Funny Travel quotes are a great way to get inspired and at the same time to bring fun and entertainment. There is a simple reason for that: they keep the travel persona in you going! Whenever you are not able to travel for whatever reason, a funny travel quote may help you sometimes to get you moving! So here some of my Funny Travel Quotes collection.
Hi there! First of all, I am Daniel from the Philippines. If you don’t know my story yet, feel free to read this article where I talked about myself becoming a digital nomad. This article was also featured on TripZilla Philippines.
Let me know which one is your favorite funny travel quotes. Enjoy!
Funny Travel Quotes for Millennials
Friends: Why are you always gone?Me: Why are you always here?
<img src="http://dantravels.org/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/FRIENDS_-WHY-ARE-YOU-ALWAYS-GONE_-ME_-WHY-ARE-YOU-ALWAYS-HERE_-oaj7fwrww5kk9woaz6cbeqjd3qtkqteswg5ml7ery8.jpg" title="FRIENDS_ WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS GONE_ ME_ WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS HERE_" alt="FRIENDS_ WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS GONE_ ME_ WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS HERE_">
Dear Flight Attendants,If you see I’m asleep when you’re serving snacks & drinks, please wake my ass up.Sincerely, I want my money’s worth.
<img src="http://dantravels.org/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/Dear-Flight-Attendants-If-you-see-Im-asleep-when-youre-serving-snacks-drinks-please-wake-my-ass-up.-Sincerely-I-want-my-moneys-worth.-oaj6u135szma0oggqpuyd9b3aunzkgjqk5gqfbuosg.jpg" title="Dear Flight Attendants, If you see I’m asleep when you’re serving snacks & drinks, please wake my ass up. Sincerely, I want my money’s worth." alt="Dear Flight Attendants, If you see I'm asleep when you're serving snacks & drinks, please wake my ass up. Sincerely, I want my money's worth. funny travel quotes">
I googled my symptoms. Turns out I just need a vacation.
<img src="http://dantravels.org/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/I-GOOGLED-MY-SYMPTOMS.-TURNS-OUT-I-JUST-NEED-A-VACATION.-oaj60f66iv34avgrmx40tqadnwlr3p04hlo47jr4sg.jpg" title="I GOOGLED MY SYMPTOMS. TURNS OUT I JUST NEED A VACATION." alt="I GOOGLED MY SYMPTOMS. TURNS OUT I JUST NEED A VACATION.">
Of all the books in the world, the best stories are found between the pages of a passport.
<img src="http://dantravels.org/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/Of-all-the-books-in-the-world-the-best-stories-are-found-between-the-pages-of-a-passport.-oakma828uf4rmy1j8c7omv3n29ft57mn7nqw61l3wg.jpg" title="Of all the books in the world, the best stories are found between the pages of a passport." alt="Of all the books in the world, the best stories are found between the pages of a passport. funny travel quotes. funny travel quotes">
Traveling solo does not mean traveling alone. Most often, you meet awesome people along the way and make connections that last a lifetime.
<img src="http://dantravels.org/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/TRAVELING-SOLO-DOES-NOT-MEAN-TRAVELING-ALONE.-MOST-OFTEN-YOU-MEET-AWESOME-PEOPLE-ALONG-THE-WAY-AND-MAKE-CONNECTIONS-THAT-LAST-A-LIFETIME.-oaj5esvtc1hp9qv9vkoxh6opsv5u2b6dili2uft3wg.jpg" title="TRAVELING SOLO DOES NOT MEAN TRAVELING ALONE. MOST OFTEN, YOU MEET AWESOME PEOPLE ALONG THE WAY AND MAKE CONNECTIONS THAT LAST A LIFETIME." alt="TRAVELING SOLO DOES NOT MEAN TRAVELING ALONE. MOST OFTEN, YOU MEET AWESOME PEOPLE ALONG THE WAY AND MAKE CONNECTIONS THAT LAST A LIFETIME. funny travel quotes">
Physically I’m here. Mentally, I’m in a pool in Bali ordering my third mojito.
