sydney, travel, Travel Sydney with kids, Vivid Festival 2017, What kids like to do in Sydney

A tough Japanese ski lesson

March 25, 2017 By Jennifer Johnston Leave a Comment

Snow was falling steadily at Nozawa Onsen. It hadn't eased since our arrival, four days earlier. It was after a slight delay from our shinkansen experience we finally made it to this traditional Japanese ski village, in the Nagano prefecture four hour’s drive northwest of Tokyo,  I was with two of my sons, Mr 18 and Mr 13, my other Mr 13 stayed … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Destinations, Japan, Stories "outside" of the Travel genre Tagged With: #SkiJapan, Discover Japan, Nozawa Onsen rseort, Nozawa Ski School, onsens in Japan, ski accidents, ski Japan, travel, unplanned holiday events, what can happen on the ski slopes in Japan, where to ski in Japan

Japan Ohayo Gozaimasu

January 5, 2017 By Jennifer Johnston 2 Comments

Finally Japan! My first visit to the land of the rising sun is imminent. Japan has been on my travel radar since my high school days when I studied Japanese in Year 8! As this was quite a few decades ago, why has it taken so long for me to visit? Truthfully – I’ve no idea. I’d say too many other countries in between. But a couple of factors … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Destinations, Japan, Why have me write for you? Tagged With: Family holiday in Japan, Japan, Ski Nozawa, travel, Travel with kids to Japan, where to ski in Japan

The Mayfair Hotel in Adelaide – luxe and modern perfectly combined

June 23, 2016 By Jennifer Johnston Leave a Comment

Looking for a luxury hotel in Adelaide's CBD?  The Mayfair Hotel in Adelaide offers 4.5 star style and modern luxury close to Adelaide’s main attractions. Housed within the refurbished 1930’s heritage listed Colonial Mutual building, this boutique hotel’s façade has been kept intact thanks to a clever design by architects JPE Design. I chose to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Australia, Destinations, Hotel and Restaurant Reviews, South Australia Tagged With: #Adelaide, #AdelaideHotel, #MayfairHotel, Hennessy rooftop bar Adelaide, luxe Hotel in the heart iof Adelaide, Luxury Hotel in Adelaide, Mayfair Hotel Adelaide, travel, Traveller reviews Adelaide hotel, where to stay in Adelaide

Vietnam – mosquitoes and soft tofu

May 7, 2016 By Jennifer Johnston 4 Comments

Where to stay on the Mekong Delta Tourists are drawn to Ho Chi Minh City because of its history and culture, but the city’s hustle and bustle can be overwhelming.  Consider escaping to the Mekong Delta where the pace of life is much slower.      I can clearly see Ben Thanh Market's belfry and clock. It’s across the road, only two lanes of traffic … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Destinations, Solo, Vietnam Tagged With: #Travelblogger, Discover Vietnam, escape Ho Chi Minh City, escape Saigon, Fresh markets in Vietnam, Mekong Delta, Mekong Delta Region, Nguyen Shack Mekong Delta, travel, travel blogger explores Vietnam, Vietnam, Vietnam highlights, Vietnamese Floating markets, Vietnamese tofu, what to do away from Saigon, what to see and do in the Mekong Delta, where to stay for a special Vietnamese experience

Saigon – my five insider tips

April 17, 2016 By Jennifer Johnston Leave a Comment

Best things to do in Saigon Nestled adjacent to the Saigon River, some 80 kilometres from the South China Sea – Ho Chi Minh City is the main commercial and economic hub for Vietnam. With nine million people and over six million motorbikes bursting onto the city streets at all hours of the day and night, Ho Chi Minh City is a mesmerising chaos, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Destinations, My Top Ten or Five, Vietnam Tagged With: #discovervietnam, Discover Saigon, Five Insider Tips to Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City, Luxe experiences in Saigon, Saigon, Shopping an bars in Saigon, travel, Vietnam, what to do in Ho Chi Minh City, what to see and do in Saigon

