Throwing it back to the most +1'd posts!

Excuse my absence. Partially my fault. Half of it was because I was sick --either the cold or the flu, allergies, and chest pain! :/ I guess after going 10 months without being sick, it had to hit me hard, huh? ;) And the other half was because of my travel sickness and blank canvas. Had a hard time figuring out a topic, so I decided to take a step back, recollect my thoughts, and then come back feeling refreshed. I don't like to write when I don't know what to say! Has this happened to you?

So while I have been collecting my thoughts, I looked back on some of my old posts from Peace.Love. and Blueberries., I didn't realize how high some of these posts were +1'd! I was happy :) to see that! So I thought I'd put them up here to share with you all.

1) Shrimp and Nectarine Stir Fry +1'd 7,709 times!

It's that simple! I love fruit and seafood together. They marry beautifully. If you are a lover of the kitchen, get in there and sample this!

2) After traveling... +1'd 7,709 times!

Silly that this post was right after my Ecuador and Chile adventure. I made a butterfly cake for a friend and then I show you all my favorite restaurant in Southern California- North Los Angeles area - Carnival!

3) 3 Cities in Ecuador +1'd 5,038 times!

My favorite eats that I indulged in the lovely Ecuador.

4) Beautiful Landscape +1'd 306 times!

One of the many reasons why I loved Bolivia ----the landscape --the views! Just awe-inspiring.  Everything there is breathtaking. This is just one of my favorite shots in the mountains.

How I feel looking back on these posts? My writing style is a lot different now! :-p It's fun to look back and see how I used to write!!

Do you ever look back on your past posts and notice anything different between then and now? :)

Photo of the day - Egypt

Fruit stand in Alexandria, Egypt

 

Alexandria, Egypt is one important city in Egypt that you must have in your travel plans if you happen to travel to Egypt now or in the future. Just a 2 hour drive from Cairo and worth it. The city has a Mediterranean feel but that crazy night life that is just a little different than Cairo. But also known to have many historical sites here. A very important city to explore and get a feel of the past. During the day, Alexandria is just a normal everyday city but at night, the people are out and about, cars everywhere, and don't even attempt to try and cross the street!

I just loved how among everything moving around, there was this fruit stand just sitting still and calm. A true site to see and one that I appreciated. Egypt won me over. And it will win you over too.

Machu Picchu

As promised from Throwback Thursday (and part because I LOVE reminiscing on past adventures!), I thought I'd show some of my favorite pictures from my time in magnificent Machu Picchu. :)

 

I loved capturing the site during the different times of the day and showing how the sun hits differently over this incredible world wonder. From sitting down and taking it all in to wandering around and exploring the site to climbing up Machu Picchu mountain, this day I will never forget.

Love,

 

Reima

 

PS. What is the one world wonder/world site you have always wanted to see?

Top Posts of 2013

2013 was the start of Love a Traveler and even though I began mid-year, I'd still like to post the top 10 most read posts of 2013 here! I still consider it looking back on the past and reminiscing on what I've done and what I strive for in the future. :)

***If you haven't taken a peek yet, here are my top 20 most read posts up from 2008-2013 from my food blog: Peace. Love. And Blueberries. You will see posts that I wrote from way back in the day! It's amazing to re-read what I experienced so many years ago. And some great recipes too. :)

Without further adieu, here are the top 10 most read posts of 2013:

1) Photo of the day - Brazil
Grab a coconut, a beach towel, sun tan (or block!) lotion, and plenty of water when you spend most of your day at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro!

2) Are you really safe with a tour guide?
My Galapagos experience with the tour guide Jhover Alvarez. Just because you are on a tour, it doesn't mean you can let your guard down..

3) The best thing I ever ate in....
Some of the best dishes I've had so far in all of my wonderful travels.

4) Photo of the day - Peru
One of my top favorite countries!

5) Photo of the day - Galapagos Islands
For those who are huge nature lovers, these islands are perfect for you!

6) Galapagos Islands
Here are plenty of Galapagos pictures to make you smile! Of course this was the post following my Tour guide story (mentioned above).

7) Misconceptions of a solo female traveler
Probably my favorite post. Standing up for all female travelers. We should not be afraid to travel this incredible world alone!