<img src="http://dantravels.org/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/Physically-Im-here.-Mentally-Im-in-a-pool-in-Bali-ordering-my-third-mojito.-oaj4g8dhze62a12zqmqvrwqfapjuz1xrfhr7g32cqo.jpg" title="Physically I’m here. Mentally, I’m in a pool in Bali ordering my third mojito." alt="Physically I'm here. Mentally, I'm in a pool in Bali ordering my third mojito.">
My friends don’t ask ‘How are you?’, they ask ‘Where are you?’
<img src="http://dantravels.org/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/MY-FRIENDS-DONT-ASK-HOW-ARE-YOU_-THEY-ASK-WHERE-ARE-YOU_-oaj3vlt009xji31m6prm244a0b7w261t9edmbhnda8.jpg" title="MY FRIENDS DON’T ASK ‘HOW ARE YOU_’ THEY ASK ‘WHERE ARE YOU_’" alt="MY FRIENDS DON'T ASK 'HOW ARE YOU?' THEY ASK 'WHERE ARE YOU?' funny travel quotes">
Go to work.Open computer.Scroll for plane tickets for 6 hours.Close computer.Go home.
<img src="http://dantravels.org/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/GO-TO-WORK.-OPEN-COMPUTER.-SCROLL-FOR-PLANE.-TICKETS-FOR-6-HOURS.-CLOSE-COMPUTER.-GO-HOME.-1-oaiovjn9b2movnifr9sbgea2yh3tiq1sccmfw6egao.jpg" title="GO TO WORK. OPEN COMPUTER. SCROLL FOR PLANE. TICKETS FOR 6 HOURS. CLOSE COMPUTER. GO HOME." alt="GO TO WORK. OPEN COMPUTER. SCROLL FOR PLANE. TICKETS FOR 6 HOURS. CLOSE COMPUTER. GO HOME.">
On my flight home, I’m already planning my next trip.
<img src="http://dantravels.org/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/on-my-flight-home-Im-already-planning-my-next-trip-oaio9vh7qkyp7azoawjyyv5hwnx61y0kp35fkij7r4.jpg" title="on my flight home I’m already planning my next trip" alt="on my flight home I'm already planning my next trip funny travel quotes">
Packing tip: Never unpack so you’re already packed to go next time.
<img src="http://dantravels.org/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/packing-tip_-never-unpack-so-youre-already-packed-to-go-next-time.-oaing7ok2scyua2pi2zsaclv2y475s9hya1ue6ig3k.jpg" title="packing tip_ never unpack so you’re already packed to go next time." alt="packing tip_ never unpack so you're already packed to go next time. Funny travel quotes">
The hardest part about traveling is saying goodbye to friends you’ll probably never see again.
<img src="http://dantravels.org/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/The-hardest-part-about-traveling-is-saying-goodbye-to-friends-youll-probably-never-see-again.-oaklsqadnf6nk7gbdrzn8a0t23nvw06hh2nkmnivpc.jpg" title="The hardest part about traveling is saying goodbye to friends you’ll probably never see again." alt="The hardest part about traveling is saying goodbye to friends you'll probably never see again. funny travel quotes">
I have been traveling abroad for the past four years and have met some incredible people through penpal and language exchange sites. In fact, I started making international friends online long before I ever set foot outside my home country.
In this blog, I’m sharing the best free penpal and language exchange platforms that have worked for me!
I remember back in 2013, my first penpal was Chisako from Fukuoka, Japan. She even sent me some of her beautifully sketched anime drawings!
From my Japanese Penpal way back in 2015.My Japanese penpal sent me her hand-drawn sketches!
I’ve had several “snail mail” penpals over the years. Snail mail means corresponding through handwritten letters, stamps, and the post office. There’s something so exciting about finding a physical letter in your mailbox!
