Blog design overhaul

3:58:00 PM 0 Comments A+ a-


Since I've been taking online classes, one of the things I learned was the importance of having a well-designed blog. I mean, yes, I knew that a long time ago, but this was the first time in over a year that I've taken a step back and looked at my blog critically.

How do you like this new look?

I think I've spent five hours tweaking all the codes and figuring out which part of the template I needed to edit to get what I wanted, such as the sub-menus and the icons and deleting fixed/locked widgets. Thank God for the internet!

And I just found out after five hours that HTML5 doesn't support bullet points (HTML <li>) tags anymore. Bummer. I now have to use the CSS code (which I have dutifully applied to this post).

But there are a few things I still don't know how to do, such as:

  • Turn my header name from black to a gold color
  • How to fix that search button
  • How to make all the labels of my post appear
  • How to make some of my images not blow up
  • How to make the clickable links stand out
  • How to make visited links turn into a different color

  • I love this new theme a lot, but tweaking this wasn't easy for someone who doesn't really have a background in coding/programming. Everything I was able to do, I learned from a basic HTML class I took in high school and a whole lot of GIYF moments.

    I know I could have hired someone but (confession) I actually love to code my blog. I always learn something new, and I feel so accomplished. Programming has always been one of those things I'd taken way back in college, so I dabble in it whenever I can.

    If anyone has problems with drop down menus and sub menus, the Java2s website was the most helpful tutorial I could find, and believe me, I looked through a lot of links. This was the only code that also worked for my blog, too.

    If you have any suggestions on how to fix the problems I listed above, that would be so welcome.


    Dreaming of the Kingdom of Bhutan

    2:51:00 PM 0 Comments A+ a-


    Taktshang (Tiger's Nest) Monastery
    Taktshang (Tiger's Nest) Monastery
    Image by: Douglas J. McLaughlin - Own work, CC BY 2.5

    Since I fulfilled my Paris trip dreams (soon to be up on the blog!), I've been looking for a new major dream I'd like to fulfil.

    This year, I have completed several domestic trips (which I should write about!), and I have several more lined up, but I feel hungry for more, something out of the ordinary.


    Paro Valley, Bhutan
    Paro Valley, Bhutan
    Image by: jmhullot / www.flickr.com
    License: Creative Commons License (By SA 2.0)

    My parents and I plan to visit Jerusalem in the near future – although that's dependent on my mom getting her pension when she turns 60 next year. And of course, I need to save up for that because I've been paying for my own travel expenses since I graduated from college, even when travelling with family.

    But I wanted something more. So I planned to go to Machu Picchu, but that would depend on my being able to visit the US, too, which is within my five-year plan. That seems so far away.

    Enter Bhutan.

    I accidentally stumbled upon Daphne's blog post about her trip to Bhutan, and aided by Johnny's posts about Bhutan, and it instantly fuelled my wanderlust. Beautiful vistas, warm people, and just a chill trip all around? Sign me up.

    I looked it up immediately and found it would cost me maybe about P100,000 to P150,000. I guess it will cost almost as much as my Euro trip, but this time I'd only get to stay in one country for a week. But there are some things worth paying for, and I think the relaxation and inner peace Bhutan could give me just might be worth it.

    Listing down the major trips I have to save up for...

    • Jerusalem / Holy Land / Istanbul / Jordan
    • Cambodia/Vietnam
    • New York & Machu Picchu (have to do it in one go to save up on air fare)
    • Kingdom of Bhutan
    • Japan
    • Iceland -- I want to see those auroras!
    • Scandinavia

    Gulp. Well. Time to save up and invest!



    Haa Valley, Bhutan
    Haa Valley
    By No machine-readable author provided. Greenmnm69 assumed (based on copyright claims).
    - No machine-readable source provided. Own work assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 2.5

    *All images have been sourced and credited, as I haven't been to Bhutan. If you are the owner of any of these photos and want it/them removed, kindly let me know. No copyright infringement intended.