Welcome!

Today (July 30th) marks my eighth year of blogging on Rebecca Goes Rendezvous. Wild to believe just how much time has flown by, and just how many years of traveling I’ve done since then. This blog has seen plenty of changes in terms of writing style, design, and content, and I’m always looking to continue writing and growing in the blogging community.

For the past four years, I’ve been doing a Q&A on this blog in which you get to ask me questions pertaining to travel, blogging, and overall, myself. It’s a way for you to get to know me a bit better, outside of my usual travel posts. I’ve gotten a good handful of questions this year, so thank you to all of those who contributed! With that said, here are my answers, and here’s to more blogging in the years to come. 🙂

Eight Years of Blogging! (Q&A)

1. What has been your favorite vacation you have taken with your partner, and where would you two like to go next?

I’ll be cheesy and say that I’ve loved all the vacations I’ve taken with my partner ❤ However, my honorable mention would have to be Georgia (the US state). It was our first out-of-state trip together and despite the extremely hot and humid weather, we enjoyed our time strolling past 18th century Georgian homes and enjoying rich Southern food and sweet tea. Can’t wait for our next adventure together!

2. What is your favorite book you read this year? Where was it set?

My favorite book I’ve read so far this year would have to be The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng. Set in Penang, Malaysia, the story is wonderfully atmospheric as it blends historic fiction with romance and drama, which makes you want to keep reading more. I was actually visiting Malaysia while reading this book, so it holds a special memory for me. But as the year’s not over yet, I still have to see what other great reads are out there!

3. What’s your favorite place to visit in California?

California’s such a large and diverse state that it’s impossible to decide on a single favorite place to visit. However, I will say that I especially love the Central Coast for the small, seaside town vibes. I’d choose to visit this part of California again and again. ❤

4. Favorite romantic spots internationally (besides Paris) where you’d like to take your partner?

Too many, but if I had to narrow it down, I’d say Rome for the millennia of history and architecture, Singapore for the cityscapes and delicious hawker centre food, and Greece (especially islands like Santorini and Paros) for laidback summer vibes. Of course, there are too many to list, but I’d love for the two of us to visit these spots in the near future!

5. Place you’re looking forward to visiting most?

One major place I’m especially excited for is the Faroe Islands, a territory of Denmark that’s located in the middle of the ocean, between Iceland, Scotland, and Norway. If you look up photos online, the Faroe Islands are otherworldly and unimaginable, and it’s been high on my bucket list for years. I plan to visit in the next couple of years, so look out for my adventures there soon!

6. Have you ever regretted a trip?

I don’t ever regret taking a trip, as I’ve been able to visit and discover so many wonderful places on this Earth. However, I do regret how I went about planning and sightseeing a destination.

One example would have to be my first visit to London: I only dedicated two days to London, and two days was NOT enough to even see all the major landmarks; I was rushing from place to place trying to cram everything in. I also went in December when the sun set by 16h00, and it made for less daylight to sightsee. In addition, I visited when the euro-to-pound ratio was atrocious, so I was paying a lot more than otherwise. I regret not planning for a longer stay in London, and I wish I’d waited until springtime when it was lighter out, and for longer. However, I did end up revisiting London last spring, and the trip was a lot better!

7. If there was a movie “Rebecca Goes Rendezvous”, where would it be located?

Honestly, all over the world! As this is a travel blog, it would make sense to have the movie take place in destinations I’ve been to, maybe even aspire to visit!

Just to indulge, I’d like to have the film start in Los Angeles (where I was born and raised) and then have it hop around the different places I’ve been to and lived in, e.g. France, Argentina, Taiwan, and end with the character at the airport, ready to head to the next destination unknown to the audience.

8. If you had an all expense paid for year to travel- where would you go/what would you do?

As there are so many places I want to visit in the world, I don’t think I’d want to limit my year-long, all expense paid travel to a single destination. Therefore, I think it would be interesting to divide my time among different regions of the world.

