Blogger Spotlight: Ariel Samangka of The Little Lai

It’s March and it’s going to be an exciting month as we will be featuring another two (2) high-caliber Cebuano bloggers here at The Blogger Spotlight. To fire things up, let’s get to know the story of the blogger who is always on the go. A frustrated singer who spends an hour in the shower room singing. A desultory traveler who blogs to share his adventures and random thoughts in life.

With no further adieu, let’s meet Ariel Samangka, the ordinary guy who does extraordinary things and the blogger behind The Little Lai: Beyond Limits.

TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF AND HOW YOU GOT INTO BLOGGING?

Lai: I’m just an ordinary guy that stands small when you spot me in the crowd, but always choose to bring the tallest tally of dreams that makes me different among others. The smallest man you could have already met and will about to meet, but always keep a list of places that he wants to explore. A desultory traveler beyond limits. Sharing his adventure and random thoughts in life while travelling is what keeps him busy. He’s constantly on the go with his busy feet and always elated whenever he traipse his two little itchy feet in the paradise called adventure.

I was then in the midriff of the road of confusion trying to find the best way to escape from the reality of life. I know I was in the right place the moment I caught the last drop of saline fluid freely rolling down my face. I took the piece of paper and trying to embrace the comfort of words and that’s how I started picturing myself in a world that words has become the perfect road to save me from the agony of the past. My blogging life was started that moment, I was united with unending thoughts running in mind and pain slowly bridging it to words. In the most superficial term, I was then broken hearted that time and that led me to travel and blog as well.

WHERE DID YOU GET THE IDEA OF YOUR BLOG’S NAME?

Lai: At first, I was not even comfortable to come up with an idea of my blog’s name. I don’t even realize the entire idea that surrounds blogging in the first place. Because of the help of a friend who happens to be a travel blogger as well, he helps me out until I came up with the thought of making my blog’s name as Thelittlelai: Beyond limits. It is because I’m just like a little adventurous man who invariably get lost in a strange land and always choose to get his way out beyond the limits.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT BLOGGING?

Lai: What I love most about blogging is not about the awards and the recognitions I got. But I have been an inspiration to a great deal of people whom I have touched their lives through my travel stories and even my own reflection about life while I’m traveling. The messages I received that I was able to help them get to the destination they haven’t been to and how I’ve inspired them to travel despite the financial barriers. My avid readers and followers are truly my inspiration as well, and some of them turned to be my good friends. And I guess that’s what I like and love most about blogging that even a money can’t buy.

Another thing is that, I gain new friends along the way. New friends, new events, new conversations, new challenges plus lots and lots of perks!

WHAT IS THE FOCUS OF YOUR BLOG AND WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THAT NICHE?

Lai: You will certainly find a travel stories and life lessons while traveling when you try to read my blog. My blog is about my travels and my own reflection along the road. Why did I choose this niche? It is because I’m growing in terms of the lessons I learned whenever I travel. It’s not purely travel stories, but you’ll surely learn from my travel experiences as well.

NAME 5 OF YOUR FAVORITE BLOGGERS AND AND WHY

I know that all bloggers are unique in their own niche. But I hold a few bloggers whom I have been looking up to since I started blogging.

The Adventure of Adventuroj
She’s truly been my inspiration since I began blogging. I always looked up to her for all her solo backpacking all over the provinces in the Philippines and South East Asia. She recently backpacking in South East Asia and she was able to visit 11 countries for 60 days.

Adrenaline Romance
The couple behind this blog has been my motivation. They are truly an inspiration to a great deal of bloggers because of their commitment to their blog. Yes, they are a hard core traveler that used to climb mountains and always prefer to explore the secluded destination. You’ll learn from their travels because of their tips and their heart to whatever they do.

Filipina Explorer
She’s one of a kind. A single mother and a provider to her daughter, but they never run out of adventures together. She’s just amazing and she had just won in a Navigator Global writing contest who happens to bring home the second place among other 80 finalists from all over the world.

