Woah! What a really great way to start the year 2017 with a Liebster Award. I started blogging about my travel experiences last August 2016 and I just can’t believe it that the blog got recognized. I humbly accept the nomination and I would like to say a big THANK YOU to fellow blogger, Kat Cortes of Tara Lets Anywhere for considering my work.
A brief background, the couple, Kat and Hali, love the outdoors and volun-tourism. They’ve been in and around the Philippines backpacking to different provinces searching for off-the-beaten paths and doing outreach activities. Head on to their blog and follow their adventures.
What is Liebster Award?
It started back in 2011. Liebster means dearest, sweetest, kindest, nicest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute and endearing. This award exists only on the internet, given by bloggers to fellow bloggers to recognize their work and a way to promote their own and other people’s blog. It is also a great way to encourage camaraderie within the blogging community.
The rules are simple:
- Write a blog post about your nomination, displaying an image of the award.
- Thank the person who nominated you and include a link to their blog.
- Upon accepting the nomination, you would have to answer the questions by the person who nominated you to get to know you better.
- Nominate other bloggers and ask them your own set of questions.
So, to answer Kat’s questions:
What is your favorite destination in the world?
Local, it would have to be Batanes. I don’t know. I can’t seem to get over Batanes. It’s all about the place, the people, the food, the sceneries and the simple life. It was just a perfect experience.
Abroad, I say Rome because it was a very surreal experience visiting it for the first time back in 2009 especially when I entered St. Peter’s Square and saw St. Peter’s Basilica. Before, I was only looking at it in pictures. It was like a scene in a movie where everything around me went in slow motion and the camera was moving 360 degrees and I was just smiling in disbelief that I was finally there. And it felt the same when I went back on 2014.
Name a destination that’s underrated but you think should be visited more.
I say, Cavite, because that’s where I’m from. 🙂 There are also a lot of things to see and do in Cavite (other parts of aside from Tagaytay), like visiting historical sites and mountain hiking. But since it’s very close to Manila, it is not often regarded as a place where you can get out of the busy city life.
Name a destination that you think is over-hyped, if any.
I’ve yet to find out where it might be. Over-hyped for me is something that is promoted exaggeratedly but does not deliver.
How would you describe yourself as a traveler? Are you into backpacking, more comfortable/luxury travel, etc.?
I’m more comfortable in doing things on my own and usually go alone. But if there will be someone who will ask me to join them, I would more likely to tag along. I’m more of a backpacker, since I travel by myself, I really don’t need an extravagant hotel room, and I just need a place to sleep and a decent restroom.
What’s one important travel tip you learned and would like to share to others?
Have fun! Don’t be afraid to try out new things. You might visit a place only once so, better do everything that you can while you’re there. You may never experience it somewhere else. That’s what makes your experience unique and memorable.
How do you find travel blogging so far?
At first, I thought that it was just an easy thing to do. You go to a place, you observe, you try out things, take a picture and put them all together. Publish it. That’s it. I didn’t know that it can be so overwhelming. Photo and video editing eat up a lot of my time same with drafting my posts. It is crazy but fulfilling, especially if your readers were able to relate with what you have shared. The best reward for travel blogging is if the person who reads your blog finds your posts helpful.
What are your plans this 2017?
Since I’m out of the Philippines most of the time because of work, I want to visit more places in the Philippines when I’m home. Also, I would also like to go on a culinary journey in places that we go to in the Caribbean. Honestly, I am not adventurous when it comes to food. So, I would try to push the envelope and try out new dishes.
Again, thank you Kat. You are just awesome! Now I would like to pass on the nomination to the wonderful people behind these blogs.
Journeys of Len – by Len Kagami, he finds traveling to be refreshing and joyful and dreams to visit all continents.
OM to the World – Omniya is from Egypt. She’s a blogger, photographer, and traveler, who’s been exploring the world for the last four years.
The Roving Heart – a blog by Raksha who is an engineer by profession and a passionate traveler and photographer. She always looks for ‘new and immersive’ adventures.
A Wave Around The World – is about Aileen, a Miami-based Filipina who has 30-before-30 goal, 30 countires before she turns 30. She hopes that her blog may transfer some of her energy and passion to her readers for them to get out there and explore too.
True-Blue Cebuano – a blog which aims to showcase the best features of Cebu in the Philippines by a full-blooded Cebuano. It is regarded as a quick online guide about the “Queen City of the South”.
The Shoestring Travel – it is a blog by shoestring traveler, Sheila May who aims to inspire people that they can see the world even on a shoestring budget. Her photographs and writings had brought her to Kuala Lumpur by winning first place in a travel writing contest. Join Sheila May as she explores the world on a shoestring.
Congratulations! Here are my questions to you guys.
- What inspired you to start a blog?
- What is your favorite destination in the world?
- How would you describe yourself as a traveler? Are you into backpacking, more comfortable/luxury travel, etc.?
- How do you find travel blogging so far?
- Best food that you have tried on your travels?
- Do you have a full-time job?
- What place(s) is on top of your bucket list?
- Beach or Mountain?
- What important piece of advice can you give a newbie blogger?
- What are your plans this 2017?
How about you? Have you been recognized for your work for the first time? How did it feel? Share your thoughts.
Congratulations!
Thank you 🙂