For instance, it’d be awesome to start with two to three months in Australia and New Zealand, two to three months traveling throughout Southeast Asia (especially Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos), another month or two traversing Central Asia in countries like Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, a month in southeastern Europe (Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania), one to two months in sub-saharan Africa, e.g. Namibia, Tanzania, South Africa, and then end my last month in Antarctica. I have no idea if this would work, but that’d be the dream!

9. (from Facebook) How do you decide where to go next? Where do you research your travel info?

I follow a ton of travel-related content on Instagram, and often times, I come across a gorgeous destination photo that takes my breath away. From there, I scour travel blogs and Reddit forums of people who’ve gone to that place and once I gather enough information, I start planning when I want to visit, how to get there, where I should stay, and what activities/food I should try.

As a result, I have collected a bunch of places I plan to visit, enough to carry me for the next two to three years! As to how I decide the order of visiting each destination, it’s a combination of: the ideal season to visit (i.e. I prefer not to visit, say, Norway in the middle of winter!), whether prices for flights and accommodation are reasonable, and the amount of vacation days I have, as I don’t have unlimited PTO. It’s a lot of logistics, and while it doesn’t always end up perfectly, I ultimately enjoy the much-needed time away from work and get to explore a dream destination!

10. What is your blogging “routine” (if you have one)?

My blogging routine honestly comes in waves: there are months when I don’t write at all, and then all of a sudden, I dedicate a weekend or two to catching up on my writing– usually, I write enough that keeps the blog going for at least two to three months! Then it’s rinse and repeat.

As for engaging with bloggers in the community, I’m often on WordPress daily to see the posts you’ve published, read and comment on them. Even when I’m busy with work or travel, I still find time to sit down and go through my WordPress feed to check out all of your wonderful posts!

11. What main piece of advice would you give to someone very new to traveling?

One main piece of advice would have to be not to pack in a ton of activities in one day– this is something that has taken me a long time to accept, as I tend to want to cram a lot of things in whenever I travel. However, I’ve learned from experience that rushing from place to place not only is stressful, but also you don’t feel like you fully get to see and enjoy the sites and activities.

Even as a new traveler, it’s a good idea to have a selected few things you really want to do and see, and then a loose itinerary for the rest. And even if you didn’t get to see and do everything you’d originally wanted, as long as you’d seen the majority on your list, I think it’s a lot more fulfilling than not!

12. If you could only go to one country (other than the one you live in) for the rest of your life, where would it be and why?

As much as I have a love-hate relationship with the country, I would choose to live in France. I lived there for several years for work, and while there were aspects that frustrated me about living there as a foreigner, there were also great memories I had there. France might be a smaller country than the US, but it’s remarkable just how diverse it is in terms of geography, food, even the people. The universal healthcare, shorter work hours, and more vacation days are also things I can get on board with– I really don’t know if I’d actually choose to move back (especially with the political tensions rising this year), but we’ll have to see later down the line!

13. Best food you’ve ever had while on a trip?

There have been so many delicious eats that it’s difficult to just choose one, let alone from the past however many years I’ve been traveling. However, I will say that some recent incredible food have been nasi kandar in Penang, Malaysia (I still dream about that fried chicken…) and the freshest and softest pineapple bun with guava butter in San Francisco. I would seriously return to those destinations just to get them again!

14. What are your long-term travel goals?

Simple as it sounds, my long-term travel goals are just to keep traveling! I plan to do both domestic and international trips, and I aim to take one to two international trips per year, PTO-permitted. I especially want to visit more of my home country, as I haven’t visited nearly as many US states as I have visited countries! We’ll have to see where the next few years take me!

