Traveler Profile: Jenny Williams

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Screen name:

Jenny Williams

Age:

Gender:

Female

If you must know:

It's none of your business ;-)

Travel status:

Traveling soon

Hometown:

San Diego, CA

Currently in:

Brooklyn, NY

Expert Uganda

My first steps in Uganda involved exiting from a rickety matatu that had just collided head-on with a lorry on the outskirts of Kampala (minimal injuries, maximum drama). Luckily, that was my only traffic accident, despite countless exhilarating (and terrifying) boda-boda rides through the fatal city streets. I came to Uganda as a backpacker in February 2006--just in time to catch the elections--and returned in May for a six-month volunteer position with an NGO. I was based in Kampala, but my work and travels took me across the country, from Rakai and Lake Bunyonyi in the south to Murchison Falls and Kitgum in the north. I'd love to hear from anyone planning a trip to the "Pearl of Africa" (it's just as beautiful but not nearly as violent as "The Last King of Scotland" makes it out to be). Hit me up for any and all advice--I'll do what I can to set you up on the right track. As they say in Uganda, safe journey!

Matador Travel Writer: Articles (6)

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Traveling Next:

Mongolia

Favorite places I've been:

Lalibela, Ethiopia - Edinbugh, Scotland - Ikotos, South Sudan - Maputo, Mozambique - San Francisco, California - Petra, Jordan - Istanbul, Turkey - Telluride, Colorado - Lake Kivu, Rwanda - Don Det, Laos - Koh Tao, Thailand - Semuc Champey, Guatemala - Caye Caulker, Belize - NYC, NY

Places I want to go to:

Everywhere I haven't already been. Right now I'm planning a horse trek in Mongolia next summer with mi madre, plus a trip to Nova Scotia/Newfoundland/Labrador sometime in the next year.

About me:

Former national soccer player turned UC Berkeley folklore groupie and songwriter; quit a job in book publishing to travel in the Middle East, Africa, India, and Southeast Asia. I'm currently News Editor at Ethical Traveler and I also work as a freelance writer/developmental book editor/creative hack. This year I'll be in NYC for a writing fellowship with Teachers & Writers Collaborative.

Profile URL:

http://matadortravel.com/travel-community/jennywren

Read more about Jenny Williams

I'm fired up on:

Art, politics, and avocados.

Tunes I rock out to:

Deluxe, Bob Dylan, Iron & Wine, Patti Griffin, Armik, The Shins, Ani Difranco, George Winston, Jenny Lewis, Blonde Redhead, Bon Iver, Tom Hanson, nature sounds.

Travel style:

Light as a paper crane and full of questions. I love having a cheap guitar but it can get in the way; never traveled with a laptop 'til India but I kinda got used to that too...

Quote:

"Be good. And if you can't be good, be careful." --Advice from Mom

Sports I do:

Soccer, snowboarding, bodysurfing, rat wrestling, running after departing buses, salsa and swing

Favorite artist(s):

Graham Roumieu

Favorite books:

Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim; Fugitive Pieces; Even Cowgirls Get the Blues; The Poisonwood Bible; In Me Own Words: the Autobiography of Bigfoot; Confessions of an Economic Hit Man; Cloud Atlas

I want to make a difference by:

Bearing witness and trying to find positive alternatives to The System.

Languages spoken, other than English:

French (acceptably), Swahili (pathetically), and Spanish (baby steps...). I'll also be taking Scottish Gaelic classes in NYC.

I felt the most immersed in a foreign culture when:

Taking shelter from the storm under a banana tree with two Rwandan women 50 kilometers from the nearest village, breaking bread and letting their singing drown out the rain.

Why I travel:

Because seeing new things never gets old.

Ideal place to watch the sunrise:

Atop the plateaus of Ethiopia's Simien Mountains, with a baboon trying to steal your breakfast

Ideal place to watch the sunset:

From the rooftop of a Jordanian household overlooking the Dead Sea, while the lights of Palestine flicker in the distance

Before I die I'd like to:

Write a book. Maybe two.

Let's collaborate:

I'm here to travel, write, and learn; am looking for windows to new destinations, publications, and philosophical inclinations.

