The Liebster Award

I was very humbled and excited when Anita Sane of The Sane Travel nominated me for the Liebster Award, an honour that brings awareness to us bloggers who are newer or not as well known– both in my case! Before I answer Anita’s questions, let me tell you a bit about the woman behind The Sane Travel!

Like myself, Anita writes a travel blog. She likes to travel solo and is a slightly more mature traveller– just like me! She has been to 43 countries and lists her favourite cities as Bergen, London and Barcelona. Anita has several interesting trips listed on her site and it is full of beautiful photos. Go give her some love!

Along with the nomination, the Liebster Award is a set of eleven questions given to upcoming bloggers by fellow bloggers. Each nominee then comes up with her own eleven questions and nominates five other bloggers, thus helping build an audience. Thank you, Anita, for nominating me!

11 Questions

Here goes with Anita’s 11 questions:

1. When did you decide to start blogging and why?
   I decided to start blogging in the summer of 2015 to record an upcoming trip at the end of the year to SE Asia. It was meant to be a way to journal my travels and share my photos with loved ones.
2. What makes you different from the other travel bloggers?
   I have been an avid traveller for many years. I started long-term travel when I was 18. I’m now far past that, and having raised a family, am finally able to take long solo trips once again. I balance long and short-term travel with work, a home and two sweet kitties.
3. What recent improvements you have made to become even better travel blogger?
   I replaced my old beloved Nikon that was giving me some grief. I’m also constantly learning about social media and the tech involved with managing a website. It’s been a sharp learning curve and a lot of work.
4. Do you have any favorite places you keep returning to?
   I love Italy. The food, the history, the people! I feel very comfortable there. I’ve returned several times and have a trip planned to show my mom how awesome it is next year.
5. What is your most favorite trip so far and why?
   I’m loving the trip I’m on now, 10 weeks solo in SE Asia. Travelling alone is liberating and I’m seeing a part of the world that is new to me. For trips I’ve completed, a 10,000 km roadtrip I took with my son in 2014 has to be at the top of my list. We started in Canada, drove down to Texas, over to Louisiana and back up. It was epic!
6. Have you ever drastically changed a trip, e.g. canceled your return flight and stayed, booked a flight leaving the very next day immediately after arrival, drove past your destination because you suddenly changed your mind?
   I do this constantly. I do a lot of planning before I travel, but once I’m on the road, I live it day by day. I tend to plan one city ahead of where I am, so I can keep myself open to new ideas and people.
7. Do you usually travel solo or with someone else?
   I do both, but I really enjoy travelling alone. Most of my big trips are alone.
8. Carry-on only or with checked luggage?
   Carry-on all the way!
9. What is your favorite kind of accommodation– hotel, hostel, bed & breakfast?
   I like guesthouses and more upscale hostels with private rooms when I travel solo. They are great places to meet people. When travelling with someone, I often stay in a hotel.
10. What do you enjoy besides traveling and blogging?
    I love photography and art. I love being a mom to my fantastic boy. I love to cook and eat foods from around the world.
11. Is there anything else you would like to share with your readers?
    I would love to encourage people to travel, and travel solo! Don’t stay home because you have no one to go with. It’s not as scary as you might think. People are kind and willing to help everywhere I’ve been.

Pay It Forward!

To pay it forward, I nominate the following bloggers, also in the travel field. Please check them out.
Wee Gypsy Girl
Dream Travel Girl
Travel Little Known Places
Candace Travels

My Questions

My 11 questions, should these bloggers accept:

1. How much time do you spend on blogging per week, including social media?
2. Is there a destination you never go back to? Why?
3. Where have you encountered the nicest people on your travels? Give an example.
4. What’s one thing you’ve eaten while travelling that you still dream about?
5. Where do you live now? If you had to pick another place to live where would it be?
6. Which aspect of blogging is your favourite?
7. Which aspect of blogging is your least favourite?
8. Name one goal for your blog this year.
9. What did you want to be when you were a child?
10. If you have pets, how do you manage them when travelling?
11. Where do you draw inspiration from other than travelling?

Nominated? Here are the Rules:

Things to do if you’re nominated for Liebster Award:

1. Accept the nomination and thank your nominator.
2. Answer the questions of the blogger who nominated you.
3. Nominate five new bloggers you think deserve attention.
4. Create 11 new questions and give them to your nominees.
5. Write an article about your nomination on your blog and link it back to the website of your nominator.
6. Please remember to tag your nominator again when you share your article on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, so she can read your Liebster Award blog post.