The Mystery Blogger Award #3

So, it’s April! We’ve just passed the first quarter of 2020. I hope everyone’s safe and doing well despite the current situation covid-19 has caused.

Anyways, let’s get into some good news.

I was tagged for the Mystery Blogger Award! This is just so sweet and so huge thanks to Carl @ The Pine-Scented Chronicles. Do visit and follow his blog (if you haven’t yet!) specially if you’re a book-lover. He shares very interesting books and reviews. He also writes about his travels so I’m pretty sure you’ll enjoy his blog.

So, the Mystery Blogger Award was created by Okoto Enigma to recognize “amazing blogs that haven’t been discovered” yet. It is the original creator’s aim, through this award nomination, to “create a friendly community and build a link between bloggers in the blogosphere; as everyone gets nominated and they too can spread the fun by nominating more people for the award.” (I literally just copy-pasted this from your post, Carl, sorry!)

Let’s have a look at the rules and and get started, shall we?

The Rules

• Put the award logo/image on your blog.
• List the rules.
• Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
• Mention the creator of the award and provide a link as well.
• Tell your readers 3 things about yourself.
• You have to nominate 10 – 20 people.
• Notify your nominees by commenting on their blog.
• Ask your nominees any 5 questions of your choice; with one weird or funny question (specify).
• Share a link to your best post(s).

3 Things About Me

1. I play the drums. It’s the only musical instrument I was able to learn how to play. I started to try learning the guitar last year but failed to continue due to work and life, you know, but I still intend to learn though.
2. If given the chance, I would love to attend a culinary school.
3. I haven’t been back to my hometown for 11 years now.

Carl’s Questions:

1. Is there a country you want to visit because of what you’ve read in novels? What country is it and why do you want to visit it?

Japan. At first, I only wanted to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the two atomic bomb sites during the second world war. I love history and the most interesting parts for me are the war years. Don’t get me wrong but I have a keen interest reading the war parts of history. Over the years, I became more interested in everything about Japan, the people, the food, Japanese literature, culture, etc. So I hope to visit Japan someday.

2. Do you always finish a book you’ve started? Why or why not?

I used to always finish any book I’ve started even though it’s not as interesting as I expect it to be. But since last year, I told myself that I should learn to dump it if it doesn’t entertain me anymore, there’s still a lot of books out there that’s worth my time reading. 🙂

3. The world of literature is very broad. What particular genre or what part of literature do you want to read more (e.g. historical fiction, Asian or Japanese literature)?

Russian literature and graphic-novels.

4. Tell us more about why you write and what are your inspirations when you are writing.

I write because it’s better to just write whatever comes to mind rather than hearing it straight from my big mouth. Not that I write well, no, far from it. But I find it safer to say things by writing them down.

5. Choose a literary genre that can sum up your life or who you are. Why does this genre exemplify you?

Not sure how to answer this at the moment but I’d say it’s a combination of rom-com, drama and suspense. The few people who know me very well will understand this. 🙂

The Nominees:

I’m nominating/tagging the following people this time:

Kerri McBookNerd

Mani

Cassie

Taruna

Kira Jeanette

Caz

Amankumar000

Accidental Blogger

Pascale

Sohanpreet Kaur

My Questions for the Nominees:

1. If you can ask the president of your country just one question, what would you ask?

2. What’s the oldest thing you own?

3. What is your least favorite thing about humanity?

4. What language would you like to learn and why?

5. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

My Best Post

I haven’t really thought about what my best post was so I’ll instead share the link of one of my favorites: What Did You Want to be When You Grow Up? It is one of my favorites because I get to interact with people more than usual and we started emailing and stuff and most of them are my really great online friends now.

Advertisement

Real Neat Award

Good day, homo sapiens! I am doing another blog award post today and it’s the Real Neat Blog Award! This is a first for me and I am so very thankful to Sadje for this! For my blog to be recognized/nominated by other bloggers for awards such as this one certainly gives me great joy! I am flattered/honored to be noticed. Do visit, follow (if you haven’t yet) and enjoy Sadje’s writings on her blog Keep It Alive.

