Meeting Travel Writers & Bloggers from Everywhere While Standing Still on an Isolated Island

I know, I know. The title is lame. But never mind.

I never really liked any activity that involves socializing with strangers, well, not physically. As virtually, I believe I am sociable enough.

So I was assigned to do the very thing that, I don’t really hate, but I just don’t like. To entertain and host guests. And not just guests (just so you know, if you still don’t, I work in a hotel), mostly bloggers, writers and press.

They write reviews and articles about our hotel or they shoot travel documentaries. So how do I come in and what exactly is my problem here, if you may ask.

Well, I welcome them upon their arrival, prepare itineraries during their stay, join them for dinner (and sometimes drinks), and dance with them too if needed. Worse of all, take photos with them which, oh my gosh, might end up in one of their social media platforms.

The problem is, I write more than I talk. And I am really scared to death whenever I have to host them for dinner. For I don’t know what to say (that won’t put our hotel’s reputation in ruins) or how to even express myself properly.

During some of the dinners I hosted, there were long awkward silences and I really didn’t know what else to say.

But that was before I found out, before someone told me, that I am too talkative during dinners and I am very good at inventing stories.

I was like, really?

I wasn’t sure if that was a compliment. But I took it as one.

Then I started observing myself. I truly am talkative. I have become talkative. And I see how their face reacts when I tell my stories. I guess, my being a storyteller virtually has been taken to the next level.

I have been hosting several travel bloggers lately. One was a very lovely lady from Sweden, two hilarious UK-based gentlemen, a very elite European lady and his husband, an exiled Prince of one of the countries in Eastern Europe, a Japanese TV crew and a group of Spanish Fashion Bloggers.

It’s just funny that when I was in Dubai, at the center of everything (or as I thought so), when I had all the opportunities to travel and meet so many interesting people, I never had a chance to do so. And while standing still, and not setting foot out of this 67k sqm island, I was able to meet and interact with a lot of interesting people.

They bring stories from their previous travels, I share my island stories. We all learn from each other, each of us taking something home.

There aren’t any awkward silences nowadays, if there are, not for long. For I found the secret to long interesting conversations.

Ask interesting questions.

 

fashion-bloggers
a small remembrance from the Spanish Fashion Bloggers

 

49 responses to “Meeting Travel Writers & Bloggers from Everywhere While Standing Still on an Isolated Island”

  1. Kunin kita Host sa church wedding ko.lelz

    Liked by 1 person

    1. OMG ayaw…di ko pa nasusubukan yan lels

      Liked by 1 person

      1. hahaha. pero tama yon, ask interesting questions para mapagsalita ang kausap.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Oo at para sila na nga lang ang dumaldal…tho madaldal na nga din daw ako….hahahaha

          Liked by 1 person

          1. hahaha. madaldal din ako pag umuwi ka sa Pinas magmeet tayo hahaha

            Like

          2. Sige sige haha sabihan kita…mahaba habang kwentuhan 😄😄😄

            Liked by 1 person

  2. The key to interesting conversations is to focus on the OTHER person’s interests.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Yes po. Ask them questions about things that interests them 🙂

      Like

  3. Or make them talk about themselves: what it’s like where they come from, their career backgrounds, things they like about their work, their favorite this n that, etc… It’s easy for people to talk when the information is coming from within them. Plus, being the center of attention flatters their egos.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. hehe tama po kayo, so in the end sila na lang ang nagkukwento…

      Like

  4. Congrats 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Nice 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

      1. HMmm kamusta ka?

        Liked by 1 person

        1. ikaw ang kamusta pre?

          Liked by 1 person

          1. Okay lang ako, bumalik na ako dito sa gubat hehe, nasa island ka parin ba?

            Liked by 1 person

          2. Nasa gubat ka na uli? Oo nasa isla pa din ako

            Like

  6. uyyy!!! iiwan mo na ang jologs bloggers society! 😀 haha! SO proud of you girl! 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hui hindi naman…founder pa rin tayo ng jologs bloggers society hahaha….ibang level lang talaga yung mga nakakadaupang palad ko lately haha

      Liked by 1 person

      1. ahahahah #sepanx agad e. ahihi! mag meet up na tayo sa #maldives lol!

