My 100th post: A thank-you giveaway!

As a special ‘thank you’ to you, my readers, I’m celebrating my 100th blog post by giving away a brand-new copy of Lonely Planet’s India travel guide to one lucky winner.

When I started my blog in early 2017, I happened to see a blogger’s 100th post and I thought, “How on earth did she manage to write so much stuff?!” And now here I am, publishing my own 100th post. But it’s not been easy, I freely admit. Figuring out what to write and when to write it, and then actually writing it is only half of it, I realized. Getting people to come and read what you’ve written is the other half that no one tells you needs doing. And that’s something I’ve had to figure out myself (and am still figuring out). Search optimization, and social media, networking, and getting the word out in general isn’t the easiest thing in the world, especially if you’re not the ‘I love meeting new people’ type.

Also read: My first post: How we planned our Lakshadweep holiday

Beach on 'chicken neck', Kavaratti island, Lakshadweep, India
Our difficulties in planning our Lakshadweep holiday were the inspiration behind this blog

A big ‘thank you’ to everyone who’s been supportive

That brings me to the first group of people I’d like to thank for helping me make it this far: my amazing family and friends (yes, it sounds like an Oscars speech, but it’s true). I mean, two years of hammering away at a keyboard without constantly having to listen to, “Why don’t you get a real job?” and, instead, hearing, “You’re doing great. Keep going”? If that’s not awesome, I don’t know what is.

Speaking of awesome, another group that’s helped keep me going is the brilliant and supportive #TravelTribe on Twitter. To be honest, I’ve never been the social media type, and opening up a Twitter account was the last thing on my mind when I started my blog. Sure, I knew I’d have to open an Instagram account (because photos) and a Facebook account (because that’s what people did, then), but Twitter? Nope. But then I finally did, and I’m glad I did, because all the awesome, funny, crazy people in the #TravelTribe make it lots and lots of fun. A special shout-out to Travel Bugs World (@TravelBugsWorld), These Foreign Roads (@markandkylee), Monster Voyage (@monstervoyage), and Carpe Diem Eire (@carpediemeire) for their humour, advice, support and general awesomeness.

Rufous treepies - Ranthambhore safari
A different sort of twittering: rufous treepies in Ranthambhore National Park

My 100th-post thank-you giveaway

And that finally brings me to you, dear reader. If it hadn’t been for amazing people like you visiting my site and reading my stuff, I’d probably have given up a long time ago. And so, to say ‘thank you’ for keeping me and my site going, I’m giving away a brand-new Lonely Planet India travel guide to one of you.

(Update: The giveaway is now closed, and the winner is Vineeth! Congratulations!)

Just to be clear, Lonely Planet isn’t sponsoring this post, or anything. They don’t have any stake in this giveaway whatsoever. It’s just that I think their travel guides would make a brilliant resource for any traveller. And since I mostly blog about India, their India travel guide is a natural choice.

LP India guide - 100th post thank-you giveaway
This is what’s up for grabs…
Balconies, Raniji ki Baodi, Bundi
…and this is the kind of thing it’ll help you to discover: the queen’s bath in Bundi

How to participate in my thank-you giveaway

(Update: The giveaway is now closed, and the winner is Vineeth! Congratulations!)

Here’s what you have to do if you want to try and win this giveaway, wherever you are in the world.

  1. Sign up for email updates using the ‘follow by email’ form to the right or at the bottom of this page (if you’re already signed up, skip straight to step 3).
  2. Check your inbox for the confirmation email, and confirm that you want to receive updates (if you don’t do this, your email ID might not show up in my list).
  3. Post a comment below and include the same email ID (comments are moderated, so your email ID won’t be publicly visible).
  4. The giveaway will stay open until 6 July, 2019. The week after that, I’ll pick the winner at random and announce their name on my blog.
  5. If you’re the lucky winner, I’ll ship you your prize using Amazon (and if that doesn’t work, I promise we’ll figure something out).

P.S. No, signing up and commenting multiple times won’t increase your chances of winning!

IMG_1358 copy for blog
Grab the opportunity with both hands. Like this disturbing Medusa sculpture in Brussels.

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Share this with your friends

Know someone who you think might like a free Lonely Planet India travel guide? Send this post to them. Or just share it using the social media buttons at the top or bottom of the post. The more, the merrier!

Sydney - Southern highlands wine and crackers
Sharing is caring. Especially when it’s wine, cheese and crackers in Australia’s Southern Highlands!

Taking a break to reset

This might come as a shock to a lot of you, but full-time travel blogging takes a lot out of you. Not least because, suddenly, something that you’ve always done to relax has now turned into work, i.e. travelling.

