Five years

It’s been five years. When I started this blog back in 2006, I never thought just how far I’d take it. Heck, when I decided to travel five year ago, I never thought how far I’d go. The goal was simply to travel to Thailand on my own. I ended up going to Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Brunei, Myanmar, Hong Kong and Macau.

Bulusan Volcano 15
Where to next?


Just Wandering was created with the intent to be monetized — traveling doesn’t come cheap (it *can* be done in the cheap, but with the way I travel, I need lots of moolah). I needed all the help I can get. I’m not earning millions off the blog, even after 5 years, but it did a lot more than give me money. Just Wandering paved the way for several opportunities for me to travel: Mt. Daguldol with Columbia Sportswear; Boracay, Batanes, Coron and El Nido with Seair; Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Benguet, La Union, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Zambales, Pampanga and Bulacan with Lakbay Norte of the North Philippines Visitors Bureau and the Manila North Tollways Corporation; Kuala Lumpur, Melaka and Cameron Highlands with Tourism Malaysia; Macau with the Macau Government Tourism Office, and; Hong Kong and HK Disneyland with Nuffnang.

The five years that passed was more than just the traveling. It was about new experiences and new friends. I’ve meet a lot of characters in my travels and even just in Manila. They made life a lot more exciting, frustrating and all the more enjoyable.

The past five years was also about growth and discovery. I’ve changed. Traveling is still something that I want to do, but I’ve also come to realize that there are other things I want to do. There are other goals that I want to achieve aside from traveling to Europe or Africa. It’s been a great journey. I’m looking forward to what the next five years will bring.


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70 responses to “Five years”

  1. lakwatsera de primera Avatar

    Wow, Happy 5th Anniversary Just Wandering. Wishing you more adventures in the next 5 years. ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. pinaytraveljunkie Avatar

    Happy 5th anniv, Nina!

    “… but Iโ€™ve also come to realize that there are other things I want to do.” – I got the same sentiment too ๐Ÿ™‚

  3. Krizz Avatar
    Krizz

    Wunderbar…Happy 5th Anniversary Nina!

  4. khursten Avatar

    HAPPY 5th ANNIVERSARY NINA! o/ TRAVEL MORE AND PROSPER~~ <3

  5. dyanie Avatar
    dyanie

    Happy 5th bday blog!!! Teh, hugs!!!! Kung anu man yang nararamdaman mo, ipagmuni muni mo yan!! At ikain natin yan!!! ๐Ÿ˜€
    Mishu!!!! :X

    1. chyng Avatar

      bawal daw ang hindi blogger! char!

  6. Marky Ramone Go Avatar

    Each one of us starts the passion of traveling with the intent of doing just that, along the way we pick up a lot of things that spreads out our passions in life. In the end traveling becomes that gas that fuels other endeavors that allow us to avoid burnout in life. Yes it all starts with traveling. ๐Ÿ™‚ happy 5th.

  7. chyng Avatar

    i smell crepe!!! ^_^

    ay mali, ang dapat na icomment ko pala “5yrs ka lang?! ako 6!”

  8. Supertikoy Avatar

    Happy 5th Anniversary Nina, I’m just a new reader and yet I felt I’m a fan from the start. Thanks for sharing your travel experiences to us. Cheers!

  9. freeze Avatar

    Happy anniversary nina! keep the stories coming! ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. nina Avatar

      Thanks Freeze! ๐Ÿ˜€

  10. giselle Avatar
    giselle

    happy 5th Nina. it is such an honor to meet you and have travelled with you. wish we can see each other again soon. keep it up. ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. nina Avatar

      Thanks G! I miss you! Dapat matuloy na talaga ang Little Tokyo natin!

  11. estan Avatar

    congrats nina. 5 years is a long long way in blogging ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. nina Avatar

      Ikaw rin kaya matagal na rin! ๐Ÿ˜€ Salamat Estan!

  12. Dante Avatar

    Congratulation and more travel

    1. nina Avatar

      Salamat Dante! ๐Ÿ˜€

  13. Pinoy Adventurista Avatar

    Wow!!!! That’s a feat! Congrats Nina!!! =D

  14. Micamyx|Senyorita Avatar

    Happy Cinco Anniversary! ๐Ÿ˜€ Dapat Europe na ang kasunod! ๐Ÿ˜€

    1. nina Avatar

      Onga, dapat Europe na ang sunod! Salamat Mica!

  15. Mark Avatar
    Mark

    Happy 5th! Keep it up Nina. Remember this life is NOT a dress rehearsal , so make the most of this opportunity.

    1. nina Avatar

      Thanks Mark! I’ve been overwhelmed by the opportunities I’ve gotten thanks to the blog. So far, I think I’ve been doing it justice ๐Ÿ˜‰

  16. Traveling Nicely Avatar

    Happy blogversary, justwandering.org! More power!

  17. Lois Avatar

    Wow! 5 years is long in blogging years Nina! Congratulations!

    1. nina Avatar

      …and that’s just my travel blog ๐Ÿ˜‰ Thanks Lois!

  18. The Nomadic Pinoy Avatar

    Happy 5th – and that’s counting! Here’s to seeing you on more backpacking adventures – be it in India, Morocco or Peru (my faves)!

