My 7 links~ A Look Back

Recently the web site Tripbase started a blogging round-robin of sorts. The goal? “To unite bloggers (from all sectors) in a joint endeavor to share lessons learned and create a bank of long but not forgotten blog posts that deserve to see the light of day again.” 
The premise is simple; follow the format, answering the seven questions below and linking to the relevent posts on your blog. Then nominate other blogs to do the same. Nicole Durbin from Immersed in the World nominated me (thanks Nicole!) and now it’s my turn to pass the torch.

Some of these posts were tough to decide. This site has gone through so many changes, versions, incarnations and platforms in the last 13 years, how could I pick?  It’s like asking me to pick a favorite child. It’s also very difficult to quantify things like success and popularity of the older posts because my stats only go back two years. Yes, I tend to over-think this type of stuff, so here we go….Enjoy!

Most beautiful post:

One of my favorite places in the world is Rome because of this, it’s also one of my favorite places to photograph. It has it all; beautiful old buildings and ruins, gorgeous food and interesting people. The post from our first day in Rome on our 2009 trip has a little bit of everything and more (the photo of the procession at the top of this post is also from there) Maybe I’m just being sentimental because I’m going back in October, but I can’t wait!

Most popular post:

I was so excited when the newest version of the Kindle came out right at the same time I wanted to buy one I became a woman obsessed. While I was waiting for it to arrive, I was reading and learning everything I could about it. I know my review of the Kindle might have sounded like a commercial, but I was (and still am) completely enamoured with it. This may have been a case of right post/right time since it came out right as the new version was released but it, and the companion post about using the Kindle for travel, have been some of the most popular in terms of traffic in the last 2 years.
 

Most controversial post:

I spent almost 3 months writing and re-working my post on The Death of Travel Blogging-Where Has All The Content Gone? I knew that this was going to raise some hackles, and typically my posts are simply about my travels, but this had been an issue which had been bothering me for a long time. I was really pleased that so many people took the time to write some really thoughtful comments. Not everyone agreed, but that’s ok.

Most helpful post:

This one was hard to decide. Because I’m such a practical person, I always like to include tips and resources for every place we travel. However, I think the Packing Tips Pages are the most helpful in that they show that it’s possible to pack light for any length of trip and you don’t have to carry a backpack!

A post whose success surprised you:

Panama is not the most popular destination in Central America. Sure, there’s the Panama Canal, but most people see it from the deck of a cruise ship and rarely set foot on Panamanian soil. In fact, when I told people we were going there, the reactions ranged from looks of bewilderment to flat out questions of “why??” When I was researching the trip, I was surprised at just how little information there was out there. So I guess the success of some of the posts from that trip really shouldn’t surprise me, but they do. The main landing page for the Panama trip and the post from our first day on Isla Contadora share almost equal success in terms of traffic and I think this just shows the posts filled a gap.

A post you feel didn’t get the attention it deserved:

The Neverending Boat Trip to Battambang. I loved this post, the writing of it, the photos, the experience…not so much. But as they say, what does not kill you makes you stronger. I thought people might share some of their similar experiences in the comments, but alas they did not. How about you?

The post that you are most proud of:

The post Why we came to Cambodia; Koh Ker School and Srayang Girl’s House is the one I am most proud of. Not for the writing or for the photos, but for the subject matter. This shows what the power of a few dedicated people can create and I am so proud to have played even the smallest part in changing these children’s lives. This is no fly by night, feel good about myself, throw some money at it and go home form of tourism. This is real. This is in-it-for-the-long-haul. This is important and stays in my heart all of the time. David and I plan to return next summer and hopefully he’ll be able to volunteer some time teaching.

Show us your 7 Links:

Not work related

Walking on Travels

Restless to Roam

Devour The World