If you’re looking for something more modern to learn about new cultures, languages, and traditions, these five websites and apps are the best free options available today.
TOP 5 FREE PENPAL & LANGUAGE EXCHANGE SITES
1. SLOWLY (The Digital Snail Mail)
Slowly is perfect for those who find instant messaging too overwhelming. It brings the traditional penpal experience to your smartphone. The “letters” take time to arrive depending on how far away your penpal lives! It’s a great way to have meaningful, long-form conversations.
2. INTERPALS
Interpals is one of the oldest and largest communities on the web. It’s fantastic for finding travel buddies or locals who can show you around their city. Meeting someone from another country gives you a unique perspective on their culture through the eyes of a friend.
Interpals is the site where my Japanese penpal and I first chatted.
3. PENPAL WORLD
PenPal World is highly focused on safety and privacy. All initial interactions happen through their internal messaging system, so your personal information stays hidden until you’re ready to share it. It’s a very clean, straightforward site for finding international matches.
4. MY LANGUAGE EXCHANGE
If your goal is specifically to practice a new language, My Language Exchange is the go-to. You can search for partners by city and country, allowing you to find a native speaker of the language you’re learning while helping them with yours in return.
5. GLOBAL PENFRIENDS
Global Penfriends is excellent for both email and traditional snail mail. They have a family-friendly environment and a “virtual smile” feature to break the ice. It’s a very active community with members of all ages.
A QUICK SAFETY TIP
While meeting people online is a great way to prepare for travel, please stay cautious. I’ve mostly used Interpals and PenPal World, and occasionally you’ll run into “fake” profiles. Never share sensitive financial information or your home address until you have built a solid foundation of trust.
Good luck finding your new friends! If there’s a site I missed that you think belongs in the Top 5, let me know in the comments below!
Are you visiting Thailand anytime soon? If you are, learning a few basic Thai expressions or phrases can immensely help you when traveling around Thailand. Take it from me! As of this writing, I’ve been here for more than a year and have been enjoying my time especially those moments when I interact with the local people. When you try to speak their language, most locals will appreciate the effort and may even have a friendly giggle at your pronunciation.
Although English is widely spoken in touristy areas, having a few Thai words ready in your pocket can surely help.
In this blog article, I am going to walk you through 30 useful Thai expressions that will definitely help you enjoy your trip.
This is me buying street food in Bangkok, Thailand
30 BASIC THAI EXPRESSIONS (with GRAMMAR TIPS and AUDIOS)
In this list, I have also included grammar and pronunciation tips to help you speak like a local! It would also help if you listen to each of the audio to help you guide on the pronunciation. Those audios were recorded by a Thai friend of mine. So good luck or I should say susu na krap!
1. sàwàdee (kráp/kâ)
Translation: Hello!
TIP 1: In Thai language: if you’re a male, you add “kráp” at the end of each expression to make it sound more polite. If you’re a female you add “kâ” instead. Usually, local men would just drop the “r” in “kráp” sounding it more like “káp” or “háp.”
Sàwàdee is basically the usual Thai greeting. So it can also be used when saying “Good morning, Good afternoon, Good evening, or even Good bye.”
TIP 2: When you’re greeting an elderly, a teacher, or basically someone you respect, the “wai” greeting is usually paired with the word “sàwàdee”, thereby making it a greeting and also a way in which to show someone respect. The “wai” consists of a slight bow, with the palms pressed together in a prayer-like fashion.
All of us doing the “wai” sign with our local Thai guide in the middle
2. sàbaaidee măi (kráp/kâ)?
Translation: How are you?
Reply: sàbaaidee (kráp/kâ) [means: I’m well.]
TIP 3: The word “măi” has no literal translation in English. When “măi” is added at the end of an expression, it makes the expression a question.
Sàbaai literally means “relaxed” while dee means “good”. So the expression “sàbaaidee măi” literally means “Are you good?” or something like “You good?” And most of the time the Thai word for “You” is omitted in either a question or a response.