15. When and where did you find yourself stepping the most outside of your comfort zone while travelling?

The place I felt the most out of my comfort zone would have to be Morocco (2017). Besides being my first foray into Africa, it was also my first time really experiencing culture shock; this was the first time I actually felt uncomfortable, especially traveling solo as a woman. Lots of catcalls and vendors aggressively trying to get you to buy their stuff– I hadn’t encountered this level of harassment before, and it was really disconcerting and exhausting. It’s unfortunate, because Morocco is a beautiful country and the people, overall, were friendly and welcoming, but sadly, I didn’t have the best experience. I hope to give it another chance some day, but until then, I can say that I went through it and it has made me more of a savvy traveler.

16. How do you kindly answer the recurring questions that travellers receive: how many countries have you visited? What is your favourite country?

Even though I get these questions countless of times, I never get tired of answering them, as the answers change with each new country I visit. As of 2024, I have visited 59 countries (so close to 60!!!) on five continents. It’s actually quite amazing just how many places I’ve visited so far, and I’m beyond blessed that I’ve had the privilege and opportunities to see so much of the world. There’s no stopping or slowing down any time soon!

I have many favorites, but I will say that my new favorite country has got to be Singapore: I visited for the first time earlier this year, and it blew me away with just how picturesque it was, not to forget incredible hawker centre food, clean and effective public transport, and welcoming people. I enjoyed my time there so much that I want to return soon!

17. What is your favourite travel experience so far (e.g. a moment with a stranger, or excursion, etc)?

I have way too many from over the years, but I will say a recent favorite has got to be seeing penguins for the first time in Argentina. I visited in 2022, and I spent a day at Punta Tombo where I saw a massive Magellanic penguin colony. As penguins are my absolute favorite animal, I was so glad to finally see them in person and in the wild– definitely a bucket list dream to come!

18. Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years? That can be personal, professionally, travel goals wise, etc?

Without a doubt, I intend to keep on traveling in the next 5 years: I hope to eventually visit more far-flung destinations, like central Asia (e.g. Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan), Australia, and New Zealand. I also plan to, hopefully, find another job that will make me happier and, personally, continue to travel and grow with my partner. Simple goals, but goals nonetheless!

…and that’s about it for the Q&A! Once again, thanks to all who asked questions, and I hope you enjoyed reading my answers. Thanks for reading, folks! Have yourself a wonderful day 🙂

Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

— Rebecca

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Published by Rebecca

Blogger, world traveler, poet, foodie, part-time penguin. Welcome!

77 thoughts on “Eight Years of Blogging! (Q&A)”

  2. Congratulations Rebecca and this was a fun read. I enjoyed your answers, especially about your favourite travel experience so far and I loved your 5 year goals! They mirror my goals as I only want a life of more ease, work-life balance and hopefully, finally, some long term travel for my partner and I. Cheers to 8 more years of blogging and beyond.

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    1. Thanks, Elle! And thanks for contributing questions! Five years is both a blip and an eternity away, and a lot can happen until then. We’ll have to see what happens along the way!

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    1. Yes, I believe we’ve been blogging friends for several years, especially during the worst of the pandemic! Penguins are absolutely adorable, and it was so special seeing them in the wild in Argentina. Thanks for reading!

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    1. I’m honored! I remember being one of your first followers, and I enjoy reading your posts on Peru and London these past few years. Thanks for stopping by and your continuous support!

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  10. Woohoo! Happy blogaversary, Rebecca. I love your answer to #8 and I feel like I’m starting to very much identify with your answer to #11 too. It’s not in my nature to slow down, but it’s much more realistic and enjoyable.

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    1. Thanks, Diana! I agree: as I’ve gotten older, I’m realizing the importance of slowing down and savoring the moments that come along with it. Makes all the difference when enjoying life!

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  13. Happy Blogaversary, Rebecca! Wishing you many more adventures to come! 🥂I’ve enjoyed reading your answers, especially how you imagine a movie about your blog would be like. Would you consider creating a travel vlog?

