A couple of weeks ago, fellow wanderlust friend Β Benj announced that his blog visitsagada.com turned 3. This got me to muse about my own blog turning 3 in February. But then I did the math and realized itβs actually turning 4. Today!
Looking Back
The beginning of 2007, Iβve decided to travel to Europe that summer. Β Filipino passport and all, I needed an itinerary and I couldnβt decide on one and got so overwhelmed with planning! Β When I was in school,Β Iβve developed a working tactic of jotting things down to organize my thought. And this brought me to start a blog 4 years ago. Β My first blog was set-up in travbuddy.com and the very first entry was aptly titled βvisualizationβ. Β As promised this blog saw me through my preparation and the Europe trip, at least a good part of it. I was inspired to update during my travel because my family and friends were following me.
The travbuddy.com set-up is organized on a per trip basis. So after coming home from Europe, I wasnβt very motivated to continue writing. So while my travelful life continues in 2008 β 3 weeks backpacking South China, 2 weeks train-setting North to South Japan, New Years Eve in Macua, local destinations Davao, Camiguin, and various scuba diving trips β you wonβt find them all in my blog. After reflecting on my travels that never got written, I decided to purchase my domain wanderlass.com on September of 2008.
2009 was very interesting and adventuresome. This is the year the wandersoles β a 5 girl travel team β was born. Yeah we did. We came up with a group name ala Spice Girls! Hahaha. We were scuba diving girlfriends who constantly find ourselves on the same dive trips. So we decided to make it an official group, but now officially dissolved as everyone got busy with their own thing. We even had a grand plan of traveling the world together to scuba dive. At this time, Iβve been more committed with my blog, although got lazy towards the end of the year, so one week South Korea and 3 weeks US & Canada during fall were not documented.
Instead of the Big Trip, 2010 became Visit Pilipinas year for me. It was the year of my 100th dive and crossing off Tubbataha, Coron, and Malapascua off my diving list. It was also the year of unexpected trips: Batanes and Zamboanga. Iβve happily upped my Lakbayan score to C+. I also finally visited Singapore for the first time, my only out of country trip. As for my blogging, Iβve pretty much kept it up to date and have made the big move to wordpress from blogger.
I welcomed 2011 with the a gabajillion of sardines in Moalboal, Cebu, which I take as a good sign for abundance. And not so long after, my blogβs page rank has been promoted to PR3! Yay! So there are actually people who took the time of the day to read and follow my adventures. Thank you from the bottom of my β€
Moving Forward
Hereβs a quick list of whatβs cooking, which I hope will initiate me to become one big bad blogger! ;-)
Make Over β Iβve been experimenting and moving things around the past years, but this time, Iβm really serious. Iβm going to have some cool and fancy stuff going on. A new look and finally a permanent watermark for my βbeautifulβ photos! ;-)
Contest β all serious blogs conduct contest. So Iβm going to have one too! Itβs going to be really simple with cool prizes. Yes, thereβll be more than one winner. And no worries, no begging/bugging friends to like your entries. Iβm still deciding on whether to conduct it here or in facebook.
Big Trip β now before I get carried away stylizing my blog and forget that itβs about traveling, let me officially announce that Iβve decided to take a year off to travel! Ok, ok, ok, if youβre family or close friends, this is probably the oldest news ever. Some actually thought Iβm back already. Pfft! But hey, Iβm not taking the biggest trip of my life without a major announcement in my blog and some fireworks! Where to? Around! Really. Iβve worked it all out. And Iβm going to have a whole blog entry about it in a couple of days. :-)
On that note, let me sign off and wish everyone a great weekend and an exciting year ahead. Iβm off to my only nephewβs first birthday party. Thank you again, especially if youβre still reading this!! :)
XOXO
Finally, I’ve been looking for a fellow Filipina who is planning a gap year abroad. I’ll stay posted. I want to find out your plan for the travel visas. As you know it is such a pain for us since we need to apply to every country. Congrats on being 4!
I definitely know! Pinoy passport cannot make one a spontaneous traveler! Let’s see what happens to my quest. Thanks for the greet. :)
Congrats! <3 Can't wait to see what is coming up. :)
Thanks, Erica. Big year for Overyonderlust & Wanderlass :)
nice to look back from where we started right? how we’ve evolved in blogging and as bloggers. more travels definitely for you lilliane! :D
i was surprised that it’s been that long since i started as I didn’t start out to be a serious blogger. not that i’m serious now.. haha.. i just wish i’m a more diligent writer. thanks for the greeting! :)