Sometimes I hear Thai people say “dee dee dee” which means “good good good.” Haha!
3. chai/mâi chai (kráp/kâ)
Translation: Yes / No
Don’t be confused “mâi” with “măi”. Each has actually different pronunciation and meaning. When mâi is added before a word, it becomes”negative” or meant the opposite.
TIP 4: Another way of saying “yes” is kráp or kâ. When you understand and agree with one’s statement, instead of replying “yes” or “right”, you can say kráp (for male) or kâ (for female.)
TIP 5: And another way of saying “no” is “plao”.
4. kòp kun (kráp/kâ)
Translation: Thank you.
The Thai word “kun” means “you” but it could also translate to Mr. or Ms. So “Kun Daniel” would mean Mr. Daniel. Please note that last names in Thailand have only been in used for the last 50 years so it is common for Thai people to call me Kun Daniel.
5. mâi pen rai (kráp/kâ)
Translation: No worries or Not an issue.
This is the usual response to “Thank you.”
TIP 6: It is common to pronounce the “r” sound in Thai like an “l” sound. I personally feel like I am more understood by the locals when I pronounce “r” as “l”. So instead of saying “mâi pen rai”, I’d say “mâi pen lai.”
Before we continue with the list, let me just introduce first the two basic pronouns in Thai.
Pom/Chan – Pom and Chan both mean “me”, “myself”, or “I”. Take note that Pom is only used by men. Chan is used by both men and women. I personally use pom though.
Kun – As I’ve explained in #3, this means “you” and could also mean “your”.
6. róo/mâi róo (kráp/kâ)
Translation: I know/I don’t know
In this expression, ” róo” means “know”.
TIP 7: Local Thais usually omit personal pronouns Pom or Chan when saying this but you can also say it as “Pom róo/Chan róo and “Pom mâi róo/Chan mâi róo.
7. mi/mâi mi (kráp/kâ)
Translation: I have/I don’t have
I used this expression a lot when buying something at 7-11. Upon payment, the cashier would ask me “All Member mi krap/ka?” (Do you have All-Member card?), so I just simply respond by saying: “mâi mi kap” (I don’t have.)
8. dâai/mâi dâai (kráp/kâ)
Translation: Possible/Not possible
This can also mean “I can” or “I can’t”
9. kun pôod phasăa ang-grìt dâai măi?
Translation: Can you speak English?
So we’re now in the point where we’ve learn a couple of Thai words and where we can mix and match them to create phrases of different meaning. In this expression, the literal translation word-by-word is:
kun – you
pôod – speak
phasăa ang-grìt – English or English language (phasăa means language)
dâai măi – can?/can you?
Reply:
Pom pôod phasăa ang-grìt dâai krap. [I can speak English.]
Pom pôod phasăa ang-grìt dâai nidnoi krap. [I can speak English a little.]
NOTE: When someone asks me if I can speak Thai, I’d normally say “Pom pôod phasăa thai dâai nidnoi krap” or just simply nidnoi (meaning a little.)
10. leaw kun la (kráp/kâ)?
Translation: And yourself?
If you want to ask someone back with the same question, you can say this expression.
To put it into perspective, so here is a sample dialogue in Thai.
A: kun pôod phasăa ang-grìt dâai măi? [Can you speak English?]
B: dâai. leaw kun la krap? [Yes, I can. And yourself?]
In the next five sentences, I’ll be using the Thai word “na“. In a nutshell, adding “na” makes the expression “softer” and it adds the sense of sincerity when you use it.
11. kŏr tôht na (kráp/kâ)
Translation: Sorry.
12. tôht na (kráp/kâ)?
Translation: Excuse me.
I used this expression quite a lot, too. I used this whenever I want to ask politely for something or I might do something that might affect someone like me getting through a crowded place.