    1. nina Avatar

      I can’t wait to explore those places too! Thanks Mr. Ultimate Nomadic Pinoy! ๐Ÿ˜‰

  19. YUE Avatar

    Happy 5th anniversary Just Wondering & Nina!!
    I wish for more of your travels & wonderful things happening!

    1. nina Avatar

      Thank you, Yue! ๐Ÿ˜€

  20. thepinaysolobackpacker Avatar

    Happy 5 years to Just Wandering Nina! =) I dnt know what else to say but thank you for the inspiration and for the friendship and uhmm…the chismisan!:D May you be blessed more! I’ll see you and Chyng soon! *hugz*

    Ay manlilibre ka pla kase blog anniv mu,haha anu pala pa-contest? sana makasali ako! =)

    1. nina Avatar

      Hahahaha, walang pa-contest, poorita ako ngayon! So excited to see you again!

  21. tina Avatar

    Wow, 5 years! Congrats! ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. nina Avatar

      Ang tanda ko na! Thanks Tina ๐Ÿ˜€

  22. chinchanlakwatsero Avatar

    congratulations again just wandering and nina… Happy 5 years! Always be safe…=)

    1. nina Avatar

      Maraming salamat Chinchan! ๐Ÿ˜€

  23. Grace Avatar

    Congrats Nina! You’ve done such a great job with your blog and I am sure it will enjoy more success.

  24. pinoy boy journals Avatar

    thank you Nina for paving the way for other bloggers! You’re such an inspiration!

    1. nina Avatar

      Nye! Ang haba ng hair ko hahaha. Thanks! ๐Ÿ˜€

  25. nel Avatar
    nel

    Happy anniversary, Nina ๐Ÿ™‚

  26. flip Avatar

    ni hao!!! happy anniversary nina… wishing you more more money and more more travels in the future ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. nina Avatar

      Wo hao! Enjoy China Flip! ๐Ÿ˜€

  27. Bino Avatar

    Congrats Just Wandering Nina. More travels to come! ๐Ÿ™‚

  28. Nicole Avatar

    Happy 5th Anniversary JustWandering! ๐Ÿ˜€ More travel to come! Enjoy Life! ^__^

  29. Photo Cache Avatar

    congratulation on your 5th anniversary. here’s to more travel destinations and ton more of postings.

    1. nina Avatar

      Thanks! ๐Ÿ˜€

  30. Lloyd Avatar

    Just greeting your blog happy fifth. Your blog inspired me to start my own blog, and up until now, I’m still a big fan of yours.

    Here’s to more travels. Cheers! ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. nina Avatar

      Thanks Lloyd! ๐Ÿ˜€

  31. Tripper10 Avatar

    Happy 5th Year Anniversary po… ๐Ÿ™‚
    Sana marami pa kayong mapuntahan para marami rin kaming mabasa pa.. ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. nina Avatar

      Salamat! Marami akong napupuntahan, hindi lang nasusulat ๐Ÿ˜€

  32. karl Avatar
    karl

    Happy 5th!

  33. Mindanaoan Avatar

    happy anniversary!

  34. kim and mj Avatar

    Happy 5th year anniversary JustWandering! We wish you more beautiful moments and great fun!

    1. nina Avatar

      Thanks Kim and MJ! ๐Ÿ˜€

  35. Kench Alegado Avatar

    Happy 5th Blogaversary, kainggit ka naman po, buti ka pa kung san san na nakapunta hehe. I admire your experience as a blogger kase you travel and share your adventures to everyone and it is nice. God Bless you and your blog.

    1. nina Avatar

      Maraming salamat Kench!

  36. Ailene Avatar
    Ailene

    Congratulations to one of my favorite travel bloggers! More power (and more travels!), Nina! ๐Ÿ™‚

  37. *mOmOt KuYiT* Avatar

    happy anniversary nina! parang magjowa lang hehe… congratz! ๐Ÿ™‚

  38. markku Avatar

    Sorry late ang pagbati ko, pero congrats! Happy 5th! =)

  39. PinayTraveller Avatar

    WOw! COngratulations, Nina! Great job!

    Pauline

  40. jeylin Avatar

    This is kinda late but congratulations! Keep on traveling and writing about it. I learn a lot from you. God bless!

  41. Jonna, The BRATpacker Avatar

    I landed on your blog last year when I was gathering information about Malaysia. I am an unconventional traveler myself (avoiding tourist traps while trying to go to places on my own), and your feature on Malacca convinced me that it’s a beautiful place. Although I wasn’t able to visit the place last year due to time constraint, I will finally see it in 2 months. Thanks for your help, no matter how indirect it may be ๐Ÿ™‚

    I’ve been wanting to start my own travel blog but only found the means this year. Your travel stories definitely pushed me to start writing as well.

    Happy anniversary to your blog! Cheers to more travel stories! ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. nina Avatar

      Thanks! Enjoy your trip to Melaka, I hope it doesn’t disappoint!

  42. rachel Avatar
    rachel

    Nina my Australian Visa was refuse… so sad. may chance pa ba na mag apply ulit I booked my ticket on Dec 19. sabi ng agent ko apply daw kame ulit.

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