My links:

www.ethicaltraveler.org; www.twc.org; www.travelblog.org/bloggers/hellotrain (previous blog of travels in Africa, written with my then-boyfriend prior to Matador); http://hellotrain.blip.tv (travel movie); www.jennydwilliams.com (writing & editing)

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by lukenye | 2009/01/07

Came across your profile, I saw that you are planning a horse riding trip in Mongolia. I was in Mongolia in 2005, and fell in love with the country and would love to go back some day, especially to do a horse trek. I may have a chance to go back this summer. It's an amazing country, I'm not an expert, but if you need to know anything I can try to help. I have a few friends living over there right now that'd be able to help out too. Good Luck with the planning and all.

by Craig L Hodges | 2009/01/03

Hi Jenny,

Liked your recent article on East Africa, and this statement on your profile:

I want to make a difference by: Bearing witness and trying to find positive alternatives to The System

Look forward to reading more...

Happy New Year

by Charlotte Dando | 2008/07/28

Hi Jenny,
Just thought I'd say hi as I'm also a recently returned volunteer from Uganda and its always nice to talk to people who understand the country. I'm finding it kind of impossible to describe to my friends in the UK inspite of hundreds of photos I've shown them. Whenever someone asks, 'So how was it?' you just don't know where to begin! Any plans to go back? I miss it so much but there are so many other places I need to visit as well...
All the best,
Charlotte

by Racso11_11 | 2008/05/27

Hey Jenny,
East Africa is definitely a gem. Yeah, we crossed over from Uganda into DRC, checked out the gorillas and then spent some time heading south to Goma before heading into the tranquility of Gisenyi in Rwanda.
Looks like you've done some expansive travel over there. Definitely keep up the goodwork and the frames comin.

Cheers

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by Tim Patterson | 2008/01/14

Jenny, thanks for the note! I've enjoyed your writing also, and look forward to checking out some videos.

Rocky Mountains in July was actually for last year - although I probably will be based in Boulder for a month or two this year also, around July and August. I would love to check out SW Colorado - only drove through once before - and if you're around it would be cool to meet up for some hut-to-hut hiking.

Safe travels -

Tim

by Jenny Williams | 2008/01/14

Tim--Sounds good. Boulder, huh? Haven't been myself but have heard fabulous things. Let's definitely get in touch later this spring to see if our schedules might overlap this summer. I'm not positive that I'll still be in Colorado by then--but if I am, some hut-to-hutting would be great.

Peace,
Jenny

by Adam | 2007/08/29

Are you still in India? I just checked out some of your blogs from there and really enjoyed them - keep it up.

by Ross | 2006/11/09

Hey hey, haven't had a chance yet to read your new story, but I'll get on it today. Mzungus in the Mist was a dope blog though. Did you take photos? I want to see that friendly 500 pounder.

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Coffee and Lava in Antigua, Guatemala

By Jenny Williams | Location: Guatemala | 02/18/08 | Pics: 6

La Antigua is typically the first stop for travelers arriving by air to Guatemala, and we were no exception. It was hard not to be charmed by Antigua’s cobblestone streets, its colorful storefronts; if we decide to spend a month learning Spanish, this would be the place for it. The tough part would...

3 comments | Send to Friend |

Winter in Colorado: Video

By Jenny Williams | Location: United States | 02/08/08 | Pics: 0

Snowboarding, ice climbing, and wild turkeys all make an appearance in my boyfriend's latest travel video covering our winter in southwestern Colorado (Ridgway, Ouray and Telluride):

http://lonelyplanet.tv/Clip.aspx?key=1F1C82E260F1BD74&ctx=feat

More clips coming soon from Guatemala and...

2 comments | Send to Friend |

Belize or Bust

By Jenny Williams | Location: United States | 01/11/08 | Pics: 1

I haven't even been back in the States for four months, and I'm already planning my next trip abroad. What happened was this: my boyfriend put together an awesome travel video of our recent trip to India and SE Asia that got some attention. He sold a few clips to Lonely Planet TV, and got enough kudos...

7 comments | Send to Friend |

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Coffee and Lava in Antigua, Guatemala

Winter in Colorado: Video

Belize or Bust