13. susu na (kráp/kâ)
Translation: Fighting! or Good luck!
This is one of my personal favorite Thai expressions. Whenever you wish someone a piece of good luck and just a word of encouragement, you can say “susu!” or “susu na k’ap!“
14. laa gòn na (kráp/kâ)
Translation: Good bye.
TIP 8: Another way of saying goodbye is “jer gan.” It literally means “see you”. I believe this is more colloquial and common to say goodbye.
15. àrai na (kráp/kâ)?
Translation: What did you say? or Say that again, please.
The Thai word for “what” is “àrai“. And when you add the word “na”,you are basically politely asking someone to repeat what he/she said because you didn’t get it the first time.
TIP 9: There is another way of saying this but only with your closed friends. You can say “àrai wa?” which literally translates to “what the heck?” or to some extent “what the f*ck?” This is a bit rude if you are talking to someone you don’t know or someone superior to you.
Now in the next expressions, I’ll be introducing to you the equivalent WH-question words. I won’t be covering them all but the common ones are:
àrai – what
têe năi – where
tâo rài – how much / how many
mue rài – when
tham mai – why
yàang-rai – how
These normally appear in the end of a Thai sentence. Refer to the next sample expressions.
16. kun chêu arai (kráp/kâ)?
Translation: What’s your name?
The Thai word for “name” is “chêu“. Again, you can omit the pronoun “kun” and simply say “chêu alai kap?”
17. kun maa jàak tee năi (kráp/kâ)?
Translation: Where do you come from? / Where are you from?
The Thai word for “come” is “maa” while the Thai word for “from” is “jàak“. Simple as that. =)
18. hông náam yòo têe năi (kráp/kâ)?
Translation: Where is the toilet?
The Thai word for “toilet” is “hông náam” which literally translate to “water room” (hông is room; náam is water.) Yòo is some sort of an article like “at” or “on”.
19. an née tâo rài (kráp/kâ)?
Translation: How much is this?
This is another Thai expression that I used very often. When you’re at the market and you see a fruit you want to buy for instance, then you point it out and you say “an née tâo rài kap“? The Thai word for “this” or “this one here” is “an née”.
20. phasăa thai … pôod wâa yàang-rai (kráp/kâ)?
Translation: How do you say … in Thai?
This is the longest expression in this list but you’ll need this in case you’re now in the stage where you want to learn more vocabulary. So you can simply ask a Thai local and say “phasăa thai an née (this one) pôod wâa yàang-rai (kráp/kâ)? Wâa is some sort of an article connector.
21. chai măi?
Translation: Right? or Correct?
Another favorite expression of mine and I used this all the time! I normally mixed it up with an English expression and then ending it by saying “chai măi?” So basically you’re asking the person you’re talking to if your statement is correct. Say for example: “You’re a student here, chai măi?” If he/she agrees he/she would simply say “chai” (meaning yes.)
22. khâo jai măi?
Translation: Do you understand?
This is useful when you can’t express something in Thai and while you’re saying it in English, you want to make sure you pause and ask them if they indeed understood you so you say “kun khâo jai măi?” or simply remove “kun” and say “khâo jai măi?”
23. jing ná? / jing jing?
Translation: Really? / Seriously?
I think this is a good one. I like using this Thai expression as well. It’s like I’m blending in so much!
24. yin dee têe dâi róo jàk.
Translation: Pleased to meet you. / Nice to meet you.
25. neung, song, sam, see, ha, hok, jet, paed, gao, sip
These counting numbers are very useful in a normal Thai conversation. And most importantly when you’re at the grocery store, you’ll be aware of how much you’re going to pay for!
Counting in Thai language is easy. You basically just need to mix and match the numbers from one to ten and you’re all set! For example:
Twelve: Sip song (10 and 2)
Thirty: Sam sip (3 and 10)
Eighty five: Paed sip ha (8, 10, and 5)
There are two exceptions though:
you don’t use “neung” in saying “eleven” (or other tens ending by one. Instead, you use “ed.” So eleven would be “sip ed” and thirty one would be “sam sip ed.”
also, you don’t say “song sip” for “twenty”, instead you say “yi sip.” So twenty one would be “yi sip ed“
26. pai!
