Ever since I can remember, I’ve always wanted to “travel the world”… so it’s no wonder that I became intrigued about blogging and having it fund my travels 😉
At Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto, Japan
I already know a thing or two about websites and digital marketing since that has been my line of work for years.. (for nearly a decade even!)
But monetizing my passion?
I wasn’t too sure.. I had doubts.
I love traveling..
But I was afraid that by documenting it, it’ll be harder to be “in the moment”, and to just “enjoy the experience” instead of stressing about which angle is perfect for a shot.
Another thing, privacy..
I’m a very private person (which is why I like working online – I can be anonymous!)
When you blog, you put your face out there.. (well, mostly anyways.. I’ve seen a few blogs where they just put an avatar, and they hide their real life identity)
So I put it off… for years!
After I changed careers and worked online fulltime, I started traveling… locally. Then after nearly 2 years, I started my first international trip.. To JAPAN!
(Technically, it wasn’t my “first” international trip ‘coz I studied and worked in the UK for nearly 4 years before.. back when I was still pursuing a nursing career. But it was my first trip abroad as a TOURIST)
This was back in late 2015.
When I came back home, I was broke.. (Blame it on impulsive shopping, which women can relate to! We have one of those days.. 😉 Shopping was what broke my Japan budget)
But when I came back home, I was more determined than ever. I worked my ass off.. To the point of getting burned out. (Work-life balance is a foreign concept to me.)
For my birthday, I booked a two-week trip to Bali, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.. I traveled solo, and LOVED it!
With such a short amount of time, I was mostly in ‘tourist mode’, so I barely got any work done. But I enjoyed exploring 3 different countries, and it was my first time to visit them!
Then I came back home and worked even harder.
By December 2016, I sold my highest-earning website for mid five figures (US$)! >> Read more on How I Went From Nursing To Earning A Full-Time Income Online
I. WAS. STOKED.
2017 came.
Thinking of trying out this ‘digital nomad’ lifestyle, I booked a trip to Cambodia and Thailand.. originally planned for 2 months, it stretched to 5 months!
My cousin (who went with me to Japan) also went to Chiang Mai and stayed with me for 3 weeks… After that, she caught the travel bug and she’s now planning to live the digital nomad life 😉
In November 2017, another cousin joined me and the 3 of us (all ladies!) went on an 11-Day Epic Indochina journey! >>You can read about it here: 11-Day IndoChina Travel Itinerary: Thailand, Laos & Vietnam (World Heritage Trail)
When I say epic, I mean fast-paced travel, jam-packed schedule, sleeping on trains kinda travel. It’s not my usual style, coz I like to travel slow, live in a place for at least a week (preferring to stay for at least a month).. Nonetheless, I enjoyed it. My cousins and I bonded even more!
So now back on topic…
Why I Started Blogging
After much deliberation, I pulled the trigger and decided to START blogging… for the following reasons:
#1. To inspire people to TRAVEL
For those people from third-world countries, traveling is a luxury only a few can afford.
I am here to show you that if traveling is really what you want, you can do it with proper planning, hard work & perseverance.. doesn’t matter where you come from.
It took me 2-3 years before I started living the digital nomad life. (Read “Why I Put Off Traveling For A Few Years)
This is because I have a plan. I don’t want to backpack and then be broke after a few months. (Not dissing that, if that’s the route you wanna go for: Work -> Save -> Travel, then repeat.. Nothing wrong with that!)
I went legit and registered with the BIR (the Philippines’ local tax authority) at a time when 90+% of Filipino online workers and entrepreneurs earn money from abroad, tax-free. (Here’s why I did it: Perks of going Legit, Registering Your Online Business and Paying Taxes)
#2. To SHOW others HOW it can be done
Plenty of people want to live a life of travel.. but they’re confused on how to get started. Some don’t even think it’s possible for them (due to circumstances, mostly just a ‘limiting’ belief that holds people back).
This is especially true for Asian women due to our culture and family upbringing. Most of us had to “defy our parents’ wishes”, be ‘rebellious’, and risk souring family relationships just to carve our own paths.
#3. To SHOW you that it’s NOT just for white/Western people with privileged passports
I do not mean to be racist here, but this is a very common misconception..
When you’re Asian and travel frequently, people assume you’re rich (or come from a rich family, or worst, have a rich “sponsor” especially if you’re a woman!)
It’s beyond their comprehension that an Asian like you can afford to travel long term, considering that the average wage is only $200-$500. Working remotely (or telecommuting) is also unheard of.
The power of Western currencies ($, £, Euros) makes it affordable for Westerners to travel long term in ‘cheaper’ countries (like Southeast Asia). A lot of them work hard and save for a few months, and then jet off to Asia to travel for several months, years even!
If you’re Asian, you’re most likely earning in the region of $500 to $1000 per month from your job (unless you live in Japan, South Korea or Singapore). Most of the time, it’s even less.
For those working online already earning in $$, it becomes a matter of earning capacity.. And increasing it. It’s NOT easy, as it would mean learning specialized skills, and dedicating years to improving your craft.
But know that it’s possible ❤
Become an expert in your field and you can command any salary you want. But of course, as with everything in life worth doing, it takes time. A lot of time. But don’t let that discourage you..
