I feel like I shouldn’t have to tell people why having a blog is awesome. First, you get to have your very own space on the internet. It’s like when you finally got old enough to not have to share a room with your little brother any more, and you got one that was all yours and his stupid lego wasn’t everywhere and you didn’t have to put masking tape on the floor to show where your space was and where his was. Not that I ever did that…..
Second, you can keep in touch with friends and family. You can post pictures of how sweet your life is without all your asshole friends on Facebook making dumbass comments on your photos that your dad reads. Not that it ever happens to me….
Third, if you’re lucky like me, you get to meet some really cool people. I have made some amazing online friendships in the travel/expat community online and they’ve been great resources for me as I navigate through this part of my life. I really hope to do some more traveling soon and meet up with some of you guys or at least use your blogs as my Lonely Planet guide (I’m looking at you, Steph & Tony @ 20 Years Hence!!) But sometimes, real life people read your blog. And then they come to where you live and bring you cool shit.
First I had Ryan from New Zealand, who tweeted and emailed me before he arrived on Roatan to fun dive. He saw me at the bar but never said hi so we never officially met, but he sat at the table next to me and patted my dog and I remembered that, so it’s kind of like we hung out. Still getting you your Marine Park lionfish shirt dude, don’t worry!
Then I had Erin from the States, who emailed me before arriving on holiday here about which dive shop to do her open water certification at. We corresponded a ton, and when she got here she saw me at the bar (there is a theme here, people) and came up to say hi and we ended up drinking and dancing the night away! And she was kind enough to bring me allergy medication that I can’t get here which was pretty much the best. We tried to meet up again before she left so that I could get a photo with her but it never worked out…sorry Erin! Next time! Keep diving 🙂
Today I met up with Amy from Maine, who sent me the nicest email ever about how she thinks I am hysterical (smart lady) and really enjoyed reading my ramblings here at Cubicle Throwdown. She very thoughtfully asked what she could bring down for me when she headed down to Roatan for a diving holiday and I asked for a chocolate bar from Whole Foods (I am really missing good quality chocolate here). She rocked my world by showing up with EIGHT!!!
i had to take a photo right away cause i already plowed through one of these…not ashamed. |
I also remembered to take a photo like a good blogger, so here’s Amy and I on the beach in West Bay today:
after we took this, amy took one with her camera and said “now let’s get one for my blog…okay, i don’t have a blog. it’s just for my facebook.” haha! you are awesome amy! |
Thank you thank you thank you Amy for the chocolate! It was so great meeting you and Darren, hope you guys enjoy your holiday here. And I forgot to tell you that I really loved your shirt!
Other than having super cool people from internet-land come and meet me, things have been quiet around here. We are on our third day of losing power at night and I’m getting kind of tired of having to take sleeping pills because if you think I can go to sleep without the fan on in 37 C heat you are crazier than Amanda Bynes. PS. what in the hell is going on with that girl anyway? I feel out of the loop down here and when I actually spent 5 minutes reading some “entertainment news” all I saw was her being a deranged lunatic. What. The. Hell. Anyway I’m off to hopefully sweat off some of this chocolate I’ve been stuffing my face with… until next time, here’s a view of my ‘office’ as I’m typing this post:
the adventures of living in a third world country… unreliable power. at least i charged my laptop first this time. you learn to appreciate the little things! |
And while I am giving shoutouts on Cubicle Throwdown today, I want to take a time out to say a special hello to my mom’s friend Carol. I think she might be my most faithful reader, as she informs my mom on what’s going on here on the blog since my mom doesn’t check it very much 🙂 Carol recently got a tablet and is new to the online world, and I hear she has my site bookmarked which makes me happy! She also used to cut my hair for years when I was younger and has seen me through a shaved head to neon pink hair and everything in between. Thanks for reading Carol! I’ll see you in August!!
Vacay Girl says
I came close to meeting someone that I tweet with but our timing just seemed to be off. It would be cool to meet someone that either reads my blog or tweets with me. As soon as I ship off to MX (which OMG will be in like 3 more days!) maybe I'll meet up with someone who wants to go there on their vacation.
CubicleThrowdown says
I definitely recommend it, it has been great experiences for me all around!
Anonymous says
Rika, it was such a pleasure to meet you! You are a spark of positive energy 🙂
Amy from Maine
CubicleThrowdown says
You as well Amy!! Thank you again for the chocolate…. as I predicted, it didn't last long 🙂 Hope to see you next time!
The Guy says
Great review and good to see that you are getting so much enjoyment and interaction from your blog.
I've been running a travel blog for around 9 months and really enjoyed the experience. I've met and discussed it with a few readers and really appreciate it when they tell me how much they love it.
