December, 2018
What better way to end the 2018 blogging year than with a Sunshine Blogger Award Nomination…and No. 3 of this type since starting this blog.
Out of the blue, Ashwini from ThoughtyOne nominated me for the Sunshine Blogger Award. I’m happy that my Travel and Photography blog brings a little sunshine into your day Ashwini – many thanks for the nomination!
Although some bloggers may not have the time to participate in awards or find nominations time-consuming, I think it’s a great way to show your appreciation in the blogosphere.
An award also helps to give bloggers a little more exposure and a chance to share more information about the nominated blogger. So, here we go…
Rules
- Thank the blogger who nominated you and link their blog so everyone can visit.
- Answer the 11 questions asked by the blogger who nominated you.
- Nominate 11 other bloggers and ask them 11 new questions.
- Notify the nominees by commenting on their blog post.
- List the rules and display the Award logo on your blog post.
Ashwini’s questions
1. What is it about your blog that makes it unique?
Unlike some travel bloggers that write posts on countries they’ve only researched, I only write about the countries that I’ve travelled to and share my own photography in each post.
Writing about my personal experiences whether good or bad, keeps my content real and honest – I don’t fluff or sugar-coat anything.
2. What has someone said to you that you can never forget?
“Go now my friend, it’s later than you think…”
A sailing friend said this to me back in the 1990s and it’s so apt. Life is too short. Don’t put your dreams off until tomorrow – go now.
3. Complete this sentence: “I wish I had someone with whom I could share…”
…my issues that I’m having building my Nilla’s Photography site. I also designed this site so let me know what you think – is it easy to use?
I de-commissioned my old site in December 2018, which I built whilst travelling in South America using only internet cafes and restaurant wi-fi, back in 2011. I also launched my new replacement self-hosted site at the same time, but I’m still tweaking problems for display on mobile devices.
This website was very challenging to build and has taken longer than I wanted. I still have photos for another 30 countries to upload, so it’s an ongoing labour of love.
4. What conspiracy theories do you believe?
One conspiracy theory that I believe in as painful as this may be for others, is that there is a cure for cancer.
I simply can’t believe that with such incredible advancements over the years across all sectors of the medical field that there isn’t a cure yet. And, believe that it’s only the Pharmaceutical companies making billions of dollars each year and protecting their interests, whilst holding back the cure.
5. Do you consider yourself a maths’ whizz? Why or why not?
What a strange question!
Absolutely not. In fact, I’m terrible and when I was in Primary School, my uncle who is a whizz at maths tutored me for a while, just so I could get up to speed and pass exams.
6. What keeps you up at night?
The night before I fly somewhere, I have a recurring dream that I’ve had for years…
I arrive at the airport but forgot my passport and have to return home. By the time I get caught in traffic and finally return to the airport, I missed my flight.
7. What famous sentence in your mother tongue do you know and what does it mean?
Well, my mother tongue is English so guess there are too many to list, sorry.
8. What’s your haunted house story?
I have a few, but I’ll share just one.
Not long after my mother passed away from a long sickness with breast cancer, I was staying alone in the house we grew up in over a weekend, sorting out her things.
Laying wide awake in bed, I feel a gentle stroke across one side of my face. It’s so gentle that I think I’m imaging it at first.
No windows are open. The bedroom door is closed. It can’t be a draft – I am wide awake.
After a few seconds, I feel another gentle stroke across the same side of my face. I get up and turn the light on, but there’s no one in the room. I’m the only one in the house…or am I?
I can’t explain this but I guess you need to understand the full story…
My mother and I used to fiercely discuss life after death, even more so during her illness. I don’t believe in life after death but my mother did. So, both being head-strong in our views, she threw down the gauntlet one day.
Challenging me for my belief, she adamantly said: “right, when I die, I’m going to prove to you that there is a life after death…”
9. What will you do to make this world a better place to live in?
Travel to more countries so that I can write more.
I’m hoping that writing my travel posts and sharing many global photos, will inspire people that don’t travel or that may have a jaded view on others, to maybe be more accepting.
10. What do you think you do better than 80% of people?
I don’t really put myself above anyone else and I’m intrigued Ashwini, as to why you ask 80% of people?
One thing that I do well is my attention to detail, which comes naturally but is painful to many.
Maybe it’s from my technical writing, usability, and auditing background – I’m not sure, but this skill does come in handy.
11. What’s something common from your childhood that will seem strange to future generations?
Due to my age, there are loads!
One item that comes to mind is my Sony Walkman, which is now sold as “vintage” – do you know what one is? I scoured the internet to find you an image as I don’t have one of my own.
Anyway, I sold my walkman to a Sikh in a market in Old Delhi back in 1985, when I solo-backpacked around the world for 12 months.
Although I didn’t want to sell the walkman as it was faulty but also because I needed music, the Sikh was adamant that he had to have one and also wanted my tapes.
Lucky it was towards the end of my trip, so I sold the walkman to him, but returned to Australia with all my tapes. I can’t even remember the price, but there you go…
My nominees
In no particular order:
- Talking Thailand – I’ve nominated Gill before for her wonderful insights living as an ex-pat in Bangkok. Gill is about to start another chapter in her life, this time in Spain.
- Mes Mots – a melting pot of poetry, travel stories, and literary articles.
- GrinGirls – just discovered this blog about Thea & Daisy travelling.
- Giovanni Augello – travel stories from around the world.
- Thoughts Make You – thoughts on society.
- A Mindful Traveller – Lorelle shares great travel stories and lives in Australia.
- Travel Sillage – Sameena shares her experience on travel, food, and fashion.
- Emma & Nathan’s Travels – great travel stories and photos.
- Unbound Roots – Erin discusses life, the universe, and everything.
- Travel – My Best Teacher – needs no explanation.
- Muslim Misconceptions – learn more about a female Muslim’s life.
My questions for nominees
These are very blog-centric as I’m doing a little research.
- For how long have you been blogging?
- What do you do if/when you suffer from Writer’s Block?
- What goals have you set for your blog in 2019?
- Where do you see your blog 2 years from now?
- What do you love most about writing?
- Do you prefer to travel solo or with someone?
- Do you think Ghost blogging is unethical?
- How do you create and cultivate relationships for your blog?
- Is your blog self-hosted or on the free WP platform and why did you go this way?
- What social media platform gives you the most exposure for your blog?
- Any travel plans for 2019?
Hope you’ve enjoyed my responses to Ashwini’s questions and if you have some time, please feel free to respond to my nomination – no pressure.
Nilla
Visit Nilla’s Photography for more images. More posts on amazing destinations at Image Earth Travel.
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