… later, I sit down to write my annual blog birthday / anniversary post. There’s a touch of disbelief (and a quiet sense of pride too) that I’m still blogging considering how much the blogging scene in general and travel blogging in particular has changed in the 9 years since I began this blog on June 2, 2010.
From a small group of bloggers led by their love for travel and writing to the marketing and social media driven influencer type of travel blogging today, there has been a paradigm shift. The initial dismay at the changing atmosphere gave way to angst and then despair, followed by resignation and finally the inevitable acceptance.
This annual blog birthday/anniversary post is an opportunity to look back at the blogging year that was. An opportunity to reflect and share the highs & the lows, the fun times and the not-so-fun times, the learnings and the unlearnings as well. And as the title suggests, some numbers and the statistics as well — from the number of posts and words written to page views and spam comments !
But the statistics don’t really reveal the full picture.
For instance, while it says how much I wrote it does not reveal how inconsistent I have been — there were phases when I wrote like someone possessed and there were also phases where both creativity and the will to blog took a long and seemingly unending vacation. Or the fact that while I have not been blogging regularly in the last two years hasn’t meant that I have not been writing. In fact, this year has been the year of contributing to the column on Indian Aesthetics in Domus India — 3 solo articles and 4 co-authored articles with fellow blogger, Anuradha Shankar. (Do check out the full details from the Publications Page on this blog)
It has also been a year of writing blogposts, but not publishing them. At last count, there are almost 50 unpublished posts in various stages of completion in that Drafts Folder; I have only just started pulling out posts from there and publishing them one by one. But most importantly, the numbers do not reveal how quiet and uneventful Year 9 of blogging was. Hopefully, Year 10 will see more action with posts in the Drafts Folder getting published and also travels (both completed and upcoming) getting written here.
Till that gets done, may I share recommendations of 9 of my favourite posts from 9 categories in honour of 9 years of blogging? If you haven’t read these posts, I urge you to do so for each of them are close to my heart for various reasons.
Travel: Sifting through the sands of time in the Thar
Travel Shot: The confluence of blue and grey (Karcham)
Book Review: Puranic tales for cynical people and humour for all by Parashuram
Film Review: Because the private is public: Turning home movies into documentaries
Mumbai Lens: The painted tree
My “now” song: Ambwa talay dola rakh de niharwa
People: To Rachel teacher, with love
Just wondering…: Travel, travellers and travel blogging… Some thoughts
A big thank you, dear reader, for every like, comment and share; for pointing out typos and errors, and for inspiring me every single day. This blog wouldn’t it be what it is today without you and I appreciate the time you take to read every post.
So, this was my 9 years of blogging with 548 posts comprising 5,10,893 words, 61 videos, 2 audio, and 3,803 images, which have elicited 7,63,787 page views, 13,741 comments, and 99,663 spam comments.
Year 10 of blogging has officially begun… 🙂
The Blogging Journey… Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Year 6 | Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 | Year 10 |
Join me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram as I explore the world around me and share “My Favourite Things” with you.
My Favourite Things 
Congratulations! really enjoy checking your blog – whenever you feel like posting.
Looking forward to Year 10
LikeLiked by 1 person
Welcome to my blog, Lisa R-R. Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting and your wishes. 🙂
LikeLike
Lovely to receive your blog posts again and feel your love for your country Sudhagee. I visited India many times over the last 40 years and never ever get tired of it. Thank you so much ( I’m a New Zealand’er!!). Many Blessings. Yolanda xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much for the wishes, Yolanda. I am yet to visit New Zealand and it is definitely on my list of places to visit sooner, rather than later. Fingers crossed.
LikeLike
Congratulations.. and here’s to many more adventures and stories…
Just realised I have never done a celebratory post of any kind… Something to ponder about 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much for the wishes, Aarti.
I think you have been blogging longer than me. Maybe it is time to do a celebratory post or two. 🙂
LikeLike
Congrats, Sudha on the completion of nine wonderful years of blogging! Every post researched, embellished with great photographs and enhanced by your unique perspectives. And the statistics are also equally impressive. Congrats to both you and Anuradha for getting published in print too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Zephyr, no blog anniversary post is complete without your comment, wishes and blessings. You have been my biggest supporter and have always inspired me. I cherish your friendship and support like no ther. Thank you so much !
LikeLiked by 1 person
Of course I will be here to cheer you on, year after year. Hugs!
LikeLike
Congratulations Sudha! And I am enjoying your recent spurt of posts. Congratulations also to being published on Domus. Hope to see more posts from you in the 10th Year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Lata, for your encouragement and comments always. I’m keeping my fingers crossed and hoping that the recent streak in blogging continues and all the posts I have written will eventually see themselves on the blog.
Thank you once again ! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
When I look back on my blogging journey, I too have been inconsistent. Abandoned blogs too. But life beckons. Finally, life is important. And if blogging can be seamlessly integrated into life, it’s great!
LikeLike
I am commenting again because the previous comment linked me to my Gravatar and some blogs which I do not currently update. I did try to change it, by logging out, but WP can be insidious. My trust in WP is at an all-time low! Anyway, I decided to try again from another browser. Don’t know if it will work.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congrats Sudha, It has been a great learning reading your posts and I remember always telling you that you should write more and more. I have been an ardent fan of your work and keep inspiring.
LikeLike