So just like after my 50th blog post, I’m going to take a break for a while. I’ll still be doing some travelling, and some housekeeping on my site, but I might not publish anything new for a few weeks. When I get going again, The Good Life With IQ will be back, better than ever. Until then, thanks again for reading. Appreciate it!

By the way, this are the kind of things I’ve been posting

To end with, in case you’re wondering about the kind of things I’ve been posting to get to 100 posts, here are some of my favourites.

Our incredible holiday in mysterious Lakshadweep

Sunset at Thinnakara island, Lakshadweep, India


Six amazing discoveries we made in the Seychelles

Sunrise on Bird Island, Seychelles


Twelve brilliant things to see in and around Sydney

Sydney - Bondi seagulls


Five great dark rums from all over the world that you need to try

Rum bottles


Eight things we learned in Ladakh, the highest desert in the world

Leh - Road trip 1


A 7-day, 2000-kilometer motorcycle ride along India’s east coast

Bike rider with luggage on highway during 2000 kilometer road trip along India's east coast


Eight great things to experience while visiting Bhutan

Bhutan - Takstang 1


9 things you should know if you want to have a good time in Coorg

The viewing bridge on the river at Abbey Falls, Coorg, India


Millennia back in time: The magnificent temples of Madurai and Tanjore in South India

Madurai - Pudumandapa pillars


12 vegetarian dishes from all over India that you need to try

Menaskai - spice sweet and sour curry - Mangalore, Karnataka


21 simple tips to be a responsible traveller

Shutterstock - airplane (By Faiz Zaki) - small


Things to do on the weekend in Hyderabad: The vast Qutb Shahi necropolis

sunset behind premamati's tomb, qutb shahi tombs, hyderabad, india


Things to do on the weekend in Hyderabad: The outer ramparts of Golconda Fort

Hyderabad Golconda Heritage (1 of 1)


A rejuvenating break in Malindi, on the coast of Kenya

Beach umbrellas - A rejuvenating break in Malindi, on the coast of Kenya


Hyderabad itineraries, and things to do in the city

Things to do in Hyderabad


16 tips to stay safe and have fun on that awesome motorcycle tour

Bikes on the highway - Motorcycle touring tips


Bundi, a town lost in time

Balconies, Raniji ki Baodi, Bundi


Our Kenya safari: Up close with Africa’s incredible wildlife

Kenya safari - Masai Mara - Lioness and cubs


Photo diary: Snow-capped mountains and Tibetan art in Dharamshala

Mountain village, Naddi


IQ’s veg review: Tatva, Hyderabad’s best-kept vegetarian secret?

Veg galouti kabab - Tatva restaurant review


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Pinterest thumbnail - 100th post and thank-you giveaway

24 comments

  1. Great going IQ! Your work is an inspiration. I have been reliving some of my own trips through your blogs and clicks.

  2. @IQ your blogs are extremely engaging and informative. Congratulations on the 💯 th! I’m sure you’ve got many more in the works. Looking forward to read more offbeat stories like Bullet Baba! Cheers.

    1. Thanks, Vineeth! Glad you enjoy reading them. Always a pleasure to write for an appreciative audience! 😉

  3. Thank You so much. It is a pleasure to know you and we appreciate your humour and general awesomeness.too. We also find your blog very inspirational. We love India and we can’t wait to return one day. We will have your blog with us for the whole trip!!

    1. Thanks, Oli and Geoffo! Sorry for the late reply, but your comment found its way into my spam folder, for some reason. Hoping to bump into you on your India trip. All the best!

  4. Kudos ! Your 100th blog , got me all agog ! Your travel stories and enchanting clicks , Are reasons enough to make your blogs tick. Many will be bitten by the travel bug , just by going though the inspiring and useful tips . Keep it up !

  5. Congratulations Brother, I too love travelling and Photography. Subscribed for Email news letter 😊👍

    1. All the best, Pulkit! Remember to sign up for email updates, and comment your email ID here too.

  6. Hi just stumbled upon your blog through twitter. I like to read travel blogs and would love to read yours too as it has one of the trips thats in my bucket list, a bike trip to leh ladakh. Btw congrats on your century.

    1. Thanks, Pratik! Sorry for the late reply, but your comment was in my spam folder, for some reason. Happy to hear that you enjoy reading my blog. Hope you keep coming back for more! 🙂

  7. Congratulations on your 100 blog. Love your blog. Thank-you for such an amazing blog. Takes us to so many amazing places.

  8. I love your blog and what you post, keep on sharing please! By the way lonely planet guides are the best! Have a wonderful break and trip!

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