The Versatile Blogger Award

Peer recognition always remains one of the greatest achievements in my opinion, so to have Brad Frankel from Why am I different? nominate me for a Versatile Blogger Award, was a real treat to wake up to!

The premise remains very similar to that other nomination I received (oh so many moons ago) as A Very Inspiring Blogger, and I think the ultimate joy in this is not so much in sharing a little more about myself, but also in sharing some of the great blogs I personally follow and their respective bloggers!

Part one of this nomination is to tell Brad (and anybody else who cares to read this) 7 things about myself, and as one can imagine, this is not always an easy thing to do.

1. If you had told me 12 months ago that I’d be taking a gap year at age 34 (almost 35), I’d have kindly pointed out how crazy you are. That however is the beauty of life, you never know what it will throw up!

2. I am incredibly fortunate to still have 3 of my grandparents, and am very thankful to have known all of them (as well as my late grandfather), and been able to learn from them.

3. I am in complete agreement with Richard Branson that government travel advisory warnings do not help! Several years ago Laos (one of the most beautiful of South-East Asian countries) received a dangerous travel advisory warning from the Australian government after 8 Australians had died.

What wasn’t elaborated on, was how this was a result of personal idiocy, where they would engage in drugs and copious amounts of alcohol, then float down a river (where unfortunately they drowned).

How this is the fault of the Laos people is beyond me…

Using the US as an example, where 82 people can be shot and killed during 4th of July ‘celebrations’ in Chicago, something like this, because our country has stronger diplomatic ties, would never serve to raise a travel warning.

4. Thus far, I have been incredibly fortunate to have never missed a flight (lets hope that run continues)!

5. The joy Sarah and I find best in our travels, is when we are in places that are most different from home, be it the food, the people, the culture!

The scarcely visited Timor-Leste remains one of our favourite countries

6. Blogging can be difficult, especially when one is tired. It isn’t easy not to sound repetitive (I’m sure I often do), which is why it is also great to be part of a greater blogging community where I can share my tales of woe and get fresh ideas!

7. Never in any of my travels have I felt in any personal danger… it is possible that this may change when I finally get on board some of those South American buses!

The final part of this nomination, includes a list of 15 other bloggers whose work I follow (for their creativity, style, or just sense of adventure), and thus, would also like to nominate for this award. Please check them out!

http://jenandtraciego.com/

http://diversionswithdoreen.com/

http://gallivance.net/

http://gonewiththebackpack.blogspot.com.au/

http://worldlynomads.com/

http://www.adventuretheamericas.com/

http://flipfloptheworld.com/

http://rachelheller.org/

http://www.adriftanywhere.com/

http://flattiresandslowboats.com/

http://www.roadaffair.com/

http://tracietravels.com/

http://www.angelatravels.com/

These last 2 are incredibly successful in their own right already, however given how often I read their work, I couldn’t not include them!

http://www.alexinwanderland.com/

http://www.wanderingearl.com/