I
had an interviewed with Lois Yasay, the woman behind wearesolesisters.com, one
of the famous blogs in the Philippines. She already featured in some travel
magazines and also featured in TV shows like Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho and Pop
Talk. And now it’s an honor for me, presents her in my blog.
PBW: Please, give me a little
background about wearesolesisters
.
Lois: We started out as two girls who
quit their job to travel. We planned and saved money for a year and went on a
life-changing journey all over India and Southeast Asia for 6 months, through 9
countries and we spent less than 100,000PHP. We created a travel blog called wearesolesisters.com to document our trip and share our experience to the world.
PBW: How did you get your idea to make
a blog? Is there any travel blogger who influenced you?
Lois: There were a lot of travel blogs
that influenced us like Adventurous Kate who was also going around Southeast
Asia at the time. Ayngelina of Bacon is Magic and Jodi of Legal Nomads. They
were all westerners and we thought that Asians should also get some
representation in terms on long term travel and exploration.
PBW: How can you earn through your
blog?
Lois: Travel blogs usually earn money
through ad banners, sponsored posts and paid links. The fee often varies. Of
course it increases as your readership also expands. We only review products,
locations and services if it's relevant to our audience and if we have tried
them for ourselves.
PBW: What’s the difference when you had a full time job compare now that you’re a travel blogger?
Lois: Having a full time job definitely
makes more money and gives a steady income. Travel blogging is not yet our main
source of income but it provides us opportunities or gigs because of the
exposure we get from it. I've been doing motivational talks and retreats for
almost a year now. Some of our travels are now being sponsored. But our
international trips are still from our own travel fund.
PBW: Do you have favorite travel
blogs?
Lois: Already mentioned above. I will
add Nomadic Chick, This Battered Suitcase, Flipnomad and Soloflight Ed.
PBW: As a girl, what would you do to
care yourself while traveling? And what would you say to your family for them
not to worry about you?
Lois: We make sure we tell people where
we're going. We even give detailed itinerary to family members to let them know
where we'll be. We always get travel insurance for trips exceeding 1 week.
Family members can be very understanding as long as you reassure them and tell
them you will travel smart and always stay safe.
PBW: For you what’s the most memorable
places that you already traveled?
Lois: India for the unique culture and
energetic vibe and Myanmar for its authenticity and lovable people.
PBW: Do you recommend to the foreigners
you met that they may visit also to the Philippines?
Lois: Yes we recommend that they come
over to the Philippines because it's great for adventure tourism. I always
recommend surfing in Baler, Siargao or Catanduanes. Going to the beaches in
Palawan and Calaguas island. And trying out the food in Cebu and Bacolod. And
of course to check out my hometown Davao City for the whitewater kayaking,
durian and Kadayawan festival.
PBW: What the great lessons do you get when you’re exploring other
cultures?
Lois: That you should always connect
with locals because they are the best resource for information about the place
and the culture. Ask them where to eat, stay and travel.
PBW: What’s the good character of a blogger,
they need to apply themselves?
Lois: You have to always be patient
because things will often go wrong when you travel and that's when adventure
starts. You have to be resourceful in getting to places and stretching your
budget. You have to have an open mind and a ready smile for people you meet
from all over the world.
PBW: If you’re travelling, what’s
inside your bag and what’s the weight of it?
Lois: I always stick to 7kgs so I don't
need to pay for extra luggage. A comprehensive packing list may be found
here: http://www.wearesolesisters.com/2012/07/the-7kg-pack-light-challenge.html
PBW: How to lessen your expenses when
you’re travelling?
Lois: Here are some tips: http://www.wearesolesisters.com/2010/10/cheap-trips-10-ways-to-save-money-on.html
PBW: What’s your future plan for
solesisters?
Lois: I also want to go on a long term
backpacking trip all over South and Central America soon. I think I will be
traveling for as long as I live because it's my top passion.
PBW: In your opinion, what’s your
difference to other blogger and your blog became so famous? What would be your
advice for them to gain attention from the netizens?
Lois: I'd say we have a unique story
and we did something that only few people choose to do. My tip for other
bloggers who want to be successful is to start branding as soon as they create
a blog. Make yourself stand out by having a unique story, promote yourself and
your brand by being authentic and true to your readers and always stay positive
and give inspiration to others. The keywords would be to inspire, motivate and
entertain in whatever topic or field you choose.
You
should not settle for a life less than what you dream. If you want to do
something, create a plan, ask for people to support you and start taking steps
towards it. It's only impossible until you do it.