It was an unusual Facebook message from this instagrammer, blogger, and an outdoor enthusiast that I got to know not long ago. If my memory serves me right, I first noticed him around during the company’s CSR tree planting activity last year wherein I was assigned for photo documentation. I got to know him lately as he was a member of our company’s Trekking Club, none other than Christoeffer John Estrada, the four eyed laagan as he claims to be . 🙂
I am pleased and enamored to announce that he nominated my blog for the Liebster Award. This is my first award nomination since I started blogging. Thanks to that! His travels were uplifting and stunning. From cities to countryside, beaches to mountains, and I know he’s meant to wander a myriad of horizons! I knew John a little bit more when we were in the same group on our monthly trekking activity. He’s cool, willing to lend a hand, cooperative, exuberant at times and boosterish in promoting the LNT principles lately. And most of all, the RK in our group! 🙂
What is Liebster Award?
This award exists only on the internet, and is given to bloggers by other bloggers. It has German origins – the word “liebster” has several definitions: dearest, sweetest, kindest, nicest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, welcome, sweetheart, etc. (http://wordingwell.com/the-liebster-award-the-official-rules-my-first-blog-award-and-a-few-personal-secrets-revealed/)
How does it work?
Thank the person who nominated you, and post a link to their blog on your blog.Try to include a little promotion for the person who nominated you. They will thank you for it and those who you nominate will also help you out as well.
Display the award on your blog — Liebster logo.
Nominate 5 – 11 blogs that you feel deserve the award, who have a less than 200 followers. (Note that you can always ask the blog owner this since not all blogs display a widget that lets the readers know this information!
List these rules in your post (You can copy and paste from here.) Once you have written and published it, you then have to Inform the people/blogs that you nominated that they have been nominated for the Liebster award and provide a link for them to your post.
Question and Answer Portion…
When did you decide to start your blog and why?
I always love to write. I’ve been writing since Junior High. I joined the school paper publications team and have been exposed to few of the journalism genres. Been exposed to sports journalism, periodicals (feature), editorials and even tried writing poems, narrations, songs, etc. My attempt to write my first novel was not realized though, but almost. LOL. Years gone by, after few reflections that life is too beautiful to stay indoors, the home buddy me became more outgoing and started going into places. Since writing is one of my passion, thus this blog was created for the sole purpose of documenting each of my travels and to share my experiences to others as well.
What is your best travel memory?
Obviously, my travel to Japan.
How often do you travel?
Before, I often travel almost every week to any place of my choice. But lately, due to time constraints, I traveled at least twice a month. Also, “if traveling was free, you’d never see me again dearie.”
What is your biggest travel inspiration?
Education! I want to help educate everyone by example on how to be a responsible traveler
and how tp travel with fun without being rigid on itineraries or what they call as spontaneity on travels.
Who?
Santa Claus! Why? Because I want to travel around the world with a purpose! To give love and grant the good one’s wishes! Let alone imparting wisdom to everyone 😀
If you can move anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
Countryside of course with my home at the top of the mountain!
What is the best food you’ve ever had and where?
Nothing in particular, but every food no matter how simple it is, will become best when shared with the best people in your life! Please register now to be counted! Please bitaw ni. LOL (char)
What’s the most challenging thing you’ve done?
Conquering my fears!
I’m not really that afraid of heights but what really scares me most is when I am on a free fall. So, I think the most challenging thing I’ve done is when I faced my fears. One is when I rode the Fujiyama coaster (at 130km/h) in Japan wherein the free fall height is about 79 meters vertical drop. It felt like my soul had separated my body for 5 seconds or more and I can’t feel anything on my stomach! Yes, Fujiyama coaster ride is the world’s 8th tallest, 5th longest, and 10th fastest roller coaster when it was first operated in 2007. After riding that, we were supposed to ride the Dodonpa that was once the fastest roller coaster with acceleration at 172 km/h but I can’t. Fujiyama’s 79 meters vertical drop at 130km/h acceleration is enough haha.
Another one is when we had tried the “Journey to the Center of the Earth” at Disney Sea Japan.I had also the fear for dark places esp closed ones. In this ride, the riders then board steam-powered mine vehicles that travel through pre-drilled tunnels into the heart of the Earth. The ride begins through a cavern of colorful glowing crystals, before entering a giant Mushroom Forest, which is inhabited by strange insect and amphibian-like life forms. Before the car can proceed further, an earthquake causes a cave-in of the tunnel ahead, forcing the car off its planned route and down a side branch filled with giant egg-like sacks that appears to have been dug by some gigantic animal. The car emerges on the shore of the Subterranean Sea, and is nearly struck by a lightning from the electrified gas clouds. The finale comes when riders are forced into the fiery heart of an active volcano, where the riders come face-to-face with the giant centipede-like lava monster that has built a nest there, before escaping back to the surface on the wave of an eruption.
What’s your favorite place so far?
Grandiose Sierra!
What place(s) is on top of your bucket list?
Mt Everest! But it seems too ambitious for me, so yeah, Mt Everest basecamp will do! LOL
What was your most embarrassing moment while traveling?
None so far!
What do you hope people will learn about the world by reading your blog?
I am hoping that people will learn how to appreciate things in life! And learn that great things came from simple ones! Learn how to appreciate what we have and aspire to get what we don’t have instead of forgetting what we do have for the sake of getting what we don’t have! Also, I fervently hope that the people will enjoy reading my thoughts and experiences in writing and learn from it, become a responsible traveler and be the best version of themselves wherein the passion and love for adventure drives a happy jaunt to every destination with the sense of not just only a mere traveler but as a caretaker to every place traveled.
and I nominate (just two)
The Wander(full) Life
The Simple Life I Live
Questions for my nominees
When did you decide to start your blog and why?
What is your best travel memory?
How often do you travel?
What is your biggest travel inspiration?
If you can move anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
What is the best food you’ve ever had and where?
What’s the most challenging thing you’ve done?
What’s your favorite place so far?
What place(s) is on top of your bucket list?
What was your most embarrassing moment while traveling?
What do you hope people will learn about the world by reading your blog?
I’m excited to see the responses of my nominees! It’s been a great day! Thanks again @foureyedlaagan!