Now let’s get started!

The rules for the real neat blog award

1. Display the award logo.
2. Thank the blogger who nominated you and post a link to their blog.
3. Answer the questions from the blog who nominated you.
4. Nominate seven to ten bloggers.
5. Ask them seven questions.

Sadje’s Questions:

1. Where does blogging fit in your life?

I don’t set a schedule when to write for my blog, I just write whenever I can — a haiku, an elfchen, book reviews or whatever comes to mind then put it on schedule on my blog. I sometimes write when I have free time in the office or when I’m in a coffee shop alone to think and unwind.

2. Have you ever tried to do:

         a) Paragliding?

Yes. I have tried paragliding twice in Georgia and both times were really, really fun and amazing. I will do it again when I get the chance.

         b) Horse riding?

Yes. I started riding horses when I was 8. Fell from a horse when I was 14, didn’t ride it again until I was 20. But since I worked abroad, I didn’t really get the chance to ride again. However, while in Jordan for vacation last 2016, I was able to ride again though only for a very short time.

         c) Deep sea diving?

No. Never. I am not comfortable with water so the idea of trying such and the likes of it is a big no for me.

       3. Do you celebrate your birthday?

Not really but my friends prepare some dinner or get-together on my birthday so they celebrate. Haha! But I personally prefer to just let the day go as any usual day. I do appreciate my friends’ efforts though!

       4. If you have free time at hand, would you go for a walk or a long drive?

A long drive sounds more fun but as I grow older, I prefer going for a walk. It’s more relaxing and I get to think about life and things in general in a better perspective.

       5. Your best friend calls in the middle of the night and asks you to meet them at a deserted place, will you go? BTW, this friend has known to pull pranks!

Yes, I will go. It’s alright to get pranked than to regret in the end that I didn’t go. Who knows, my best friend might have really needed me by her side at that moment, right? So yes, anytime! 🙂

My nominees:

1. Accidental Blogger
2. Shweta Suresh
3. Earthwalking
4. Elganspo
5. Mariam Shittu
6. Ayesha
7. Chocoviv

My Questions:

1. As a child, what did you want to be when you grow up?
2. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
3. What is your favorite holiday?
4. Which famous person would you like to be best friends with?
5. What’s the one place you’d really love to travel to?
6. What is the last book you’ve read?
7. What’s the most exciting thing in your life right now?

There you have it! Once again, big thanks to Sadje for this nomination. Congratulations to all the nominees, I hope you find time to get to it, I’m so excited to read your answers! And for everyone reading this, consider yourselves nominated, too, or you can answer the questions in the comment section if you want to so feel free, I’d be delighted to read them.

Have a wonderful day, homo sapiens!

Sunshine Blogger Award #9

Big thanks to Nen & Jen for my 9th Sunshine Blogger Award! Nen & Jen’s site goes by the same blog name. It’s one of the few blogs I’ve chanced upon and followed right away because of interesting contents and friendly blogger’s attitude. I am so glad to be interacting with them, they are really very friendly so do make sure to check on their blog as well. You won’t be disappointed, I assure you!

Let’s get started!

The Sunshine Blogger Award is given to those who are creative, positive and inspiring while spreading sunshine to the blogging community.

The Rules:

• Thank the blogger(s) who nominated you in a blog post and link back to their blog.
• Answer 11 questions the blogger asked you.
• Nominate 11 blogs to receive the award and write for them 11 new questions.
• List the rules and display the sunshine blogger award logo in your post and/or on your blog.

Nen & Jen’s Questions:

1. What was the first book you really obsessed over?

 

I got really obsessed with The Kite Runner. I wasn’t even done reading the book at that time but I talked about it to literally anyone. It is one of my all-time favorites and one of the books that really touched my heart so deeply. I think most people I know knew about this book because of me.

2. Which book was your last 1-star rating?

I haven’t rated any book with 1-star. The lowest rating I’ve ever given a book was 2-stars.

