Girl Chasing Sunshine: The Sisterhood of the World Bloggers' Award

Photo by Julia Caesar 

You know what I like best about blogging? I get to connect with like-minded people from halfway around the globe who share the same longing and eagerness to explore the rest of the world! They are also some of the most hardworking and supportive people I've ever met. 

About a month ago, Jackie from the Globetrotting Teacher surprised me with a nomination for The Sisterhood of the World Bloggers’ Award. If you want to learn how to use miles to travel more miles, go and indulge on her travel stories. Thank you so much again, Jackie!

The Sisterhood of the World Bloggers’ Award, which recognizes the unique voices of women bloggers, is usually peer-nominated, given by a female blogger to another female blogger, as a way of getting to know each other.

Here are the rules to accept the award:

• Give a shout out to the blogger(s) who nominated you by thanking them and linking to his/her/their blog.
• Answer the ten questions they have sent you.
• Come up with ten questions of your own
• Spread the love and nominate ten bloggers who you think also deserve this recognition.

So, here you go: the ten questions Jackie threw at me and my responses! 

1. Why do you love to travel?

Now, I can tell you so many wondrous and inspiring reasons why a person would love to travel but whenever I’m asked this question, I’m usually at a lost. Frankly, I have no freaking idea why I have this chronic wanderlust! It’s like being asked, “Why do you even breathe?” Travel has become wired in my system that it’s just something I do.

While it’s not (yet) my full-time lifestyle, it’s a huge part of my life that I couldn’t picture myself not doing it. It’s like drinking water or eating chicken liver adobo (don’t give me that look, it’s my favorite dish!) I guess it’s because when you absolutely love something, you’ll do everything in your power to pursue it—no matter how difficult it can sometimes be.

Corong-Corong, El Nido, Palawan, The Philippines

Travel gives me incomparable inspiration and bliss: sights to see, people to meet and share stories with, experiences to cherish and a whole lot more. When life gets a little gloomy, I always find myself reminiscing about my past travels and in an instant, my wounded soul is soothed. Travel is like a healing balm to the battle scars that the daily grind gives me. 

2. Do you prefer to travel solo or with others? Why?

Solo travel can be so liberating. It pushes you beyond your limits; you get to know yourself and the world in a different light. I think solo travel produces some of the craziest and the most out-of-this-world travel memories you’ll have in your lifetime.

But I must admit that despite that, I’m a fan of traveling with people I care about. For me, it matters who you take to your journeys with. Travel takes on a deeper meaning when shared with someone who feels exactly the same way you do about seeing the world.

Bohol, The Philippines (Five years and thirty pounds ago!)

3. Where’s a place you’ve been that surprised you in some way?

Sagada, a mountain province, in Northern Philippines threw me off my comforts. I did things in Sagada I never even knew I was capable of: I traveled solo for the first time. I hiked with strangers along a pilapil for two hours to see the famed Bomod-Ok Falls. I lay down in the middle of a zigzag road. I witnessed a harvest thanksgiving ritual. I watched the sunrise so closely at Kiltepan Viewpoint; I almost thought I could hold it. I did a buwis-buhay cave spelunking in Sumaguing and Lumiang Caves. And another buwis-buhay trek down Echo Valley to see the Hanging Coffins.

I guess you could say, more than the place, what surprised me was the person I became when I went to that place.

Sagada, The Philippines

Sagada, The Philippines 

4. What is more your travel style, budget or luxury?

I think I’m a mid-range flash packer. If I can afford a little bit of comfort and luxury, I’ll do it.

I don’t spend too much but I don’t scrimp either. I try to save before any major travels so I can choose the accommodations, restaurants, tourist spots, and tours that offer the best value for money without sacrificing the authenticity of the local experience.

I also value safety and privacy, so if I have to pay a bit more for that, I would gladly do it. But again, savings make me one satisfied traveler! 