Singapore for a stopover

February 4, 2016 By Jennifer Johnston Leave a Comment

A Quick Singapore Fling Take a peek at my on-line review for the Crowne Plaza Changi Airport Hotel in the Ultimate Travel Magazine.com I only had one afternoon and a night. Should have stayed longer – but Vietnam beckoned.  Was an ideal way to break up my trip and the Crowne Plaza Changi Airport Hotel is the perfect place to stay for so many … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Hotel and Restaurant Reviews, Singapore, South East Asia, Stories "outside" of the Travel genre, Why have me write for you? Tagged With: #TransitHotelSingapore, Crowne Plaza Changi Airport, Gardens by the Bay Singapore, Luxe Hotel in Singapore, Luxury in Singapore, Singapore, Singapore stopover, the perfect hotel to stopover in Singapore, travel, What to do in Singapore

Travel Bug Within shares her 10 Travel Tips

August 6, 2015 By Jennifer Johnston 2 Comments

Sharing Ten Travel Tips This is something I've been contemplating blogging about for a while - friends often ask what they should take when travelling to ....... destination.  So here it is: a collection of my 10 Travel Tips - which contribute to making this travel bug's trips smoother and happier! 1. Tools for Sleep I don't care what anyone … [Read more...]

Filed Under: My Top Ten or Five Tagged With: #PBEvent, #wanderlust, Blogger, essential travel tips, Fly Virgin, Pro Blogger, ProBlogger2015, travel, Travel Bug Within, Travel smarts, Travel Tips, Virgin Australia, What to pack when travelling

Travel Souvenirs – crazy or sentimental?

June 14, 2015 By Jennifer Johnston 3 Comments

Travel Souvenirs  Travel can make us do strange things sometimes. We slip into relax mode and our rational guard may be down. How often do we find ourselves on vacation and see "things / objects" we believe we just have to purchase? A "souvenir" that were we in a normal frame of mind we might otherwise avoid.  I'm guilty of many of these "types … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Destinations, Europe, Stories "outside" of the Travel genre Tagged With: #Travelblogger, #travelmemories, Backpacking Memories, Crazy Purchases, Crazy purchases we make while travelling, East Germany, Fun purchases, Just Buy it, Random acts, travel, Travel Blog, Travel Memories, Travel Souvenirs

Sydney, nights are warm

November 13, 2014 By Jennifer Johnston 3 Comments

"Sydney - nights are warm, day time telly, blue rinse dawn  I see buildings, clothing the sky, in paradise" From the Power and the Passion - by Midnight Oil Sydney turned on the balmy, warm evenings when I recently returned for a short a week-end visit. There for no other reason than to catch up with an old friend, Sydney is one of my favourite … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Australia, Destinations, New South Wales Tagged With: #Sydney, Australia, Beach Walks, Bellagio Cafe Sydney, Bondi to Bronte walk, Discover Sydney, Gelato Messina, Have fun in Sydney, Kate Sandford Jewellery, Paddington Markets, Sculptures by the Sea 2014, travel, Travel Blogger, Virgin Voyeur Magazine, what I like to do when in Sydney, what to see and do in Sydney, yummy ice-cream

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Who is Travel Bug Within?

A mid-life adventurer inspiring other mid-life adventurers to explore further.

By sharing honest informative stories about places I've visisted
I hope Travel Bug Within stirs your wanderlust.

Jennifer x

For feature stories click on the bird logo linking to my personal website

To follow me on insta

travelbugwithin

Happy to welcome a pair of Tawny Frogmouths to my Happy to welcome a pair of Tawny Frogmouths  to my frangipani tree.

#brisbane 
#wildlife
#lifeinthesuburbs
Brisbane looks darn good from the Terrace Bar deck Brisbane looks darn good from the Terrace Bar deck. 

Wow! What a sizzler of a day.

Stepped out for an @astw_inc lunch and dined on food that was light and flavour-full. Swipe to see the sweet treats 

Quick peek inside one of the @emporiumhotels cabana rooms overlooking THAT pool!