3. Name your ultimate (specific) book + food/drink pairing.

The Kite Runner + black coffee (and tissues)

A Gentleman in Moscow + black coffee & pumpkin pie

The Book Thief + black coffee

4. Do you ever read a book without reading its synopsis?

 

No, never, except very recently for Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse. One of my best friends loved it so much, we actually agree almost 100% on books so I thought of just diving straight to it. I ended up disappointed, though, so I won’t do it again.

5. What is your favorite type of blogging post?

I like reading book reviews, book tags, travels or any random experiences the blogger is sharing.

6. What is your least favorite book troupe?

Love triangles. (Does that count?)

7. Who was your favorite childhood author?

As a child, I didn’t really care much about the authors of the books I’ve read so I didn’t have a favorite author then.

8. Do you like to write or only like to read?

I like to write but I don’t have the talent to do so but I try to, sometimes a haiku, an elfchen, and some “reviews” about the books I’ve read.

9. If you can turn any book into a film, which would it be?

 

At the moment, I would really love Pachinko turned into a movie or a TV series. It’s a very interesting and informative book that I would love non-readers to know about.

10. What genre do you wish you could read?

I would love to try to read a graphic novel.

11. What made you decide to get into book blogging?

Same reason why I started this blog: boredom. A few years ago, there weren’t too much work to do in the office and I was on a reading hiatus. So to kill time I thought of writing about the books I’ve read. This eventually got me back into reading again.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

The hardest part in this awards is choosing the nominees. Consider yourselves tagged all of you and here are my nominees this time:

1. Mani
2. Jessica
3. Rebecca
4. Mohamadha
5. Kristina
6. Diana
7. Sammie
8. Emma
9. Yvo
10. Lisa
11. Jen

My Questions:

1. What attracts you to a book?
2. What genres do you love to read about?
3. Paperback or Kindle?
4. Your perfect reading spot.
5. Your perfect company while reading.
6. Your all-time favorite book character.
7. What movie adaptation do you think was better than the book itself?
8. What do you think of classics?
9. A popular book you dislike.
10. What is your favorite book quote?
11. Recommend one book you want me to read.

Thanks again Nen & Jen for the nomination, I enjoyed answering your questions. 🙂 Until next time!

I’m looking forward to all of your answers, the comment box is yours again, homo sapiens! Have a wonderful day and week ahead!

Sunshine Blogger Award #8

As usual, I’m so very late for this again. But wow! Thanks a lot, Paragtak! Know that I am delighted about this and I appreciate it so much. You can visit his blog here.

The Rules:

1. Thank the person who nominated you and provide a link back to their blogging sites.
2. Answer the questions.
3. Nominate 11 other bloggers and ask them 11 new questions.
4. Notify the nominees about it by commenting on one of their blog posts.
5. List the rules and display the sunshine blogger award logo on your site or on your post.

Now I get to choose and answer 10 questions so read on:

1. One dream you can never forget?

Staring at myself inside a coffin.

2. What is your favorite word?

Darling.

3. What’s your favorite food?

I like most foods but my current favorite, buttered chicken and butter nan.

4. If you were given a chance to meet three blogging friends, who and why?

I’d love to meet all my followers and those I follow but if I get to choose three for now, I’d love to meet:

1. Chuck – https://thereluctantpoetweb.wordpress.com/ – the sweetest and truest friend I’ve met on WP.
2. Richa – http://iscriblr.com/ – she’s so full of positivity.
3. Ana – https://momlifewithchiari.com/ – I think she can be one great friend.

5. Who is your favorite blogger?

I don’t have a favorite. I follow different bloggers for different reasons.

6. Most adventurous thing I’ve done?

Hmmm… a lot but one of the most recent one is going cross countries with people whom I never knew the names until we’ve landed to the first destination.

7. Have you ever tried to impress someone but failed miserably?

No. I don’t think I have to impress anyone or anybody…

8. One thing that you never ever wanna do?

I never ever wanna stop traveling.

9. One animal I’m most afraid of?

Spiders.

