Interviews

Interview with Dame Traveler Linda of HausofColor

My name is Linda and I write HausOfColor a beauty, style, and recently added —travel blog! I also produce Youtube videos featuring beauty/style topics, and all my travel adventures!

How did you begin blogging? Any tips for success for those who may be interested in starting one?
I’ve always “blogged” —way back when it was just known as “writing (online).” It’s the creative side of me that really enjoys telling stories through colorful words and photos. I blogged back when Xanga & AsianAvenue was around and I officially got into it 3 years ago when I purchased my domain, the rest is history as they say…The best thing about blogging is that anyone can do it; it doesn’t require much money to start and you can work at your own pace. For those interested in blogging, I have 3 piece of advice that can help you on your way to success!

1. Think of a clever name
I’d advise you to think of a really unique, outstanding name: something with a great ring to it, something quirky, something easy to remember, and something you can identify yourself with. Purchase the domain, godaddy offers domains for about $10/year, it’s a small investment, but has so much value. myblog.blogspot.com vs. myblog.com, which one is easier on the eyes?

2. Consistency is the Key
In my opinion, consistency is the key to a successful blog. When you post often and on a timely manner (ie. every Monday/Wednesday/Friday), your readers are more likely to visit your blog because they know you’re producing material consistently. They’re counting on you to entertain them!

3. Keep your content fresh
2-3 great quality photos with 1-2 witty paragraphs is much better than an entire page of blurry/crappy pictures and wordy blog posts filled with grammatical errors.

When did you fall in love with travel?

I fell in love with wanderlust when I was very young. Growing up, my family moved around a lot and my parents were always very spontaneous; taking off on short notice was pretty ordinary in my household. We often took road trips and I was co-pilot, navigating my Dad with a real paper map. I was very used to being on the go and I have my parents to thank for that. They exposed me to a world outside my own and taught me that traveling is a gift of experience. I’ll pass on the same sense of adventure down to my children!

We know this is a tough question but where is your favorite place in the whole wide world?
This is a tough question indeed, every place I’ve been to holds a special place in my heart… but if I had to choose, Vietnam would be my top choice! I’ve been there an abundant of times, yet there is still so much more to see! Even though Vietnam is such a small country, it has so much to offer. The people, the food, the waterfalls, sand dunes, rainforest, beaches, everything about VN is amazing! You can watch one of my favorite adventures from my trip to Vietnam here: Hello Vietnam.

What are some ways in which you help yourself make time and generate funds for traveling?

Time & Money are big factors that hold people back from traveling. I compromise a lot of unnecessary spending such as shopping, eating out, entertainment, Starbucks, etc. in order to reserve those funds for traveling. I travel to destinations during off season (benefits: less crowded, cheaper airfare, cheaper accommodations), and I don’t stay at fancy places and eat fancy meals —unless it’s totally worth the splurge of course!

What inspires you most when you travel?

I’m most inspired by the people I meet along my travels. Our difference in culture fascinates me, it’s so interesting to me how people live their day to day life. Some countries seem to be living in the future, while others are stuck in time.

Standout travel memory?

One of my fondest memories was when I was about 19 years old. My parents had a nail salon back then and I had temporarily moved to South Carolina with them while on break from university in Chicago. It was a Saturday afternoon and I remembered working on a client, I saw her Louis Vuitton bag and I just fell in love! I complimented her on the beautiful tote and she was very quick to share with me that it was actually a knock off LV bag she purchased on Canal Street in New York! She continued to tell me that they had every designer knock off item you can think of on this famed Canal Street. I was immediately enticed! I went straight to my dad after the client left and told him about this counterfeit alley in New York City, I told him we HAD to go…one idea lead to another and he said, “OK, let’s close the shop early and leave tonight.”We had it all planned out… My dad would drive the first leg of the trip while I sleep and I would drive the second half. We were coming from Sumter, South Carolina, so the drive was about 11 hours to Manhattan. Just like that, at 8pm, we left for New York City! I never imagined in my life that I’d experience the craziness of Sunday morning traffic in Manhattan in a huge SUV with the responsibility of 5 other lives (my dad, mom, brother, and family friend). It was my first time in the big apple and I would never forget such an adventure!

If you could pick up and go anywhere in the world right now, where would you go? 1,2,3 quick!

South Africa!

How has a life of travel changed you?

It’s taught me to be open minded and to make the best of things. When you travel, you encounter many unplanned events (getting lost, language barriers, missing flights, booking wrong flights, visa issues, hotel issues, etc.), but you just have to make the best of the situation and not get your panties in a bunch. It’s all about perspective; you can save yourself a lot of stress and premature wrinkles if you can quickly overcome these unforeseen hurdles.

What is your travel style?

#freestyle. I hardly ever have a set itinerary when I travel. Instead, I make a mental list of things I want to see/do/eat and try to squeeze them together at convenient times, but rarely do I have a solid plan. I think having a set itinerary can be stressful and takes the fun out of the adventure.

Favorite words of wanderlust wisdom?
“Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return”—Leonardo da Vinci.

What’s your best advice for aspiring wanderlusters out there?

Don’t be afraid of what you do not know, those crazy experiences make the best stories!

Save

Save

Save

You Might Also Like

  • Nam February 24, 2015 at 5:54 pm

    Love the piece! Just one small thing – isn’t Pompeii in Italy?

  • Top