8) How do you pack for an adventure?
Here's my list of what I bring along and can fit in my backpack!

9) Pros vs. Cons of hostels 
Why staying in a hostel is not such a bad idea.

10) Health, Holidays, and Travel
How to stay fit and eat what you want while on an adventure or vacation.

 

What would you like to see more of in 2014? I'd love to hear your thoughts and opinions! :)

Photos of the day - Love, Travel, and Dating

Lovers dancing to the beat of the drum. Ferry at Puntarenas, Costa Rica.

Hand in hand on Florida Street. Buenos Aires, Argentina.

My German friend Tina and her boyfriend taking in the gorgeous view of Tortuga Bay Beach. Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos.

Young love walking together. Panama City, Panama.

You can love your best friend too! Isabela Island, Galapagos.

Having fun with a big screen in the airport before departing. Benito Juárez International Airport. Mexico City, Mexico.

Soulmates taking a stroll. Teotihuacan, Mexico.

 

I don't know what's gotten into me lately but love has been on my mind more often than usual. And it's making me think twice about what I'm actually doing today and how it coincides with my travel plans coming up. Should I stay here and wait for love or if I leave and live abroad, will that ruin my chances for love?

 

I guess the more I think about it, the more it's starting to scare me. I've been ready for awhile now but I don't know if I'm making the right decisions. Of course I want to see the whole world and live abroad, but I think I want to do that with someone else! I don't want to be alone. And it doesn't help when you have a mom that is constantly telling you that you need to get married before your eggs shrivel over!! I'm definitely not old! I'm 28. Not old but at the age where it is time to somewhat start to figure things out.

 

It's not that I need someone to take on this journey because I have always been independent and tend to rely on myself more than anything but I keep thinking about all the memories I'll make that I won't have to share with someone special. I completely enjoy traveling by myself but is it time to bring someone in?

 

A few years back, I let someone in that I knew was going to hurt me bad (it's the ones you really like that make you vulnerable) and that's exactly what happened. I don't know if it had to do with me, but all I knew was that he was the first person I came across that came pretty similar to me --and that is rare! From travel to food to everything in between, I finally was happy to know that I would be understood in that way.   

 

I've dated other guys, tried relationships out, making sure that they either want to travel or if they'll let me keep my traveling ways, but nothing comes close, they don't work out, and they don't last long. It's just not the same. I don't know how to describe how I've been feeling but I do know it's affecting my love life and what I want for my future.

 

I guess I've but nothing but time to figure out what direction I want to take...

 

Am I the only one that feels this way? What are your thoughts about love, life, and travel? I really would like to know what your opinions are!

Nomination for the Liebster Award from Jenna!

My wonderful friend and SMC partner from a few months ago, Jenna over at Jenna in Abu Dhabi, nominated me for a Liebster Award!:) The Liebster Award is for up and coming bloggers. According to the rules and Jenna, I need to answer questions related to my blog and I get to nominate three up and coming blogs that I love to follow! :) I would have definitely nominated Jenna but someone got to her first.:) She is so kind and I love the friendship that we've built though we have never met and we lived thousands and thousands of miles apart! Check out her blog about living in the UAE!

What does blogging do for you?

My blog is a way of expressing myself and about the way I love travel and how it has changed my life. It also allows me to to let others in and to be more understood. I feel like I've lived most of my life so far constantly looking at things differently and never really felt understood by those closest to me. The thoughts, actions, and I things I see daily in my hometown are completely opposite than what goes on in my head! And to live like this for a long time before finally figuring out what I want in life is the BEST feeling in the world.

I am allowed to express myself here and I finally have the opportunity to have people: family, friends, and new understand me. There really are no words to express this great feeling!

What blogger(s) feed your soul?

I can't name just a few bloggers! I love delving into multiple blogs of all kinds! Each blog I follow teaches me something new each day. Everyone brings their own perspective into the blogging world and I appreciate everyone I follow!

I will say the first blog I did lay eyes on when I first started blogging many years ago with peaceloveandblueberries was Alex and Mina's blog: http://sending-postcards.com! They inspired me to stick to blogging and I enjoyed following them from dating life and traveling to engagement to running away and getting married here in Los Angeles and traveling the world for their honeymoon! All the things I dream about....someday soon. :) Check them out if you haven't yet!