10. How much do you enjoy blogging?

It’s more of how much I enjoy reading other blog posts, you know! Sometimes I read something that really cracks me up, sometimes I get to read something really sad. So I enjoy reading blogs because of the feeling I get when I read them and the lessons or new things I learn from them.

My nominees are:

https://revengeofeveforeveranonymous.wordpress.com/

https://sohelitasnim.wordpress.com/

https://inspirechange27.wordpress.com/

https://thoughtfulhues.wordpress.com/

https://thinkingclearly483645316.wordpress.com/

https://fromakshayasmind.wordpress.com/

https://beutiflee.wordpress.com/

https://lauraroettigerbooks.com/ 

https://fightmsdaily.com/

https://chechewinnie.wordpress.com/

https://realisticbeginner.wordpress.com/

My questions for the nominees are:

1. What were you really into when you were a kid?

2. What’s the most useful thing you own?

3. Who in your life brings you the most joy?

4. What’s the most beautiful place near your house?

5. One thing you bring with you everywhere you go.

6. Has anyone ever saved your life?

7. What are you best at?

8. Suggest one book you think I should read.

9. Suggest one movie or series you think I should watch.

10. What’s your all-time favorite song?

11. What is the most useful app on your phone?

There you go! Sorry again, Paragtak for doing this too late and thank you once again! 🙂

I hope the nominees have the time to do this, I’m so looking forward to your answers!

Have a very wonderful day, homo sapiens! 🙂

Sunshine Blogger Award #7

As usual, I’m very late for this again! I hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long, Kavita! Thank you so much for the nomination, I do appreciate it a lot. Do visit her blog here (and thank me later) if you haven’t yet.

I guess everyone knows the rules already. So I’ll just start answering the questions right away.

1. Museum or movie?

Definitely a museum! 🙂

2. Favorite author and why?

https://electricliterature.com/haruki-murakami-to-pen-advice-column-for-fans-b8e9d3bf0648

I have several but Haruki Murakami definitely tops my list. Norwegian Wood is the very first book of his that I’ve read. It blew my mind! I have never read anything like that before, anything Murakami-like! Since then, my fascination of him and his books grew and I intend to read all his works.

3. Favorite music group?

Eraserheads, Green Day, The Beatles, Abba, Maroon 5, Bee Gees, Backstreet Boys. I can’t choose just one. 🙂

4. Favorite book?

Kafka on the Shore (and all Murakami books, actually), The Kite Runner, Stoner, A Little Life, The Book Thief, Unbroken and many more. There can’t only be one.

5. Do you write because you want to or because you have to?

Well, most of the time because I want to since writing is a very good outlet when I’m feeling too much (good or bad) and I write because I have to for the very same reason.

6. Why did you start blogging?

Boredom.

7. If you could live at any other time in history, when would it be and why?

I’d choose to live during the war years. I’ve read many books and articles and watched some documentaries about the war, it’s probably the worst years to live but well, I don’t know, I’m constantly drawn to the idea of living during those times whenever I’m asked. I also want to live during the years Jesus Christ was still on earth.

8. What is your favorite place to visit?

I enjoy visiting amusement parks, museums, zoos, bookstores, flea markets, thrift shops and libraries.

9. Favorite quote:

You don’t have to compromise convictions to be compassionate. ~Rick Warren

10. Library or sports arena?

Library! But I’d choose sports arena for a chance to see Roger Federer play! 😉

11. Famous person you admire most and why?

Ferdinand Marcos. He’s one heck of a president, very smart and polarizing. He can recite the 1935 & 1973 Philippine constitution. He’s the best president the Philippines’ ever had. There was discipline in the country during his regime. Economic growth and stability was better then. You can write a book about his achievements and what he has done for the country, unfortunately, more people choose to focus on the negative.