        Liked by 1 person

          1. bukas!!! ahahaha

            Liked by 1 person

          2. Hahahahahaha agahan mo alis…baka matrapik ka sa NLEX

            Like

  7. angmamangenhinyero Avatar
    angmamangenhinyero

    alalahanin mo naman ako Isay pag nasa rurok ka na ng iyong tagumpay, para matagayan ng poging mamang enhinyero ang pagtatagumpay mo bilang blogista (tang ina tunog durugista) at manunulat :-))

    Liked by 1 person

    1. ha ha ha ha oi nag aaya si Meg ng meet up pag uwi ko :p

      Liked by 1 person

      1. angmamangenhinyero Avatar
        angmamangenhinyero

        naks, dami mong appointments a, pagkatapos nyo magkita ni Meg yung kape mo maghihintay sayo hahahaha

        Liked by 1 person

        1. hoy sumama ka samin ni Meg para masaya ha ha ha ha…para naman mabuo na ang Jologs Bloggers Society – Philippine Chapter, bilang nagkaroon na kami ng meet up sa Dubai LOL

          Liked by 1 person

          1. angmamangenhinyero Avatar
            angmamangenhinyero

            talaga isasama nyo ako? hahahaha nakakatuwa naman… please say hi to Meg nalang kapag nagkita na kayo in person 🙂

            Liked by 1 person

          2. ay ang daya. ayaw magpakita. hmp

            Liked by 1 person

          3. angmamangenhinyero Avatar
            angmamangenhinyero

            nyahahaha

            Liked by 1 person

          4. angmamangenhinyero Avatar
            angmamangenhinyero

            galit na.. ok nayun brad wala ako at least wholesome stories and girls talk ang mangyayari na no-holds barred.. kapag andun ako baka di nyo pa mapagkwentuhan yung mga gusto nyong pagkwentuhan 🙂

            Liked by 1 person

  8. One of the ironies of life, ano?
    I hear you. Ang hirap kaya mag-small talk, kapagod. Pero, minsan, we have to be brave and to compensate for what we are not. Kaya siguro, minsan, hindi naniniwala ang mga tao na mahiyain talaga tayo. ha ha ha

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Hahahaha oo nga po. Hindi naman talaga tayo mahiyain pagdating sa sulatan….hehehe

      Like

  9. […] few days ago, I posted something about Meeting Travel Writers and Bloggers, hosting them for dinners and inventing stories to entertain […]

    Like

  10. Kailangan ko to matutunan. Kailangan yung term eh para sa bagong endeavor. Huhu!

    Pero naman, I think di ka mauubusan ng kwento lalo na puro bloggers rin hinohost mo! Makakarelate kayo sa isa’t-isa at makakapag-exchange pa ng blog addresses!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. hahahahahah pag may hinohost akong blogger, hindi ko pinapaalam na blogger akkoooooo…small time lang naman kasi me hahahah

      Like

      1. Hindi ahhh!!! Ma-a-amaze sila na marami kang followers kesa sa kanila! Chos hahaha!

        Conversation starter rin! Feel ko maeenjoy mo lalo usapan! Tapos sabay “we’ll definitely follow your blog!” haha

        Liked by 1 person

        1. hahahahahah ayako…..nasa hundred thousand followers nila hahahahhahaha

          Liked by 1 person

          1. hahaha papunta ka na rin dun ah! ahaha ok foyn foynnn in due time na lang daw!

            Liked by 1 person

  11. Albert Soriano Avatar
    Albert Soriano

    Ganyan talaga, ung stage fright..sa simula..kalaunan masasanay ka rin..nung una akong nag p preach, kabado ako talaga kc monologue..katagalan sinesenyasan na ako at nalilibang na akong magsalita kaya minsan nde ko natatapos outline ko haha..

    Enjoy hosting..sought-after skill yan..

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Ha ha ha wow nagppreach ka pala 😂😂😂 nakakapagod din maghost at dumaldal haha

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Albert Soriano Avatar
        Albert Soriano

        Hehe, sanayan lang..
        Response ng audience ang mag f fuel..
        Rule of the thumb, catch their attention in the first five minutes..
        Struggle nating mga introverts yan hehe

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Ha ha ha eh hanggang ngayon struggling pa rin me 😥😥😥

          Liked by 1 person

          1. Albert Soriano Avatar
            Albert Soriano

            Kaya mo yan..ikaw pa 🙂

            Like

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