A year ago today I posted my first ever blog post on why I have decided to travel. looking back now, blogging about my travels has been one of the best decisions I made (apart from the actual travel part). While I hope my writing has improved since that first post I know I have grown as a person.
Some 12 months earlier I was just a shy IT guy who you could often find sitting around at home watching tv or playing computer games instead of going out and socializing with the world. That guy is now long gone and in his place is a happier, more confident individual who now not only dreams of travel destinations but makes them a reality.
I’ve met amazing people (both travellers and bloggers) that I both look up too and feel comfortable calling my friends. Never would the old me have let Cailin from travelyourself.ca film me and have it uploaded for the world to see, changed my planned itinerary and travelled to Italy just to meet Annie (waywardtraveller.com) and Suzy (suzyguese.com) or have been in Berlin for just a mere couple of hours before heading out into the city with no idea how to get home to meet up with D from dtravelsround.com so we could attend a pub crawl.
Along with so many other people I’ve met, I have to also thank my family for being so supportive even thought I know they would dearly love me to come home (sorry not just yet mum).
Travelling and the whole community that encompass it really are like a great big family to me. We help each other and leave the ego’s at the door. I’ve got no idea how my blog is going to evolve but if the last 12 months is anything to go on I’m really excited about its future.
So let me finish by saying that I am forever grateful to everybody that comments on my blog or has found the time to meet me in my travels. I hope I have left some sort of lasting impression on you just like you have all left on me.
Me at the Eiffel Tower, Paris
Me in Sorrento, Italy
Goofing off in Helsinki, Finland
Congrats on the milestone, Chris! I feel like we’ve met even though we never have and can’t believe we’ve been chatting for the better part of a year. Can’t wait to meet in person for that beer!
Thanks Heather, I remember way back when we were both planning our trips. Seens like so long ago but really it isn’t. I’d go as far as to say there will be more than just a beer when we catch up.
Congratulations on reaching a year of blogging Chris – it’s great to see you’ve achieved so much in the past 12 months and it serves as strong inspiration for the rest of us about to embark on long-term travels! Keep up the great work!
Thanks a lot Kieron. There were times especially towards the end of my trip around Europe that I nearly gave it in due to lack fo time, I just wanted to explore and see things.
I’m glad I kept at it though as now I’m as keen as ever to continue to share my adventures and hopefully help someone else out with ideas or tips from my experiences.
Great milestone, congratulations! I’ve been blogging for just over two years now and it is so cool to be able to go back and read all my travel adventures, especially when I’m back home and not able to travel for a few months! Look forward to reading more from you!
Thanks Lynda, I nearly didn’t post this as I didn’t want to brag and say oh look at me I’ve blogged for a year.
I’ve not read back over many of my posts as everything I’ve done still feels like yesterday but I know they will serve as great reminders to fun had as time goes by.
Congratulations on your year! I can’t eblieve you were ever shy or retiring but then I’ve only ever met the world-travelling confident you. Here’s to a couple more years and worldwide blogging domination. (Oh, and I’m still turning over and over in my brain whether or not to switch to my own domain).
Hey Emm, oh yes I was very much the shy guy and I still feel like I am at times.
haha we can make your blog work fine with the new address, trust me 🙂
A year? Way to go mate! I can only hope I’m still loving travel and loving writing about it come next October when I hit my own milestone.
Here’s to many more!
Yeah Chris it kinda snuck up on me, didn’t even realise until yesterday. I’m sure you’ll be celebrating next year.
Chris
I can’t imagine you at all as a shy IT guy. It’s crazy how things can change, I wonder what you’ll be posting about next year…
haha Ayngelina its very true. I often wouldn’t even ask shop assitants for help or if they had something when I couldn’t find it on the shelf.
Travelling to a country where you can’t understand the language let alone speak it soon forced me to change that in a hurry.
Pretty sure that’s just an Aussie guy thing haha – I would prefer to wander around a shop aimlessly for 30 minutes than ask for help (and admit defeat!) and I know many of my mates are the same!
YAY to a whole year of blogging 🙂 and here’s to another 20?!?!
Celebrating with a few beers?
Thanks Kirsty, more like celebrating by trying to stay warm.
Huge congrats Chris, your blog was a big inspiration for me early on mate and I am heaps impressed on how far you’ve come with it. Here’s to more beers and travel through Europe!
Damn Justin mate glad I was an inspiration to more than just drinking beer 🙂 I can see many beers coming our way over the next 12 months.
Hi Chris – I’m glad to learn you’ve improved yourself through having a travel blog. It does sound like you’ve done stuff you oridinarily wouldn’t have. Here’s to an even more splendid second year!
Sabina, I’ve done a great deal since I began this whole travel dream. So many times I’ve stopped and thought to myself no way 12 months ago did I think I would be where I am today.
Happy anniversary from a CS’er! Traveling is simply the best experience and we get to learn so much about everything but especially ourselves.
Safe travels!
Hi Ana, your right there it really is a great experience.
Happy Anniversary love!!! Here’s to hoping that our paths will cross before your 2nd Anniversary. Best wishes with EVERYTHING! XOXO
Oh our paths will cross Andi don’t you worry about that.
😀
Ah you do read my blog huh 🙂 I try yours but google translate never gets it quite right haha
I leave for my adventure to Europe in just over 8 weeks now, and I am so SO glad I stumbled onto your blog, you’ve helped me not only organise my trip but you’ve inspired me to go places I wouldn’t have even thought of venturing to! Thanks for getting me twice as excited for my trip, and keep the posts coming! 🙂
Damn Ash that’s one hell of a compliment. Feel free to shoot me an email if you need anymore info about well anything for the trip.
If your stopping by London at all be sure to let me know and I’ll reward such a kind comment with many a beer, happy travels mate.
Congratulations Chris! I am glad I have been lucky enough to meet you and show you around Florence. Who could forget the Aussie Nomad! Hopefully I will make it to the UK for a visit this year. Congrats again on having such a wonderful transformation this year.
Thanks Suzy. I’m glad you were in Florence or I may not have headed that way and I would have missed a lot of fun. Here’s to hoping you can swing over to London this year.
You’re welcome. 😉
haha Tim yes you started all of this with your stories of Europe and London. Now I haven’t a clue when I’m going to come home.
Make sure you come home via some place that scares you 🙂
Congrats on one year! (Sorry I’m a little late on this) and I’m definitely glad you changed your travel plans, not only because I got to meet you but also cause I have loved the stories!!
I’m sure we’ll be seeing each other again while we’re here and then somewhere else in the world! The connections we make with other travelers and bloggers is amazing!
Congratulations on reaching the one year! (I know i’m late, but better late than never!)
It looks like you’ve had some brilliant times, I’m really enjoying reading your site! And look forward to the posts to come this year!
And I’m really glad that traveling has been such an amazing experience for you, I hope I’ll have the same!