My nominees are:

https://pascaleshealingjourney.com/

https://handwritten427.wordpress.com/

https://omabdalrahmaan.wordpress.com/

https://imelma.wordpress.com/

https://introvertsoulsway.wordpress.com/

https://avoicefromiran.wordpress.com/

https://randomthoughts29056.wordpress.com/

https://wordsinthelight.com/

https://aethist.wordpress.com/

https://mariamshittu.com/

https://rothpoetry.wordpress.com/

The questions I’m looking forward for them to answer are:

1. What is something popular that annoys you?
2. What did you do on your last vacation?
3. What’s your favorite number and why?
4. What do you bring with you wherever you go?
5. What smell brings back great memories?
6. What are you best at?
7. What TV series are you watching these days?
8. What book are you currently reading?
9. What was your first smart phone?
10. Do you prefer traveling around or with a group?
11. How do you plan to make the world a better place?

There you go! I hope the nominees would have the time to do this… And to everyone reading this, feel free to answer them, too!

Thanks again, Kavita! 🙂

Sunshine Blogger Award #6

Big thanks to Indishe for my 6th Sunshine Blogger Award! It took me quite a while to accept and do this but here it is now! Thanks a lot! Do visit her beautiful blog if you haven’t yet, just click here.

Here are my answers to Indishe’s questions.

1. What is your secret desire?

I do have several secret desires and I intend to keep them as secrets. 😉

2. What would you like to be in the next birth?

I would love to be a dolphin in my next life.

3. What one thing would you like to change?

If I could change one thing in the world, I will make the rich, poor and the poor, rich.

Below are my nominees:

Jyoti

Roth Poetry

Realistic Beginner

Darol D’Cruz

LittleMissSunshine

My questions for the nominees are:

1. What do you do to get rid of stress?

2. What’s your favorite number and why?

3. Who brings the most joy in your life?

4. If you had to change your name, what would it be?

5. What are you best at?

I’ll limit it to 5 questions this time. I hope the nominees would accept and do this! And to everyone who wants to answer the questions, feel free to do so in the comments! 🙂

Thanks once again, Indishe!

Have a wonderful day, homo sapiens! 🙂

Sunshine Blogger Award #5

I’m so delighted to be nominated for another Sunshine Blogger Award and this time from a very kind, young lady’s soul from Nigeria. Thanks a lot, Elly and I’m sorry for doing this way too late. I do appreciate this a lot, thank you very much.

The Rules:

1. Display the sunshine Blogger Award logo in a post on your blog
2. Thank the blogger who nominated you, put a link back to their blog.
3. Answer the 10 Questions.
4. Nominate 5-10 bloggers who you feel deserve this award.
5. Let the nominees know that you’ve nominated them and provide them with questions to answer.

Here are Elly’s questions together with my answers:

1. Name and give a pic of your favorite plant.

Tulips! I love tulips. Its symmetry, it looks almost perfect. Someone once told me that tulips can be used as a replacement for onion in some recipes but I’m not so sure. Better google it. Haha! But why eat them? They’re so beautiful to be eaten!

Photo credit to: http://scribblesandphotos.blogspot.com/2013/04/my-tulip-gardens.html

2. One thing about yourself.. you want to change.

Hmmm, this is a bit difficult to answer but as of the moment, maybe my being too friendly. I want to be less friendly. I’m starting to hate humans. 😉

3. Name your favorite band and link to one of your favorite song.

I have several favorites. I know you asked for one but I’ll give you two. 🙂

First, a popular 90s local band back in the Philippines – Eraserheads. One of their songs I like the most is With A Smile.

Second, I also enjoy listening to Green Day. And one of my favorite songs from them is 21 Guns.

4. Morning or night walks.

Oh, it doesn’t really matter. 😉

5. Simple living or a busy one.

Nowadays, I prefer busy. It keeps me away from overthinking, from being sad and doing/thinking not-so-nice things.

6. Trip with your friends for a whole day or a talk with your best friend.

It’s been a long time since I’ve last seen my best friend so I’d choose a talk/conversation with him. (Yes, him.)

7. Do you know any other language besides your mother tongue. If yes, then say hello in that language.

안녕 -> Annyeong! (Korean)

Marhabah (Arabic)

But I am not fluent in both languages. Just the very basics.

