What have I been up to?
Life speeds along at an out-of-control pace. I do my best, but find often myself running-to-stand still. I miss my Lao Po, I work too much, work out too much, and eat to many vegetable. Oh, to be the dirty slacker I once was.
Blogging
Things have exploded here at Asian Ramblings. Traffic is up 231% thanks to some handy-dandy SEO work I did. Being a 2009 Bloggies finalist didn’t hurt things either. A plug-in I installed led to an email from my hosting company, informing me that Asian Ramblings almost crashed their database server. Bye-bye plug-in.
Asian Ramblings was invited to be part of Lonely Planet’s Blog Sherpa program. If you’re surfing the LP site you may see a post or two by moi.
My review of the Lowepro Flipside 400 AW camera backpack was recently published on Matador Goods. Want my opinion on this high-security pack? Read it, and give it a green SU thumbs up, please.
So many projects, so little time.
Photography
I am slowly wading into an uncertain sea called flickr. I have been a member of Photo.net for three years, but think Flickr, (for the same price, if I pay the “pro” fee) offers a lot more. All the features I used on Photo.net were ones I could receive without paying the $25-a-year fee. Check out my flickr stream.
Craig Ferguson has taken his photography blog in a new and interesting direction. I’ve been playing, using his latest lighting tutorial. I shot an interesting self-portrait (which Ron will love) and am looking at getting a second flash, stands, and umbrellas.
Bountiful Healing, Robin’s photo blog, gets better and better. A recent post, Dead Giants, featured some stunning images.
Fitness
Only 7.48 more pounds to lose and I’m at my “goal.” I used to think trousers with elastic tops were the last resort of overly fat men. I’ve since learnt that a man shedding pounds can also use these evil garments when his belts and pants are too big.
To spice up my cardio fitness routine I bought a Dance Dance Revolution pad for my PC (a whopping $6.75 US). If I was to post a video on Youtube of myself attempting to stamp on said pad, I’d be infamous. Watching someone with no rhythm trying to dance is amusing.
Reflecting on eating right and dieting I wish:
- Vegetables tasted like steak,
- There was a high-protein, low-carb beer,
- Eating deep-fried food was extremely healthy,
- Water had a more interesting flavor.
What’s ahead?
I have some cool posts coming up. My feature on the Opium War, and some interesting tales of Chinese Canadians fighting in World War II will soon grace these pages, as well as a photo essay on the Battle of Hong Kong. I hope to post a regular cooking article as I continue to decipher Chinese food. Speaking of food: amuirin at Stop & Wander was suppose to start a week-long food series, but has postponed it. Damn, I was looking forward to reading it. I’m always looking for new ideas.
Also
An RSS email subscriber sent me an email, telling me that Hong Kong was not the real China. Yes, I know. My post on how I Hate Hong Kong is testament to this. That said: Hong Kong is extremely photogenic.
Congratulations on all the success – it’s well deserved. We just need to get you over to this side of the Strait for a blogger meetup.
Flickr is a great site. I recently let my photo.net membership lapse because I just don’t use the site anymore, yet I’m on Flickr everyday and recently paid for 2 more years.
cfimages´s last blog post..Moneyshot Horns @ VU Livehouse
Great to see you back and posting with some vigor and energy. Congrats on all the good news about your blog’s SEO success. My horror movie site, which uses a WordPress platform, also has grown in traffic since I learned some basis SEO stuff. Seems this is not a real option with the Blogger blogs.
Keep up the goof work and refrain from Big Macs for a while.
Bill
Uranium Willy´s last blog post..WHAT’S GOING ON LATELY
The train keeps a rollin’ – I’m very happy for you Stevo… 😉
I think I speak for everyone when I say we really want to see the youtube dance video… 🙂
R(etc… )
Ron in L.A.´s last blog post..Island – Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
Hi..
Nice blog..
Congratulation..
☆ Martinha ☆
=)
Martinha´s last blog post..☆ Tourist Information ☆
Here’s wishing you many more cool projects ahead!
Cheers
Lola´s last blog post..NGT: Loving Stockholm
Craig: Thanks. I’ll make an effort to get over to the island sometime this year.
UW: Truly, Blogger sucks. It’s so limited.
Ron: I don’t think everyone is ready for the video yet.
Lola: Many thanks.
Congrats Stevo! Suddenly, I don’t know what I’ve been doing with my time.
Congratulations on all your success. You very well deserved them all.
May you grow many folds.
OOOps not you but your blog !!
Wanda: You’ve been living through winter. That’s enough.
Cuckoo: Yes, no folds for me, thanks. And, thanks for your comment.
Stevo | Hong Kong Photosl´s last blog post..Chinese Heroes: Zhong Shan
Hey Steve,
Ha! I just read your comment on My Several Worlds and came over to see what’s up. You’re one to talk! Sounds like you’re just as busy as I am. I’m glad to hear your health and exercise regime is going well and that you aren’t getting sucked into the warphole of SEO management….or are you? Just kidding. Congratulations. Asian Ramblings kicks ass!
Carrie´s last blog post..Opportunities
Wow, sounds like life is busy but good. Congrats on the recent successes!
Theresa´s last blog post..Two to Tango
Carrie: SEO is a blackhole. I do a little here and there but it isn’t my main concern.
Theresa: Thanks, I hope your adventure is going well.
I’m ready for that YouTube video of you dancing, Stevo. Look forward to it, in fact. 😉
Thank you for the nod in my direction and the kind words. Now I know why my blog traffic suddenly went way up. I’ve been slacking when it comes to the world of blogging lately due to life keeping me busy in other arenas. I hope to get caught up today so I can fall behind again over the next week.
Well done on the weight loss. I’ve been shrinking too (that’s part of what has kept me busy lately — healthy cooking and exercising take time). I flavor my water with lemon or lime slices, but I’m afraid I’ve been unable to make vegetables taste like steak or homebrew a beer that is high-protein, low-carb and actually good for you.
Robin´s last blog post..Sunday breakfast
Keep it up, Robin. I’m sure you can perfect a high-protein beer recipe. 🙂
Can I say that I knew you when…?
BTW Beer may not be high protein, but I have heard one a day is good for you.
Shawn´s last blog post..I’m Not Going To Do, What You Think I’m Going To Do
Shawn: I will use that fact as my justification.
Stevo | China´s last blog post..Laos: Tubing on the Nam Song River
Stevo, so many great things in your life! Wonderful to read. And sharing the positive rubs off on others. It’s inspiring. When you invent those vegetables that taste like steak, I’m totally on board with getting started on the weight loss thing. 😉 Congratulations!
QuoinMonkey´s last blog post..WRITING TOPIC — GRANDMOTHERS
QM: Thanks for stopping by. I’ll start DNA splicing in my kitchen. Hopefully the steak-flavored vegetables will be a reality before 2015.
Congrats Stevo, here’s to your continued success.
I’ve been on flickr for about a year and a half and have been quite pleased with it. I did let myself get sucked into the social time drain of it all but now I am free!
Now, I am going to tempt fate here and acknowledge that I DON’T want to see the dancing video on youtube…just sayin’.
Expatriate Games´s last blog post..The China Photographer Interview Series – Mark Hobbs