Translation: go!
I know this is just a word but if you use it together with other Thai words you just learned, then this is going to be one heck of a relief. If you’re telling a taxi driver to go to “Sukhumvit 55th st., you can say “pai Sukhumvit soi ha sip ha” (soi means street.)
27. kun gin arai?
Translation: What did you eat?
Now we knew “kun” is “you” and “arai” is “what”. The new word here is “gin” and it means “eat.”
28. aroi mak!
Translation: Very delicious!
You’ll be using this so much when you’re complimenting how delicious food is! The Thai word for “delicious” is “aroi” and for “very” or “extremely” is “mak“.
With the word “mak“, you can basically partner this to any word. Say for example; instead of saying “kob kun krap,” you can say “kob kun mak krap” to say “thank you very much.”
29. mâi phet / phet mak
Translation: Not spicy / Very spicy
I bet most of us want to go to Thailand for a food trip, chai măi? I gotta tell you though that Thai food is quite known for being spicy! So if you want to say you don’t want to have something spicy, you can say “mâi phet.” The Thai word for spicy is “phet.” Phet mak on the other hand means “very spicy”.
30. sai krong dâai măi?
Translation: Can you put it in a container?
From the previous list, we knew “dâai măi” means “can you”. The Thai word for “put” is “sai“. This Thai expression is useful when you want to take out food. Krong is a sort of a food container.
TIP 10: Or if you want to say like: “Can you put it in a plastic bag?”, you can just change “krong” to “tong” (the word for plastic bag.)
FINAL THOUGHTS
Well, what can I say… Thai can be a difficult language to learn as it is a tonal language. One word can have multiple meanings depending on how it is pronounced.
You are most definitely going to make mistakes, but don’t let that put you off. Personally, I love learning this language because I love getting wide grins and chuckles from locals when I say something unexpected in their language.
Anyway, please let me know what is your favorite Thai expression. I would love to hear you’re thoughts on this! Kob kun mak krup!
How would you feel if an Instagram account so dear to you got disabled? If this recently happened to you, I’m sorry; I felt the same way when it happened to me. So if you’re here to find out how to get disabled Instagram account back, or you just simply want to know what I went through to have it back, then you’re in the right place. I’ll share everything you need to know in this blog.
But first, here is my Instagram (@iamdantravels) account that got disabled.
My Instagram account that got disabled
Through series of appeals to Instagram, I got it back in 15 days!
Yes, it took me 15 days!
If you’re now worried about your disabled account, don’t be! Your account will be back EVEN IF you really did something to violate Instagram’s terms and conditions. But the problem is we don’t know when it will be reactivated by Instagram. Time will tell.
So I will just ask you to wait patiently after following the appeal procedures! I can attest to this. And don’t you ever fall for hackers who claimed they can get it back. I’ll explain it later in the HELPFUL TIPS section.
JUST MY TWO CENTS: I feel like our disabled accounts are being held captive by Instagram and will be reactivated in due time depending on the gravity of our violations. Some say, in as quick as 24-hour, they got their accounts back. Most people got it back in 2 weeks’ time. If this is the first time your account got disabled, it is rare that you’ll have to wait for months to have it back.
So in case you got it back, don’t do anything stupid again haha. It would be harder to get it back the second or third time around.
If you really did NOTHING wrong and your account really was deactivated by mistake, then more reason to not worry. I believe it will be back in less than a week.
UPDATE: After a few days, I have another Instagram account that got disabled and this time around it was disabled REALLY by mistake. I was accused for “pretending to be someone else.” After I filled out the form to appeal my case, Facebook instantly (like 10 minutes after I sent the appeal form) sent me a message saying “my account was deactivated by mistake. You see? It’s that quick!