8. Phone or Television with your cousin.

I’m never close with any of my cousins (in fact, I don’t really know them!) and I’m not very fond of using phones or watching television. So neither.

9. Reading or writing.

Definitely reading!

10. Arrogant or a calm up person.

I’m allergic to arrogance so a calm/relaxed individual will do me good.

The Nominees:

Prakhar Bansal

Shaloo Walia

G.c

Shreya

Mvadi

Mbura

And everyone reading this!

The questions I’d love to know the answers to from the nominees (and to all of you reading) are:

1. What’s your favorite food?
2. What makes you roll your eyes whenever you see or hear it?
3. What job do you think you’ll be really good at?
4. What’s your recent favorite song?
5. What languages do you wish you could speak?
6. What book are you reading nowadays?
7. Suggest a book you think I should read.
8. How different was your life 5 years ago?
9. What was the last thing you Googled?
10. What one question would you like to ask me?

I hope the nominees have time to do this as I’ll be happily waiting for your answers! 🙂 Thanks once again, Elly! ‘Til the next one!

Happy day, homo sapiens! 🙂

The Mystery Blogger Award #2

This came as a surprise several weeks back but I didn’t have time to do it but… it’s always better late than never, I guess, and so huge thanks to Elly, for nominating me and sorry for waiting so long! 😉 She’s a sweet girl from Nigeria who wants to be a superhero! You can visit her blog here.

Let’s start off with The Rules:

1. Put the award logo/image on your blog.
2. List the rules.
3. Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
4. Tell your readers three things about yourself.
5. Answer the questions you were asked.
6. Nominate 6-7 other bloggers.
7. Ask the nominees any five questions of your choice.

Three Things About Myself:

Hmm… I can’t think of anything! Haha! Well…

1. I’m not a big fan of social media. I’ve only started using Twitter a few months back and I don’t seem to know how to use it properly. Ha! I don’t have a Facebook account and very inactive on Instagram.

2. I love to talk. When I meet someone I really enjoy talking to, I can talk with them for hours on end.

3. I value space and freedom.

Here are my answers to Elly’s questions:

1. What’s your inspiration for writing?

As I always say, I don’t really consider myself a writer though writing has been a very big part of my life. I mostly write when I’m feeling too much about something or someone. I only get to write things that I’ve seen or experienced. I daydream a lot but I can’t put them into words. 😉 Sounds weird or strange maybe? But yeah, whatever I’m feeling or experiencing are I guess, what inspires me to write.

2. Who is your favorite superhero?

Wolverine. I’m anti-violence but I like his use of deadly force. 😅 I, myself, am a rebel and he brings out the rebel in us.

Magneto. I like his ability to control magnetic fields.

3. Wanna explore the world or sit back and relax?

Definitely explore the world. I’ve been to a few countries for the past nine years and traveling and exploring places I haven’t been to before are truly wonderful, enlightening, heartwarming and sometimes heart-breaking experiences. When I become rich, traveling is top priority!

4. Summer with rain or winter with spring?

Hmm… I would choose winter and spring. I want to see snow. And spring because in my hometown, it always almost seems like spring time because flowers bloom almost all year ’round.

5. Movie or hangout with your friends?

I’m not really into movies but here in Kuwait, hanging out with friends means watching a movie. 🙂 Whether in the cinema or in someone’s apartment, there has got to be movies though I don’t really pay much attention to it.

Now here are my nominees:

Hiral N.

Himani Thakur

Realistic Beginner

Rudraa

Mvadi

Shreya

Elganspo

My questions for the nominees are:

1. What is something you will never do again?
2. What is something everyone should do at least once in their lives?
3. What are you most looking forward to in the next five years?
4. What’s the best thing that happened to you today?
5. What one thing do you really want but can’t afford?

There you go! I hope the nominees will find time to accept this, I can’t wait to read your answers! And once again, thanks a lot, Elly! 🙂

Happy day, homo sapiens! 🙂