Taipei, Taiwan 

5. How do you fund your travels?

I have a full-time job as an Internal Communications Specialist for the leading pharmaceutical company here in the Philippines and fortunately, the company where I am in offers so much more beyond the basic employee benefits. So what I do is I work, save, and travel. It takes a lot of discipline but I know what I want—no fancy gadgets, no designer bags, no over-the-top luxury shoes; just crazy travel—and I focus on that goal. More than material things, I invest in experiences.

Apart from this full-time job, I also do freelance online writing and travel blogging on the side, which produce a painfully small amount to add to my travel fund, but at least I earn something, right? Lastly, I also dabble into stock trading and investing.

Macau, China 

6. What’s the most daring thing you’ve ever done/tasted while traveling?

Help me right here! I'm struggling to think of the most daring adventures because I think I always tread on the safe side. Maybe it would be wearing a swimsuit even with a body considered to be big in this society. Hahaha! But then, that's more than being daring, that's confidence!

El Nido, Palawan, The Philippines

7. If money was not a concern, what 1 place would you travel?

It would be a toss up between Iceland, to be awed by the Northern Lights, and Peru, to be enchanted by the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu, Peru (Photo by Bruce Tuten | Creative Commons)

Among other places, I would also want to make it to Cinque Terre in Italy, Cesky Krumlov in Czech Republic, the lake town of Hallstat in Austria, Santorini and Mykonos in Greece and the island nation of Seychelles.

Hallstat, Austria (Photo by brookcatherine53 | Creative Commons) 

8. Has a local ever helped you out of a jam? How so?

We’ve met some really helpful locals during our trip to Seoul, South Korea last year. We arrived in the city just a little after midnight and we were at a lost finding our hotel. We’ve walked the streets and alleyways where it was supposed to be but to no avail. Some locals voluntarily helped us find our way. Even without understanding what we were saying, they were eager to lend us a hand.

The next night, we were out for dinner and found some hole-in-the-wall restaurant which has no English menu and no photos of the meals! While we were having a difficult time communicating with the servers in hand gestures, a couple approached our table and translated the menu for us. How nice, no?

Seoul, South Korea 

9. If you could travel with someone dead or alive, who would it be?

I would choose to be with this wander girl whose blog I read every single day since I stumbled on it in 2011—Alexandra Baackes of Alex in Wanderland! She’s brimming with honesty, bliss, and positivity that are so infectious. Her website is a treasure trove of wonderful travel stories; you’ll never run out of inspiration.

10. Where is the next place you are headed?

I’m heading to Dubai by the end of October. I’m currently in the process of visa application. If things go well—and I’m really crossing my fingers for this!—I might also go beyond United Arab Emirates to fulfill one of my biggest travel dreams. Stay tuned!

Dubai, United Arab Emirates (Photo by the_dead_pixel | Creative Commons) 

That’s about it. And now, it’s time for me to nominate these amazing ladies who have the same wandering heart and restless feet as mine. We all share the same passion for travel, love for life, and the desire to chase our sunshine. Make sure to check them out to see how they’re starting to rock it out in the travel blogging scene!

1. Macy of Purplemace Travelogue 
2. Karla of Karla Around the World 
3. Christianna of Expecto Adventures 
4. Emily of Feet Meet World 
5. Michelle of Adventure Adickt 
6. Charlotte of Following my Wanderlust
7. Lucy of World This Weekend 
8. Stefanie of Casuallly Awkward
9. Danielle of Snaps, Scribbles, and Suitcases 
10. Priya of Outside Suburbia 

And here are the ten questions for my nominees. I can’t wait to read your responses, girls!

1. Which would you choose and why: travel back in time or travel into the future?
2. Tell us about one of your best and most surreal travel moments.
3. What’s the worst travel mistake you’ve ever made?
4. If you could only visit three countries or cities for the rest of your life, which would it be?
5. Would you rather be a freelancer doing full-time travel or a career woman moving up the corporate ladder and traveling part-time?
6. Think about your first trip abroad.  What would you have done differently?
7. Beach or mountain?
8. What is the most underrated place you’ve been to?
9. What useful travel apps can you recommend?
10. What advice or tips can you give to travel bloggers who are just starting out?

And for anyone of you out there who's also interested to answer these questions, feel free to jump in!