What is your favorite subject (category) to blog about?

Travel AND Food! :) I enjoy posting anything from simple pictures, adventurous stories (ones that scared my own parents!), opinions on solo female traveling, and I love love love good food! If I can inspire anyone to try something new, explore this wonderful world more, or even just get hungry from looking a food pictures...now that is an amazing feeling!

What post of yours means the most to you and why?

Everything from getting hungry in South America: The best thing I ever ate in... - I am absolutely passionate about food! I will eat EVERYTHING! Or almost anything. ;)

To standing up for Solo Female Travelers out there: Misconceptions of the Solo Female Traveler - YOU as a female CAN travel and be safe! It's important for me to express to everyone, especially the females, that we should not be afraid to explore our world! It's truly an amazing place to see. :)

Showing my huge love for adventure: Danger Ahead - Part II - Probably the most thrilling and dangerous thing I have ever done in my life! The first thing my mom asks me whenever I see her after an adventure --- So how many mountains did you climb while you were in (fill in the blank!)?

And sharing some of my own experiences that I would never wish on anyone while traveling: Are you really safe with a tour guide? - Please be safe out there and watch who you trust!

Why did you first start your blog?

I started it when I felt I knew that I was ready to. I have a previous blog (http://peaceloveandblueberries.blogspot.com) that I have since changed to a food blog. Before that, I felt like I was too scattered and not really connecting with anyone. Now that I feel ready and have more ideas and thoughts, I am still scattered but it is solely on travel now! Th main reason why I started this blog is for a place to write about my feelings and thoughts. And a way of inspiring others to go out there and live their lives to the fullest! I am not about telling anyone what to do. I merely enjoy showing others to take their own paths in life, to not be afraid, and maybe even keep the places they've seen on my blog on their travel itineraries if they happen to go to the same country!

What do you hope your blog will someday become?

I hope my blog stays the same. :) I would love this to be a great place to look back upon in my elderly years of life and see what my crazy self did when I was younger! Even show this to my own future kids one day when they are ready to do their own exploring...if they choose to do so! Hopefully, to others, it will be a blog to inspire and to look upon if needed or to just allow me to transport you to another country for a day!

 

What are you most passionate about?

I'm passionate about people. Life. Travel. This world. Pachamama (Mother Earth to the Peruvians and Bolivians). History. Our future. World Cuisines. I will forever put people and life over things any day. I appreciate what I have here in life - both in my surrounding area and throughout this whole world. There is so much more to life and I will forever be a student for life. Grateful to be taught anything from both the people closest to me to the ones I have met on my travels and those I hope to meet in the future. 

If your writing were discovered a hundred years from now, what would people learn about you, today’s world, and your interests?

I would hope that these people in the future would learn that there are still humans in this world who want more to life than the usual taxes, jobs, and materialistic things. To continue to be inspired about our incredible world. And to continue the traveling cycle for many more years to come.:)

Who do you most want to read your blog? You mom? The president?

I welcome anyone to my blog. :) Whoever allows me to inspire them just as much as they inspire me. For that one person who grew up with similar circumstances like mine who need that push to help discover who you are as a person. Whether you are an expat or vacation once a year, I would like to inspire anyone that I can reach in the world. Can I say I'd like Adam Levine to read my blog? :) Angelina Jolie???? Johnny Depp? ;)

Now here are my three nominees:

1) Bri over at http://chaiandbri.blogspot.com! She contacted me over twitter one day months back and we turned our conversation over to email and wrote pages back and forth to eachother! She truly is a sweet girl living the life in South Korea! Check her out!

2) Sarah over at http://thewanderblogger.com! She is so kind and I love reading her blog about wandering around Europe! And from talking to her a couple times and the vibe I get from her, she has a good heart. Go and say hello to Sarah!

3) Amy over at http://tidethatleft.blogspot.co.uk/! I love reading her stories in Africa! Her blog transports me to wherever she posts about! :) Head to her blog and see where she is right now!

If you accept this wonderful nomination, please fill out the questions I filled above and nominate 3 of your favorite up and coming blogs! Make sure to let them know you nominated them! I love this award to support other bloggers out there!

Love,

 

Reima