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A few weeks ago I received a message on facebook from a South African blogger at The Spice Goddess telling me to enter the Kerala Blog Express, a two week adventure through Kerala. I recalled reading Verushka’s blog posts from her own trip last year and was excited at the prospect.
I was informed via email that my profile has been added to the contestants section of the Kerala Blog Express website, for the 5th edition in March 2018.
Please assist me to join the Kerala Blog Express
- Please click on the link below to register as a voter (tick the voter box), click on update on the next screen and add your details if you wish, then cast your Vote for Razena.
- Vote by 10 January 2018, and remember you are only allowed to vote once.
- Please share this post and the voting link with your family friends and help me to join the Kerala Blog Express.
What is the Kerala Blog Express?
- The Department of Tourism for Kerala, a state in South India, organizes an annual bloggers meet that is now in it’s fifth season.
- Bloggers from all over the world are invited to enter and 30 will be chosen to experience a two week all expenses paid expedition to Kerala, traversing the state from North to South.
- Bloggers must pay for their own flights to Kerala but that is partly reimbursable.
- Activities have included backwater cruises, participating in village activities, learning about spices and attending festivals.
Photo by Pratiksha Mohanty on Unsplash
Why I want to be selected for the Kerala Blog Express
- Over the past 11 years in Dubai, many of my friends and co-workers have hailed from Kerala and I have grown to love the people and South Indian cuisine. Keralites are very proud of the fact that they have the highest literacy rate in the country and that they also have the highest standard of living in the country.
- My colleagues regularly exhort me to visit what they refer to as ‘God’s own country’ for it’s exceptional beauty and lush greenery, but I have been loathe to travel there alone due to safety concerns as a solo traveller. This will be the perfect opportunity to fulfill that dream.
- I would love to learn how to select the spices and cook all my favorite South Indian dishes.
Selection criteria for the Kerala Blog Express
- Number of votes received through public voting
- Judges review of the blogger and blog including:
- Country of origin
- Quality of the blog
- Social media reach
Thank you in advance for your support.
To read about any of my other travel experiences please click here.
Photo by Vivek Kumar on Unsplash
Cover photo by Kyran Low on Unsplash.
52 Comments
kavita
December 30, 2017 at 6:48 amThis seems great opportunity for bloggers and influencers. I am going to vote for you and hope you will win. Good Luck!
Razena Schroeder
December 30, 2017 at 2:13 pmThank you Kavita. Every vote counts 🙂
Vasundhra
December 21, 2017 at 7:58 pmGood luck! They call Kerela “God’s own Country” for a reason, it is exceptionally beautiful. The backwaters of Kerela are unique to this place.
Razena Schroeder
December 24, 2017 at 10:31 amThank you for the good wishes. I would love to experience the houseboat living for a day or two 🙂
Crystal
December 21, 2017 at 6:34 pmGood luck, it sounds like an awesome opportunity for bloggers.
Razena Schroeder
December 24, 2017 at 10:31 amThank you for the good wishes.
Amy Dong
December 21, 2017 at 7:35 amIt’s my first time hearing about it, but I’m really rooting for you!! Sounds like a fun and great opportunity for you as a blogger!! Good luck 🙂
Razena Schroeder
December 24, 2017 at 10:30 amThank you for the good wishes. I hope I get selected 🙂
Lisa Rios
December 21, 2017 at 1:50 amThis sounds like a wonderfully enriching opportunity for bloggers and influencers. I’d love to do it one day.
Razena Schroeder
December 24, 2017 at 10:30 amMy friend who participated in this last year highly recommends it and I loved reading her posts on her blog. It definitely sounds like a once in a lifetime experience.
Alicia Taylor
December 20, 2017 at 7:20 pmThat sounds like an amazing blogger experience! I hope you get chosen. Good luck!
Razena Schroeder
December 24, 2017 at 10:29 amThank you for the good wishes. I’ve read some of the posts by bloggers who did it in previous years and they all seem to have had a fabulous time 🙂
Luci
December 20, 2017 at 11:59 amThat sounds like a really great opportunity. You have my vote and good luck.
Razena Schroeder
December 24, 2017 at 10:28 amThank you for the good wishes and vote Luci 🙂
Britney Kaufman
December 20, 2017 at 8:24 amThat sounds like a great opportunity! Never heard of that before.
Razena Schroeder
December 24, 2017 at 10:28 amI hadn’t either until my friend mentioned it to me and when I checked with my colleagues they were all aware of the efforts of the Kerala Tourism board to spread awareness of the bounties the state has to offer.
Shannon
December 20, 2017 at 7:32 amwow what an exciting oporutnity. OI hope you get chosen for this adventure.
Razena Schroeder
December 24, 2017 at 10:27 amThank you, I hope so too.
Shell
December 20, 2017 at 6:29 amThis sounds like such a wonderful and amazing opportunity!! I wish you much luck!!
Razena Schroeder
December 24, 2017 at 10:26 amThank you for the good wishes.
Brandi H
December 16, 2017 at 9:27 amWow! The Kerala Blog Express sounds like a great opportunity. Good luck!
Razena Schroeder
December 18, 2017 at 3:18 pmThanks Brandi!
