Why I’m not a "true" travel blogger (aka why I really write this blog)

BY ONEIKA RAYMOND

I just read this excellent post on Kay’s From India with Love blog and it really resonated with me.

Kay, a Canadian who has been living in India for the past two months, basically outlines that, despite the occasional pressure to produce beautifully written posts with amazing pictures, she isn’t a travel blogger, and has no desire to be.

In her own words:

“…somewhere in the past two months, I think I put a bit of pressure on myself to blog things that were “blog-worthy”…whatever that means. To come up with the perfect pictures to illustrate nicely written posts; you know – all pro-travel blogger like.But that’s not me. I’m not a pro-travel-blogger (heck I’m not even a travel blogger less the pro title lol) and really, I don’t want to be. I’m much too casual me thinks. And random. I like having a casual conversational tone/writing style – it’s me.”


What she wrote really struck a chord with me. Because I realized that, according to this criteria, I’m not a “true” travel blogger either.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about why I write this blog and, as more people read along, where I want this blog to “go”, at least in the figurative sense.

Upon some reflection, I’ve realized that I don’t write because I necessarily want fortune and acclaim (though that would be nice!), nor do I write to show off my writing nor photos (which are only decent at best). It goes deeper for me than “reporting”.

So why do I write?

I write because I want to share my experiences as a young woman who travels and who etches out an existence far away from home. Hopefully my experiences will encourage someone to go out and do the same and show that this expat/travel thing CAN be done.

I write because blogging has allowed me to keep up a certain running dialogue with all kinds of like-minded people the world over.
I like reading and commenting on blogs, and like when people share their opinions or observations based on something I have written about on here. In this way, I am both voyeur and participator in what you care to share on the interwebs, and inciter and moderator of discussion that is borne from what I write on here.

I write because I want a keepsake or rememberance of what I have seen and done so I can show my future children that their “stick in the mud” mom was actually pretty adventurous back in the day. Besides, I have always been terrible at keeping handwritten journals.

However, most of all,

I write because I read and am inspired by YOUR blogs.
I love reading about what you’re up to whether you live at home or abroad. Your travel-themed posts on where you live, where you have been, and where you are going incite emotions from wanderlust (“Man, I REALLY want to go there now!”) to recognition (“Omigosh! I TOTALLY had the same experience when I went to *insert destination here* ). I have met people virtually that I just click with and would be fast friends with if ever we were to meet in real life!

So forgive me if my pics aren’t National Geographic-worthy, or if my writing style is clumsy and anecdotal. Forgive me if my travel posts don’t tell you which hotel or restaurant will give you the best deal (though if you ask me, I’ll try to find out for you!), or if my posts about my what I’m wearing don’t tickle your fancy. Forgive me if my day-to-day life as an expat in Hong Kong bores you. I’m not a “true” travel blogger. To use a metaphor, I’m more of a jambalaya; I write about a variety of things that cover a few different topics and range from the mundane to the extraordinary.

Will you continue to join me for the ride?

I hope so. Besides, I figure if you wanted detailed travel reports, Lonely Planet would probably do a better job, no?

Anyway, now I want to hear from you. Are you a travel blogger? Why or why not? Why do you blog and what type of things do you blog about?

SHARING IS CARING

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