Even though I’ve been traveling in Puerto Rico 4 years and writing the book for 2 of those years, it wasn’t until recently I’ve started working on the website and promoting the book and reaching out. One of the channels I want to connect with are other travel bloggers who are doing the same thing and in so many respects much better work and visiting much  cooler places than I can ever imagine!  It takes an incredible amount of work and dedication to be a writer and blogger, and it’s not for everyone and takes serious skill and dedication and a thirst for adventure and travel.

I’m still learning this process, but I was pleasantly surprised to be nominated for a Liebster Award by Skeeter over at Happy Travelers  and twitter handle @2happytravelers.  Skeeter and Pat are a married couple who are traveling extensively around the world and are sharing their story in a great website.  In fact, my next trip on my wish list is New Zealand and they definitely have that covered.  Check em’ out!

I never knew what the Liebster Award was until the other day, so for those that don’t know it’s  an award given by bloggers to other bloggers.  Your peers so to speak.  The goal is to connect the (travel) blogging community and provide  a platform for emerging bloggers by publicly praising the work of what others are doing across the globe in your sphere of influence.

Thanks so much to Happy Travelers for nominating me for a Liebster Award!  I have to answer their questions, and in turn nominate at least 5 more bloggers that are starting for them to do the same.

Here goes:

What has been your least favorite place to visit so far?

My least favorite place to visit so far has to be actually fog.  I actually can’t think of a least favorite place I’ve visited, but I can think of some notable places I’ve gone to only to have fog follow me and I can’t see what I came to see!  Went to Niagara Falls only to encounter fog.  I could hear the falls though!  Went to Empire State Building.  Fog.  (Although I have been there on clear days since that first trip).  Hiked 4 days to get to Machu Pichu in Peru, on the 4th day get there and you guessed it – fog.  It’s kinda funny.  Still make the best of it though as I’ve been on so many trips where the weather has been great.


What has surprised you the most on your travels?

What has surprised me most about traveling is how your perspective on life grows and how you can see life from all new angles.  You can appreciate your family at home more.  Your friends at home more.  You can see different perspectives.  What has surprised me is how much one can grow by being outside your comfort zone.


Who has been the most interesting person/people you’ve met?

Wow, great question there have been so many people that it’s hard to pick just one person.  But upon really thinking about it and being why I’m still in Puerto Rico I would have to say my girlfriend Natalia.  In my travels, I’m super happy I’ve met her and what’s interesting is that I would never had if I stayed home.


What country/city would you want to live in long term?

I love the idea of New Zealand and can’t wait to visit, however going back to my roots and being closer to home yet still living in a new place?  I’d say the obvious place long term would be Cuba.


What’s next on your list of travel plans?

Finish some very few spots remaining in Puerto Rico, then I would really love to go to New Zealand.  Have I said that enough?


What inspired you to start blogging about travel?

The muse called me and my soul has something to say,  I guess.  A quick inspiration is one thing, to have that sustained for 2 years in writing this interactive book is quite another thing.     I realized that perhaps I’m going to die one day, and even if it’s for one tiny person, I’d like to leave some thoughts behind.


What has been your favorite food that you’ve tried?

As much as I’m adventurous in the body and jumping off waterfalls etc, I’m not that adventurous with food choices.  But I will say my favorite food that I’ve tried in Puerto Rico is the lechon (pork) with mamposteao rice and fried plantains.  Great typical Puerto Rican meal.


Do you prefer big cities or out in the middle of no where?

Yeah I could live out in the middle of nowhere no problem.  A balance I guess.  Both extremes kinda suck.  Kind of like Droopy the dog in the cartoons.  I’d like to be able to run up a mountain and scream and do whatever, then come back down and play when I want.


If you had to offer 1 travel tip, what would it be?

Figure out what the person you’re meeting is teaching you.


What is your favorite travel themed book or movie?

I instinctively think of “Into The Wild” (plus I love Eddie Vedder’s soundtrack).  It was extremely admirable what Chris McCandless did, yet there’s an underlying message he taught us in his approach to traveling by himself when he comes to the conclusion as he was dying that happiness is only real when shared.  Extremely poignant inspiring and cautionary tale about setting forth into the unknown.


What’s your travel style, fast paced or laid back?

Go with the flow/laid back.  Let the story reveal itself instead of forcing an itinerary or time schedules.

 

In turn, I nominate:

The Tropical Tourist @contrekk, @persiaexpo, @can_rico, @theTropicalT

 

The 11 questions to answer:

What is your ultimate aim of all the work you do on your website?

Do you prefer destinations that are off the beaten path or ones that are easy to get to?

What is your greatest travel experience?

Which destination is at the top of your travel bucket list?

Do you pack light or take a full range of kit just in case?

What’s the most unusual souvenir you’ve picked up on your travels?

Do you prefer traveling alone or with loved ones?

What’s the most daring dish you’ve sampled on the road?

When you travel, what do you miss the most about home?

Who is your favorite travel companion?

What/who inspires you to travel most?

 

The Liebster Award rules are:
1) Thank the blogger who nominated you, with a link back to his/her blog
2) Answer the 11 questions your nominator asks you
3) Nominate 5–11 bloggers with under 500 Twitter followers
4) Create 11 questions for your nominees
5) Display the Liebster Award logo on your page
6) List these 6 rules in your blog post

I look forward to reading others’ answers!