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#brisbane
#luxehotels
#longlunch
#astw
A view I couldn't tire of! As one who has visited A view I couldn't tire of!

As one who has visited the @destinationgoldcoast
over the years, I hesitated about returning to Surfers Paradise for a mini getaway. From childhood visits to my grandmother's house at Paradise Island, over the years Surfers has transformed into a glitzy, commercial tourist hotspot. 

As the closest open beach from home, I said let's just try it and looking for a reasonable deal, I booked a couple of nights @rhapsodyresort for the ocean views and close beach access and nice looking self-contained apartments. 

Well, with uninterrupted vistas like this from my 26th floor balcony, you may understand why I asked at reception on day two if I could book another night! 

I began liking my 'routine' at Rhapsody. Beach walks morning and afternoon and late avo ocean swim. 

And 'working' remotely with this incredible view = bliss 💙💙💙 

Go to stories for more pics 😎
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#notsponsored
#rhapsodyresort
#ocean
#beachlover
#goldcoast
#queensland
There's plenty to do In Bundaberg. Here's a littl There's plenty to do In Bundaberg.

Here's a little snapshot of our week away. 

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#familyholiday
#queensland
#quietplaces 
#beautifulday 
#bestdiscovery 
#beautifulbeaches 
#weekendescapes 
#seeaustralia 
#roadtrips
#visitbundaberg
Under the shade of a pandanus tree it's very easy Under the shade of a pandanus tree it's very easy to just stop and take in the vista
Neilsen's Beach at Bargara. A pleasant beach popular with locals snd visitors like us
And with @lifesavingqld clubhouse you can swim safely between the flags too!
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@queensland
#visitbundaberg 
#oceanview 
#bestdiscovery 
#surf 
#whereitravel 
#roadtrip 
#seeaustrali
Last full day in Bundaberg 😔 @windmillbargara Last full day in Bundaberg 😔

@windmillbargara for breakfast 

Elliott Heads for a swim in the clearest water I've been in for a long time. 

And then rooftop drinks with friends overlooking stunning Bargara. 

I'm loving the Bundaberg Region 💙💙💙

#ocean
#beach 
#Bundaberg 
#queensland 
#bestdiscovery 
#seeaustralia 
#travelwriter 
#roadtrips
Not a bad first half day at Bargara. Beach walk, Not a bad first half day at Bargara.

Beach walk, board walk, ocean swim and lunch with my three lads @windmillbargara 

Just waiting for the tide to come back in for another ocean swim later this avo.

Was worth the late evening drive to wake up to see the ocean this morning.

The lads are laughing as I've inflated (well Fraser did) a blow up surf mat. Ready for this avo. Bright pink 💓 you won't miss me 😜

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#myhappyplace 
#nearthesea 
#visitbundaberg 
#queensland
#holidays
#sun #surf
#familyiseverything 
#vacations 
#holidayswithkids
As we contemplate where our next travels will be, As we contemplate where our next travels will be, whether near or far (not overseas for this Aussie for a while)I wanted to share my story about a road trip I did six months ago!

Hard to believe it's taken me this long to write the post, but there were so many side trips and places, people I discovered travelling from Brisbane to Yeppoon with @ccb4cr who was Happy to come along for the ride (in her very comfortable @volvocarau )

Yes, it took a while before I could hit #publish

If you're in lockdown, like I currently am, or just laying low, grab a cup of tea, or a glass of wine and pull up stumps, and take a read over my story. 
You'll find a lnk in the bio above.

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#roadtrip
#queensland
#capricorncoast
#adventures
#wanderlust
#wherewego
#australia
My Top nine for 2020. The year that was! Sunset My Top nine for 2020.

The year that was! 

Sunsets seem to be popular 🌄 😬

Thank you to my followers and those who  regularly comment. It is a great community to be a part of and particularly throughout this past year wherein connection was mostly virtual. 

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#topnine 
#topnine2020 
#instagram
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