Jennifer L
December 14, 2017 at 10:31 amOh wow sounds like a fantastic opportunity! I’m sending you my support and hope you do get chosen for this great adventure.
Razena Schroeder
December 14, 2017 at 11:43 amThank you Jennifer! All and every bit of support is welcome.
Akamatra
December 14, 2017 at 10:30 amThis sounds like a great opportunity for you. I am going to vote for you and hope you will win!
Razena Schroeder
December 14, 2017 at 11:42 amThank you so much Akamatra! Every vote helps me reach Kerala.
James
December 14, 2017 at 1:03 amSounds like a great opportunity for bloggers. Thanks for sharing.
Razena Schroeder
December 14, 2017 at 1:21 amYou are most welcome.
Ana De- Jesus
December 13, 2017 at 8:23 pmHow amazing that you might get the chance to be chosen for Kerala blog express and it is wonderful that you get part of your flight paid for. I am crossing my fingers for you that you might get chosen!
Razena Schroeder
December 13, 2017 at 10:18 pmThank you Ana! I’m quite excited and hope I get enough votes to make the cut.
Anne
December 13, 2017 at 7:14 pmCool! I heard about the Kerala Blog Express and keep my fingers crossed for you to be selected. Kerala is one of my favourite places in India and it’s definitely worth to check out!
Razena Schroeder
December 13, 2017 at 10:20 pmI heard about it for the first time last year but forgot all about it, until I was reminded last month and the Spice Goddess sent me the link to enter my profile. I have never been to India, so all my information is currently second hand from my colleagues 🙂
Rachel
December 13, 2017 at 3:39 pmSounds like a wonderful opportunity – good luck, you’ve got my vote ^^
Razena Schroeder
December 13, 2017 at 3:40 pmThank you Rachel!
Melanie
December 13, 2017 at 12:32 pmWhat a fab opportunity for you. Sounds incredible and really hope you win. I have cast a vote your way. So fingers crossed x
Razena Schroeder
December 13, 2017 at 3:30 pmThank you Melanie! All votes and goodwill is welcome 🙂
Carol Cassara
December 13, 2017 at 11:38 amThis would be an amazing experience for bloggers! We work so hard to build our presence and we definitely deserve this. I hope you get picked! I’m sure you’ll do an amazing job covering the activities and all.
Razena Schroeder
December 13, 2017 at 3:29 pmThank you for your kind words Carol. It is an amazing opportunity indeed.
Serena Hale
December 13, 2017 at 1:50 amI have never heard of this opportunity. How great it was I can imagine. I may apply for next year:) Who am I kidding, I have too much traveling to do already next year. Thank you for sharing.
Razena Schroeder
December 13, 2017 at 3:29 pmHaha Serena, I hear you. But who could turn down two weeks in one of the most scenic areas of the world 🙂
Soonjoo
December 13, 2017 at 1:17 amThis event sounds amazing for bloggers get together and socialize! Hope you get in!!! What a wonderful place to meet influential bloggers and grow! Voted for you!
Razena Schroeder
December 13, 2017 at 3:28 pmThank you Soonjoo! I pray that I can get in because it would be wonderful meeting and learning from bloggers from other parts of the world.
Sarmistha Goswami
December 12, 2017 at 10:30 pmThat sounds like a great opportunity for bloggers who are interested! Wish you good luck!
Personally I don’t like Kerala at all because they are into mass killing of dogs (in hundreds and thousands) and parade the dead bodies hanging on from bicycles, on the streets because that is the best solution they have come up with to tackle stray dog issues!!! As for me, I will not even pay one penny to such cruelty! I believe, this is inhumanity at its peak and they choose to call this state “God’s Own Country”. How inappropriate!
Razena Schroeder
December 12, 2017 at 11:53 pmGood gracious I had never heard about the stray dogs or the violent extermination practices of strays. That seems excessively cruel and I will definitely enquire from my colleagues tomorrow. Thanks for telling me.
five little doves
December 12, 2017 at 10:25 pmI have never heard of this either but what a great opportunity! Good luck to you, I hope that you are successful!
Razena Schroeder
December 12, 2017 at 11:52 pmThank you. Every vote counts for sure.
Anoop Kumar
December 12, 2017 at 9:22 pmI am from North India, but I have visited Kerala once. It’s majestic. Beautiful beaches and amazing backwaters. Hope you get included in the top 30. It’s a beautiful place. And it also has some amazing food, especially seafood 😀
Razena Schroeder
December 12, 2017 at 11:51 pmI have never visited India and it would be a trip of a lifetime, for sure. I have seen photos from my colleagues and the state has so many different breathtaking landscapes to explore.
Rach Rob
December 12, 2017 at 7:18 amWow!!! I had no idea about this. I am going to bookmark this and apply next year! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Razena Schroeder
December 12, 2017 at 8:57 amYou are most welcome. I hope we are both successful.
Lyka
December 12, 2017 at 6:08 amWow! That’s a wonderful opportunity for bloggers like us. I voted for you and hope you get included in the chosen ones. Best of luck! 🙂
Razena Schroeder
December 12, 2017 at 8:57 amThanks Lyka, you’re a star.