Topic - reflection - Teja on the Horizon

I was intrigued when Chandrima of Travel Stories Untold nominated me for the Mystery Blogger Award. I hadn't heard of this award before, and didn't think I had the readership to even be noticed for a nomination. But when I read the Award description, I was sold. OK, actually I was probably already sold by its curious name - I mean, Mystery? Its creator, Okoto Enigma, describes it: “Mystery Blogger Award” is an award for amazing bloggers with ingenious posts. Their blog not only captivates; it inspires and motivates. They are one of the best out there, and they deserve every recognition they get. This award is also for bloggers who find fun and inspiration in blogging; and they do it with so much love and passion. There's something about the description that took my fancy. It felt like the kind of blog I wished Teja on the Horizon to be. A travel blog, that isn't only about the destination - but zooms out to the bigger picture, or dives into the insights that spring from the agitation of travel. A travel blog, that weaves in a bit of my own geeky whimsy and call to responsibility to encourage you to make the travel your own - not simply to tread in the path of others, and seeing nothing more than they did. Leaving - unchanged. So I'm honoured by Chandrima's nomination. Thank you so much, and thank you as well for reading my blog! Three Things About Teja As part of the rules I have to divulge three things about myself. Here goes. I have a set of IKEA wooden shelves where I hang up pieces of artwork from the different continents I've reached so far, and I call it my 'continental shelf'. ;) I was (am?) a Dragonlance nerd. Gen X/Xennial nerds might know this; I don't know what the Millennial equivalent would be - Potterhead? Anyway, it's quite possible that I have the best collection of Dragonlance fantasy novels in Asia. Any challengers? I read Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace at the age of 12. My dad got me to do it, by telling me it's a college level book. Stealth motivation runs in the family. Answers to Chandrima's questions Two questions must be answered to receive the award! What is your greatest fear? My greatest fear used to be failure. I wrote about it, in Confessions of an Overachiever. But ever since I got over that, what's left are quite serious ones which are no longer just about me - for instance, the geopolitics that are seemingly leading us all down the path to the next World War, or the instability that will happen from the utter unpreparedness of most of us to adapt to climate change. I fear that I am failing to do my part to respond to these things which are foreseen. Oh hey - it's still failure! Which is the most embarrassing (and funny) incident of your life? An incident that's simultaneously embarrassing and funny... I don't know if it was the most embarrassing or funny, but it was while I was taking my PADI Open Water license. It was a boat dive, and I had all my gear on. I was to enter the water with a big jump - literally just stepping out of the back of the boat. Just. Walking. Off. The. Boat. I somehow screwed up walking. I tangled my feet by trying to step out with both feet (?) and crashed into the water (I guess this is why you put some air in the BCD beforehand). My dive instructor could not believe what he was seeing... I can't even. I Nominate Thee... At first, I wasn't sure that I could accept this award, because I wasn't sure I can recall even 10 blogs that fits the Mystery Blogger theme. But surprisingly, I did! The following are 10 people whose blogs I have read at one point or another, and made an impression on me. I have found them to be inspirational, captivatingly written, reassuring, daft, provoking, a kindred spirit, or simply... enigmatic! I'm not going to say which ones are which! Lo and behold! Alaska Rue Kristina, Sora & Nicky at The Nerdventurists Jason Tsitsopoulos at Cut the Negative Nurbaiti at Nurbaiti-Hikaru's Blog Kay Rodriguez at Jetfarer The Travel Rebellion Kelly Ann Duhigg at Girl with the Passport Cherene Saradar at Wandering Redhead Wei Xiao at Always Awei Penny & Shawn at Globetrove I'm also gratified that it's such a diverse list too! I did not plan this! My 5 questions for my nominees I'm also supposed to come up with 5 questions, and one of them has to be weird or funny. What nonsense. I shall ask one serious question, and 4 unserious ones! Answers may, of course, be unserious as well! Mystery Blogger nominees, riddle me this: If you had to choose between losing all your memories, or lose the ability to make new memories, which one would you choose and why? If you could swap bodies with your worst enemy for 24 hours, what would you do? Is it worse to feed Jaffa cakes to a swan, or fish & chips to a seagull? One day we will be ruled by robot overlords. What kind of robots do you think would rule the world? If you had a superpower, what is it and what's the origin story? Rules Of The Mystery Blogger Award Put the award logo/image on your blog List the rules. Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog. Mention the creator of the award and provide a link as well Tell your readers 3 things about yourself You have to nominate 10 – 20 people Notify your nominees by commenting on their blog Ask your nominees any 5 questions of your choice; with one weird or funny question (specify) Share a link to your best post(s)