What’s this? A blog pyramid scheme you say? Well, not really. The 7 Links Project is the brainchild of the folks at TripBase.com. Basically, bloggers are asked to select 7 of their posts that fall into the following categories:
– Your most beautiful post
– Your most popular post
– Your most controversial post
– Your most helpful post
– A post whose success surprised you
– A post you feel didn’t get the attention it deserved
The ever awesome Cathy Sweeney from Traveling With Sweeney nominated me, and I eagerly agreed. So without further ado, here are my 7 Links…
Most Beautiful: Travel Photo of the Week — Wat Phu Khao Thong, Ayuttaya, Thailand
This was my first attempt at black and white photography since I purchased my first DSLR camera, and I was pretty happy with the result. This post also taught me an important lesson – double-check your facts! Read the comments on this post to found out why.
Most Popular Post: Travel Photo of the Week – Jerash, Jordan
Not sure why this post got the results it did, but my site was shut down for a few hours because of so many hits – there were over 2500 page views in one hour. My hosting company even called me to say “Whoa, Nelly”.
Popularity has nothing to do with quality though – this was a scanned photo I took over 10 years ago (and not a particularly good one I might add) and take a look at the number of comments — a big fat zero. Oh internet, you fickle mistress you.
Most Controversial: The World is Flat and You Can Be Too
This was the second most popular post I’ve done, and honestly, it was the most fun to research. I wanted to do something with the photos I took from Fogo Island, Newfoundland last year, and they morphed into this.
It was controversial for a couple of reasons.
Number one – a lot of folks didn’t believe that there were actually people out there who still believe the earth is flat.
And number two – there seems to be some discrepancy when it comes to defining the Four Corners of the Flat Earth. Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism says The Flat Earth Society came up with the list. The Flat Earth Society says it was a performance artist name Kay Burns. And Kay says it wasn’t her – she believes there are many corners to the flat earth. And so around we go.
if only Newfoundland Tourism would respond to my email, then I could finish my follow-up post.
Most Helpful: What’s in Your Travel Toiletry Bag? Slightly Troubling Things You’ll Find in Mine…
I don’t necessarily think that this was the most helpful, but it outlined some slightly odd things that I carry in my toiletry bag when I travel.
Post Whose Success Surprised Me: 7 Habits of Highly Ineffective Hotels
This was more of a personal rant than anything, so I didn’t expect it to do as well as it did.
Deserves More Attention: Radical Change, Giving it All Away, and the Happiness of Travel — 5 Organizations to Help You on Your Road to Redemption
This was one from early this year when I was still on Blogger and had a lot to learn about post titles. I was still finding my legs as a blogger, but thought this was a good balance between being thoughtful and being humorous.
Most Proud Of: Growing Old Before My Time
I like my walls, so it’s hard to open up a great deal of the time. This one’s about my decision to quit my job to go travel. It also marked me coming out of the blogging closet. A double-whammy of drama. I was happy with the result, and touched by the support and feedback.
A big ooey gooey thank-you to Cathy from Traveling With Sweeney for the nomination. Be sure to follow her on Facebook.
As part of the chain letter project, I have to nominate 5 bloggers as well. Here are my picks:
Leif from The Runaway Guide
Justin from Justin Was Here
David from Almost Bohemian
Dyanne from Travel’n Lass
Shamis from Gawaya
America 
Canada 
Oman 
OMG Raymond! I about splattered my popsicle all over my laptop when – upon arriving at the end of your lovely chain… err 7 Links – I found you’d nominated the TravelnLass to continue the chai… err torch.
But seriously, I’ve been enjoying everyone’s 7 little reprises (so often we miss these great past posts when we first stumble into a blog), so thanks much for letting me play with the big kids on the travel blog block.
(and yes, a popsicle – banana, if you must know. Some folks sip java whilst pecking, but I favor the more reckless risk of slurping icy chunks one-handed above my keyboard)
You are very welcome Dyanne! I like the cut of yer jib and you’ve got some very funny stuff on your blog — hopefully it’ll get some more attention!
Now, both hands on the keyboard please…
Nice collection! I’m looking forward to checking out the few I missed. Keep up the great work!
Thanks for the compliment Randy! I need to catch up with your blog soon too!
I checked out a few of these posts. Glad to have recently discovered your site – one of my favs.
Samuel you are far too kind! Thanks!!
And a big ooey gooey thanks to you, Raymond, for posting your 7 Links! As you know, I’m a big fan of yours. But I confess that I hadn’t read your “Deserves More Attention” piece. I guess we weren’t acquainted at the time. Just read it now and you are right — It deserved more attention. I’ve just tweeted the link!
Thanks Cathy — you are a sweetheart!!
I hear you on the high traffic/low quality thing. Still, i wouldn’t mind getting a phone call like that some time…
It was quite the surprise call — especially since I was at a bar drinking with friends.
I’m sure you’ll get the call one day!
Great round up! I haven’t read all of these and will take the time to do so now.
There are people who believe the earth is flat? Seriously. . .
Seriously! The make some pretty good arguments, but we all know the earth is square.
Great round-up! And your ‘most beautiful’ photo is indeed stunning
Thanks Andrea!
Great selections! I missed a couple of these the first time around so I’m glad I got to see them
Thanks Michael — I just read through your 7 picks yesterday — great choices!
How’d I miss the flat earth society when I was in Newfoundland?
They were probably out to lunch.
Some people still believe the world is flat? Really??
The truth is out there Roy. Hee hee…
I’m from the East Coast and I didn’t know about the Flat Earth Society…although not surprised
I had known about the Flat Earth Society before, but didn’t know that Fogo (of all places) had a key role…go figure…
Oh Raymond, I needed to read your quitting post again today.
A great collection of posts from an inspiring guy. Keep up the good work.
Barbara you are far too generous with the compliments! It’s going to my head!! Thank-you, thank-you, THANK-YOU!!!
’twas a truly great project. Giving us all a chance to wheel out the oldies, the oddities, and the favourite posts that have almost passed off into the netherworld. And I met a lot of new nice people too.
It was indeed — I think it started as a link-building exercise for them (yes, I’m a skeptic), but in the end it really got bloggers rolling, and it was fun reading everyone’s posts…
I’m intrigued. I must know what is in your toiletries bag.
All will be revealed shortly…
All of your posts are amazing, and the photography is beautiful. Happy travels!
Thanks Amber! Much appreciated!
Oh! This is a gem of a post. 7 wonderful links to go through… The first one looks particularty inviting…
Have a fabulous week ahead Ray:)
Hi Raymond, somehow I missed that you nominated me for this fun project and only now I’m seeing this. Wish I saw this back then. Thank you