October 25 marks my 7th month on the road including El NIdo and 6th month just purely overseas. October 25 also marks the 2nd Anniversary of Flipnomad.com. A lot of things have changed, and I’m still gearing up myself for more changes and more challenges.
2011 has been very kind to me (despite of the challenges I’m facing right now). I left last March 2011 and stayed for a month in El Nido and flew to Beijing last April 25. From there on, I went to Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.
With your help, the blog has also achieved a lot of things. I also started writing for Yahoo! Travel last September and my niche sites are also starting to gain traction in the search engines.
The focus of Flipnomad is now centered to providing information that will help my readers go to the places that I’ve been to. You’ll see my expense report for every destination and I’m also documenting my overland routes to some countries. Bear in mind that I’m working on a tight budget because that’s all that I have. Feel free to splurge on your trips if you have the money for it. I hope though that you’d find them useful.
Meet the Nomads is also still ongoing and I hope it helps you learn more about your favourite travel bloggers and get inspiration from their stories.
Challenges
I’d like to say that it’s a walk in the park, but the truth is… it’s not that easy. There were days when my stress level was as high as Mt. Kinabalu because I wasn’t hitting my weekly income targets. Sometimes I just want to give up and go back to my corporate life and just tell myself “At least I’ve tried!”
But I am stubborn and I wouldn’t easily give up on something until I fully understand how it works. Luckily, there were some months that went beyond my expectation and I was able to save some of it so I could use it on leaner months (which include this month).
Sustainability and predictability of online income is my main challenge. It’s way different from being employed wherein I know how much to expect at the end of the month.
What’s Next???
I don’t know what the future holds for me so I won’t worry about it for now. These times are a bit tough, but I’ll know it’ll be fine soon.
Currently, If I’m not walking around the towns I’m visiting, I’m keeping myself busy by studying other ways to generate online income. Continuous learning is one of my main priorities for this trip. It’s like some sort of lifestyle experiment that I’m doing for myself.
Big Thanks
Big thanks to everyone who read , followed, tweeted, stumbled, shared my articles. And I hope that you still find value in the articles that I’m writing. And I also hope that you’ll continue to support my websites. Be friendly with the sharing buttons and keep on sharing them in Twitter, FB, Stumble Upon and other social media and bookmarking websites.
“I took this picture in Shangrila, China last 2009! I was captivated with the serenity and calmness of this old man as he looks towards the horizon.” – Flip
congratulations!
Happy BDay to your blog!
thanks!
Congratulations on 2 years of worthy and informnative blogging
congrats Flip!
hope the earnings are picking up on your niche sites, Flip!
@gael @ian @oman thanks for the encouragements…
@ed: it is but not that much though hehe… currently making a backup plan now
congrats Flip! na miss ko tuloy yung 1st logo mu.
ambilis ng panahon tlga.
We’re all cheering you on Flip! You have given some many valuable insights and we look forward to your next endeavors. Congrats and keep those itchy feet walking!
thanks mica and lois
Congratutions and keep on going, Flip!
we sure believe that youll get through these hard times flip. two years… nice. ill check again your posts on beijing as a i have a trip there early next year.
cheers to more years! patulong din ako sa mga online tips soon.
sure dong, just send me an email… enjoy your trip to beijing
congrats Flip! fly high!!! see you on the road soon!
Congratulations on TWO YEARS!! Here’s to many more to come!!
hey Flip, here’s a big hug for you as you celebrate your 2nd year blogging! hope to see you someday down the road
@dennis @raymond @ron thanks!!!
the path that you are taking could be tough and rough, yes. but the universe is an excellent practical joker. something bigger, i’m sure, is in stored for you flip! sail on! sail on!
cheers! to travel! to life!
thanks RV
Wow, congrats Flip!
Hope to be able to start working on niche sites too soon!
Hope I can chika you and @Edcel (feeling twitter lang) on getting that off the ground!
edcel is the man when it comes to niche sites hehe….
congrats and more power!
just continue to blog flip, and more years (of blogging) of traveling to you!