The Blonde Abroad blogging retreat in Bali was one of those happy surprises that changed the course of my life forever.  It’s funny how the universe conspires to point you in directions you didn’t even know you could go.

I’d been trying to put together a trip to Dubai for weeks, but plans just kept falling through.  Over… and over… and over again.

Disheartened by the latest roadblock, I turned to Instagram for a little wanderlust pick-me-up.  And what was the first post in my feed?  An announcement for the first-ever Blonde Abroad blogging retreat in Bali!

And just like that, Dubai was all but forgotten.

With over 1,300 applicants and only 30 available spots (15 per retreat) I knew it was a long shot.  But I also knew I had never wanted anything more.  So I submitted my application and thought of little else for weeks.  I checked my messages about 50 times a day (obsessive much?) until one day it came – my acceptance email!

The air caught in my chest, and I may or may not have shed a few tears (what?  I just had something in my eye…)  It was official – I was going to Bali to learn about blogging and photography from a personal hero (and an all-around rock star in the blogging universe) – Kiersten Rich!

Go ahead, pinch me.

The Mastermind Behind The Blonde Abroad Blogging Retreat – Kiersten Rich

Who is Kiersten Rich?  The short answer – she’s basically the coolest person you’ll ever meet.  She’s smart, funny, driven, down-to-earth, incredibly giving, and a diehard Harry Potter fan.

A classic overachiever, Kiersten has grown The Blonde Abroad into one of the most successful travel blogs on the internet.  She was even ranked #2 of the top 10 Travel Influencers of 2017 by Forbes magazine.  Not surprising, since she’s known worldwide and has been featured in several major publications for her impressive achievements.

On the outside, it looks like she simply hops around the globe enjoying exotic destinations in super cute outfits.  However, the real story behind all the pretty pictures involves a lot of hard work, long hours, and determination.

Learning as she went, Kiersten built a multi-pronged business from the ground up and fostered a community around it.  With positivity and great perspective, she encourages others to dream bigger and achieve more.

The Course

During the retreat, Kiersten was very forthcoming about exactly what made her the success she is today.  With an engaging teaching style, she covered:

» Creating a brand
» Graphic design
» Content creation
» Social media strategy
» Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
» Partnering with brands
» Effective monetization strategies
» Camera tutorials
» Photography composition
» Photoshop and Lightroom basics
» and so much more!

If you had a question, she had an answer.  If you were struggling, she’d help you work towards a solution.  She and her team really created an open, collaborative environment.

To say I learned a lot in my 10 days would be the understatement of the century.  Kiersten and her equally remarkable team went above and beyond to make it an experience that will stay with me forever.

The Villa

The retreat was hosted at The Palm House – an absolutely stunning villa in Canggu.  Mornings were welcomed with sunrise yoga by the infinity pool.  After a gourmet breakfast prepared by in-house chefs, it was time to learn.  Classes were held in an open-air room looking out onto the courtyard and pool.  Once our brains were sufficiently full, it was time to enjoy cocktails by the water at sunset.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh…

It was the perfect setting to learn and feed our creativity.

The Excursions

Every few days class would end early and we’d head out for an adventure around the island.  We hung out with monkeys at Ubud’s Sacred Monkey Forest, sipped cocktails at the iconic Old Mans bar, strolled along the Campuhan Ridge, shopped ’til we dropped at outdoor bazaars, and watched the sunset over the water temple at Tanah Lot (to name a few).  What better locations than these to practice our newfound photography skills!

Kiersten and her team were there to help us with the infinite number of camera settings, so we always captured the perfect shot.  And for those of us who are more comfortable behind the camera than in front of it, they also helped with how to look natural in our photographs (which isn’t easy when you’re super awkward like me).

And The Best Part of The Blonde Abroad Blogging Retreat In Bali – The Connections

One of my favorite things about the entire experience: new friendships.

Being surrounded by people who are creative, driven, and inspiring was something truly unique.  It didn’t take long for us to settle into life together at the villa.  Helping one another when problems arose, brainstorming ideas for our websites or photographs (how many different poses can you do on an inflatable swan?), and lending each other accessories for the perfect Instagram curation.

Everyone came with a determined spirit and a creative heart, and it made the experience that much more incredible.  I have no doubt that many of the friendships I formed in Bali will stand the test of time and distance.

The Blonde Abroad blogging retreat in Bali was a truly life-changing experience.  The skills I learned and the memories I made have propelled me forward in directions I never thought possible.

Less than four months after attending, I have more creative control over my site and I’m even ranking on Google!  That’s right, one of my posts on how to avoid animal abuse in tourism is actually the #1 search result out of almost 4 million, even above the ASPCA and Nomadic Matt!  And I owe it all to attending The Blonde Abroad blogging retreat in Bali.

It’s by far one of the best things I could have done for my blog, and I made some of the most amazing memories of my life.

Thanks, Universe.

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