Pinoy Adventurista
He’s one of the finest and a pride of Filipino of being known around the world. Ever since, I have known him and I have been reading his blog way back when I was not yet a travel blogger. He has never run out of tips to share whenever he drops a line.

The Poor Traveler
They have been travelling around the world right after they explore the Philippines. The bloggers behind this blog are truly down to earth, even they have been receiving a great deal of awards locally and internationally. I’m really a big fan of them

5 TOOLS YOU USE WITH YOUR BLOGGING

Tools that I’m using? It got me a while to answer this one, since I’m not really a technical person. But I’m using my phone whenever I blog ever since I began blogging. I use a Fotor app to enhance my pictures as well.

WHERE DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION FOR YOUR BLOG POSTS?

Lai: Apart from a few bloggers that I’m looking up to and have been inspired by them. I’m also inspired by the people who read my blog and the comments I got. Above all, I found my inspiration from God, where I always get my strength whenever I feel so down in my blogging life

BESIDES BLOGGING, WHAT OTHER INTERESTS DO YOU HAVE?

Lai: I spend about an hour in a shower room every morning cause I sing a lot and singing has always been my best friend ever since. I’m a frustrated singer who prefers to sing when no one hears me. I also enjoy watching movies cause it’s always made me sleep, the movie is like a sleeping pill for me.

GIVE US 5 OF YOUR BEST BLOG POSTS

Lai: I truly can’t tell which is my best blog posts, but you can check my blog, The Little Lai.

WHAT IS BIGGEST CHALLENGE OF BEING A BLOGGER?

Lai: The greatest challenge of being a blogger for me is myself and nothing else. It invariably depends on how motivated you are to write. Time also plays a great role and sometimes this became a challenge for me as well.

WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE WHO JUST STARTED BLOGGING

Lai: Always choose to write from the heart. Whatever motivates you to write go for it, never deprived yourself from writing because of the cynical thoughts looming over your head made from the negative people. Make it as an opportunity to grow and always choose to listen and learn than trying to show that you’re right. Always prefer to write to inspire others and not for fame and money. At the right time, fame and money will make their way to you.

IN THE FUTURE WHERE DO YOU HOPE YOUR BLOG WILL TAKE YOU?

Lai: I hope this will bring me to a bigger opportunity and to inspire more people from the four corners of the world.

LASTLY, SHARE US 10 FUNNY STUFF ABOUT YOU

1. I face the mirror whenever I feel down and talk to myself.
2. I enjoy taking a lot of photos, but I rarely share them in any social media, if ever I shared, you will only see one photo posted on my Facebook wall.
3. I tend to forget names so when I see you around, I smile, but I’m facing with a struggle of trying to figure out your name.
4. I spend about one hour in a shower room because I sing a lot before I start taking a bath.
5. I constantly bring my phone whenever I go to a toilet room while trying to release a miracle in my stomach because I got good ideas and I write them.
6. I usually don’t reply to any messages unless if it’s important.
7. I easily get to hear the wrong pronunciation of words without me paying attention and I correct it right away.
8. Kwek-Kwek (Street food in the Philippines made from a small egg, wrapped in a mix flour and cooked in a boiling oil), is like a heaven for me, I spend 14 pesos of fare going to Colon to buy for 10 pesos worth of kwek-kwek.
9. I have 3 jobs, but always run out of money to spend, sometimes I feel like maybe because I work so hard? ( Hahahaha).
10. I love to travel alone and when I set out my body, kissing the bed while my eyes staring off the ceiling at night in a new place, I question myself why I travel alone? Isn’t it pretty confusing? 

There you have it folks. Thank you for reading.
Stay tuned for another edition of The Blogger Spotlight.

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Be sure to follow The Little Lai

Blog: The Little Lai
Affiliation: Cebu Blogging Community
Facebook: /LaiAriel / Twitter: @thelittlelai1  / Instagram: @thelittlelai