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  15. Congratulations on your blogversary🙏🏿😁
    I’ve especially loved your answer on qn 7. The indulging part on how the movie would be. That end was 🙌🏿
    Then about your experience in Morocco, so sorry to hear that happened to you. I come from Africa, East Africa to be exact and the vendors thing wanting you to buy their stuff is quite common. Didn’t know it was in Morocco too. But should you come back to Africa (you should by the way😁), expect it could happen again but what I usually do is to politely but firmly turn them down. They tend to leave you alone. And they don’t mean bad either. Just the hustle of looking for the money gets them to that point.
    Otherwise, congratulations once again, and I look forward to your next blogs especially should you visit the mama-land again (Africa☺️)

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    1. Thank you! I appreciate your insight into life (i.e. vendors) in Africa. I am aware it’s a cultural and economic thing, but it’s still a huge cultural shock coming from the West! I hope to return in the years to come; I’m particularly keen on visiting Tunisia, Namibia, and other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, so we’ll have to see! Thanks again for reading 🙂

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  16. Huge congratulations on 8 years of blogging, Rebecca! Here’s to many more years of travelling and writing posts. I very much enjoyed reading all the answers, thanks for including my question! Morocco was the first place where I felt the most out of my comfort zone, too – even on my recent trip in spring, I still struggled with the chaos and noise. Thanks for sharing, and have a wonderful day 🙂 Aiva xx

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    1. Thanks, Aiva! And thanks for sharing your experience traveling in Morocco; it’s a beautiful country, although it’s a place not for the faint of heart! Have a wonderful day and safe travels 🙂

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  17. Happy 8th year of blogging! You are fortunate you get to fulfill travel dreams. May you get to explore the world more and reach the destinations planned in the next few years. I dream PTOs are unlimited 😅

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    1. Thank you! While it’d be the dream to have unlimited PTO, at least in the US, it has its pros and cons, so even though my PTO is limited, it does come with its perks! Here’s to more travel down the line 🙂

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  21. Here’s to many more years of blogging! I totally can relate with No. 10. I tend to write blog posts months in advance, and have a few weeks without writing afterward. I hope you’ll get to see the countries you most want to visit soon, Rebecca.

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  22. Congrats on 8 years! I’ve been trying to tell myself that exact planning advice (slow down, you can’t see everything, etc.) for the last several weeks as I plan our 2025 summer travels. It’s so hard!! As for the Faroe Islands, another blog buddy of mine just published a trio of posts about her recent time there. Here’s part one if you’re interested:

    The Land of Maybe – Part One

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    1. Thank you so much! Yes, it’s a hard habit to kick, in order to slow down and appreciate the journey along the way. I greatly appreciate the Faroe Islands’ recommended post; I’ll give it a read, and I’m sure it’ll be very useful when planning my trip over there!

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  36. Congratulations on eight years of blogging, Rebecca! That is quite an achievement, and eight years is a long time to be blogging. I really enjoyed reading the responses here, and some candid responses here. I so agree on your advice on not cramming too many things in especially when you are new to traveling. Even as a more seasoned traveler, having a list of things you want to do doesn’t mean you have to do it all. You get to spend more time and take it easy on the places you choose to visit. I also love that you say you don’t ever regret a trip. I guess that’s a part of traveling, sometimes you really don’t plan well as when you get there, things take you by surprise or the places are not what you expect. And you just have to go with it and make the most of it 😊

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    1. Couldn’t agree more! I think it’s my personality to always want to “go, go, go” whenever I’m on a trip: especially when I travel from far and have limited time, I want to see and do as much as possible. However, I also now value just taking my time, as otherwise would burn me out and make it a less-enjoyable experience. It’s something I’m still learning to change about myself, but whatever I’ve changed so far has made my recent travels all the more fulfilling!

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      1. I guess you like to make the most of the adrenalin you get when you travel, Rebecca 😄 But good that you also know how to pace yourself and take you time to soak in the moments. Enjoy traveling and your next trip ❤

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