Five years ago, as I was just getting started with travel blogging, there were only a handful of people who were actively connecting with one another.
Back then, before the rise of social media, it was mostly done via reading each other's blogs and commenting on them. In addition, one way to get another blogger's attention was to tag him or her in a new post. Certain topics or themes would naturally crop up on several blogs at once, and at the end of the post, we'd link to a friend's blog to engage them in the discussion.
In 2011, that approach seems antiquated, however the folks at Tripbase have resurrected the idea, in an effort to bring travel bloggers together. Stephanie at Twenty-Something Travel tagged me, and thus I present 7 articles of the more than 1,500 published here since 2007.
Most Beautiful Post
Photo Essay: Sexy Colombian Models
In 2010, my friend Troy and I went to Colombiamoda, Colombia's annual fashion week, to take photos. I had a hunch beautiful lingerie and bikini models would be a hit, but I didn't expect it to become one of this blog's top posts for the year.
Most Popular Post
Cost of A Trip Around the World
For 15 months, I counted almost every penny I spent on my trip around the world. At the end, I shared my costs with the world. This post has been the blog's most popular for 3 years and counting.
Most Controversial Post
An Open Letter to My Blogging Bretheren
I don't tend to take on controversial topics, or write highly opinionated pieces, however I do get worked up from time to time. In this post, at the conclusion of my trip around the world, I vent about some of the challenges of blogging consistently from the road.
Most Helpful Post
Fear of Travel: Don't Let it Stop You From Seeing the World
In this post, I recount some of the roadblocks I faced before, during, and after traveling the world. This post received a lot of positive feedback. Ironically, a few weeks later, I was robbed at gunpoint, and reflected on my own advice to try and calm my nerves.
Surprise, This Post Was More Successful Than I Expected
Top 10 Movies to Get You Going in 2010
Compiled by Troy, a regular contributor from 2009-2010, this post immediately became the blog's second most popular thanks to a #1 ranking in Google for the “travel movies” keyword. Hopefully it has introduced travelers to plenty of interesting movies they wouldn't have otherwise known about.
Most Underrated Post
Cage Diving with Great White Sharks
Cage diving with great white sharks off the coast of Gansbaii, South Africa was truly one of the greatest travel adventures of my life. I first learned of the activity from a pair of American girls who were finishing up their own RTW trip on the island of Moorea in French Polynesia. 9 months later, I was coming face to face with Jaws!
Post I'm Most Proud Of
Remembering the 1994 Tutsi Genocide
In advance of my trip to Rwanda last year, I read Shaking Hands With the Devil about the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. It was a huge book, but I devoured it quickly, and it greatly enriched my knowledge of the country once I was on the ground, and walking through the genocide museum in Kigali.
And now it's my turn to tag a few bloggers. I'd like to see 7 links from:
- Mike at Vagabondish
- Troy at FOGG Odyssey
- Mark at Migrationology
Don Faust says
July 7, 2011 at 11:31 pmNice list… now, I’m going to check out the Columbian models :)
Erik Smith says
July 8, 2011 at 12:40 amGood List.
Did you ever read “We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Familes”? It’s another book about the Rwandan Genocide and it really moved me. You’re post on it was also very good.
I already expressed this, but your post about your recent robbery was also incredibly helpful and will save a lot of people from a similar fate in the future.
Dave says
July 8, 2011 at 1:17 pmHey Erik, that book was also recommended to me, but to be honest, one book was enough. I also read a really popular book about the genocide in Cambodia.
Thanks for the feedback about the robbery post.
Erik Smith says
July 8, 2011 at 12:40 amGood List.
Did you ever read “We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Familes”? It’s another book about the Rwandan Genocide and it really moved me. You’re post on it was also very good.
I already expressed this, but your post about your recent robbery was also incredibly helpful and will save a lot of people from a similar fate in the future.
William Chen says
July 7, 2011 at 11:07 pminteresting post! i wish the best of luck for the next 5 years in all your adventures! :)
Dave says
July 8, 2011 at 1:14 pmThanks William :)
Andrew Hickey says
July 8, 2011 at 1:11 pmColombian model kind of distracted me for a few minutes. But your list is great. Keep up the always great work my friend.
Dave says
July 8, 2011 at 1:18 pmThanks Andrew :)
Robertosoto says
July 12, 2011 at 2:23 amCan you wrtie an article about how to minimize the chance of being robbed during traveling to so much places?
I am very interested about that as I am preparing my bicycle travel around the whole country now and will do that in the next year. I heard lots of people being robbed somewhere, or they even got killed, …so I think maybe there are some useful tips to help people to decrease the chance of that.