You seem to have met up with quite a few fellow bloggers which seems like a great experience.
By the way, I tried to tweet your article but your tweet button does not seem to work 🙁
CubicleThrowdown says
Hey!! Nice to see you around here again 🙂 You're right, I'm really enjoying the offline interaction from this blog as well. People have been great!
Oh no 🙁 I will have to ask my web designer about the tweet button… I'm kind of useless with that stuff! Thanks for the heads up!
Sarah Somewhere says
Ha ha hilarious! Gotta have some perks to being a blogger hey?! Keep rockin' the blogosphere Rika, I mean the pay is shite but the free chocolate is surely worth it!!!!
CubicleThrowdown says
Exactly! I'll take delicious chocolate any day!!
Casey @ A Cruising Couple says
We are just starting to feel connected to the online community, and it is an amazing thing! I'm definitely grateful for out blog bringing us new cyber-friends, and being able to meet a few of them in real life! Still waiting for that moment of fame when somewhen recognizes me from the blog, but I'll keep my fingers crossed ;-P
CubicleThrowdown says
Isn't it wonderful? There's so many people out there in this online community, I had NO idea when I started but now I'm thrilled to have so many friends out there in the blogosphere. You never know where or when you'll run into someone who recognizes you 🙂
Kim says
Yay Amy and yay chocolate. I bet she'll be a friend for life. And I agree, I also use Tony and Steph as a Lonely Planet guide (they're the best). Congrats on your growing fame 🙂
CubicleThrowdown says
Yep, she is a pretty great lady! And Tony & Steph are absolute rockstars at documenting their travels…I couldn't keep track of a budget like that if my life depended on it!
Mom says
Ghiradelli Chocolate????? Amy from Maine is one fine lady!
love from your Mom, who checks in now and then 😉
CubicleThrowdown says
Yes, and the others are from Whole Foods and Trader Joes and they were DELICIOUS!!
Haha I bet Carol told you I posted that and then you came and looked here 😉 love ya!
Steph (@ 20 Years Hence) says
Aw, Rika, thanks for the shout out! I really hope we get to meet up one day! Prior to starting 20YH, Tony & I had a book blog and had managed to meet up with someone through that when we went to San Francisco one year and that was such a blast, but I for whatever reason, never considered the possibility of doing the same with this site and on this trip. We have been really lucky to meet up with 5 groups of fellow travelers at this point and it has always been a highlight. We haven't had anyone come see us and bring us chocolate (jealous!), but I guess we do move around a bit too much for that to happen… One day! 😀
CubicleThrowdown says
I still think one day, somewhere, we are going to do a dive!!
Yeah, staying in one place helps a bit as far as having people bring you treats 🙂 But meeting up with fellow bloggers has been all good for me so far too!
Beth L says
I just started my blog a week ago, and I agree, having your own space on the internet RULES!! I've met quite a few people through Couchsurfing (just to meet up for coffee) and it's pretty awesome. I hope I can meet people through my blog, like you do. If I go to Honduras I'll give you a holler hehe 🙂
CubicleThrowdown says
Hey Beth! Thanks for the comment and congrats on starting a blog. I'm following you in my feed now so I look forward to seeing what you get up to 🙂
I've heard Couchsurfing is pretty great but I haven't personally used it yet. And please let me know if you make it this way!!
awalkontherun says
I totally creeped on a reporter in DC last year. I subscribed to his daily e-newsletter so I recognized him at a bar. I walked up to him and admitted to feeling like a cyber stalker, but he was cool about it and came to chat with us for a bit. Moral of the story: just say hi!
Sidenote, if any of your delicious chocolate is missing soon, it definitely was not me. I am definitely not planning to get Bobby to help me break into your place to steal it. Definitely not.
CubicleThrowdown says
Hahah that is awesome Amanda! Yes, people should always say hi. I love being recognized 🙂
Hmmmmm yes if any of that goes missing I will definitely be investigating Bobby!! I will bring you guys something good from the Bahamas for watching her! Any requests?
Jay says
People who bring gifts from 'home' are the best and I'm almost ashamed at how happy those little things make me!
I've met (in person) a few people via my blog. I didn't think anything of it when we set things up but it was my husband that was a bit hesitant. ("You're meeting some stranger from the internet? What if they kidnap you?") Luckily, that hasn't happened 😉
CubicleThrowdown says
I was soooooooooo happy to see chocolate from home! I totally understand!
Yeah, it's always a bit weird to be like "oh hey, just going to meet some people from the internet", but it seems to work out okay for the most part 🙂 It's nice that your husband is concerned about you getting kidnapped though hehe!