A BIT OF BACKSTORY:
Just like every millennial, I am also fond of sharing loads of content on my social media accounts, especially on Instagram. I mainly use Instagram to post travel-related content especially now that I am backpacking abroad and, hear this… during a pandemic! That being said, wouldn’t it be nice to have Instagram by your side to share what’s happening around you or simply vent out what you feel?
So when my Instagram got disabled, my stress level was through the roof! It was both painful and heartbreaking.
Hear me out: I’ve been using Instagram since 2012. It’s my personal account. It is so dear to me as it contains a lot of memories in a span of almost 9 years. Those posts, stories, and messages are just too precious to let go. I know you would understand. In addition, it also had 6,000+ followers before it got disabled.
NOTE: You’ll know when your Instagram account is disabled when each time you log in a notification would pop up that says: “Your account has been disabled for violating our terms. Learn how you may be able to restore your account.”
Also, when your account is disabled, you are NOWHERE to be found on Instagram!
WHY WAS IT DISABLED?
There are different reasons why Instagram disables an account. Refer to this page from Instagram Help Center if you want to review their terms in full detail.
But in a nutshell, you violate the terms if you use Instagram for:
impersonating someone;
illegal activities;
hate speech / fake news;
nudity;
graphic violence;
collecting artificial likes or follows (or automating it);
spams.
In my case, my account got disabled because I was using a third-party app to automate people to unfollow. In my defense, there are so many people on Instagram who follow you (in the hope that you follow them back), and then later on, they will unfollow you!
So I decided to download an app so I can automatically track and mass unfollow those people who unfollowed me. So yeah, because I prefer not seeing them on my timeline if they are no longer following me! You get me?
HOW TO GET DISABLED INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT BACK (STEP-BY-STEP with TIMELINE)
Day 0 (April 4, 2021):
So while using this automating app, I suddenly got kicked out of Instagram. When I try to open the app, it asked for my number to verify my identity. I put in my phone number and then Instagram texted me a 6-digit code. After keying in the code, I got this notification:
“Thanks for Providing Your Info. We’ll review your info and if we can confirm it, you’ll be able to access your account within approximately 24 hours.” (see also screenshot below)
Day 0: Instagram saying thank you for providing your info
If this happens to you, you need to worry a bit! Because most probably you’ll get your Instagram account disabled after 24 hours! I say 90% probability according to some blogs I’ve read.
Day 1 (April 5, 2021): THE APPEAL PROCEDURE
I couldn’t count how many times I logged in but ended up with the same “Thank you…” notification. Then exactly 24 hours had passed, my account is now DISABLED! It’s horrifying, I know. The pop-up notification now says:
“Your account has been disabled for violating our terms. Learn how you may be able to restore your account.” (see also screenshot below)
Day 1: Instagram saying that my account has been disabled
STEP1: When this appears, click ‘Learn More’ and it will lead you to another page specifying what kind of violation you did.
In my case it says:
“Some of the things we don’t allow include artificially collecting likes, followers or shares, posting repetitive content…” (refer to the snapshot below to see the full statement)
Day 1: Is this really how my Instagram got disabled?
So this is why I got the impression that it has to do with the third-party app I was using to automate mass unfollow!
STEP 2: This is when we need to APPEAL to Instagram to get our account back. We’ll need to let them know that it was a mistake (even though your violation is slightly true? haha.) So click “let us know” and it will lead us to the appeal page!
The appeal page will ask you if your account is a business account, just choose “NO”. Then proceed filling up the form with your:
full name;
Instagram username;
email address, and;
country.
Remember, ALWAYS put that you’re in the US (they kind of prioritized your case if you’re in America.)
You can also access the same page on your computer. Let’s call this page FORM 1.
STEP 3: In a few minutes, you will receive an email asking you to take your photo holding a piece of paper with a 5-digit code in it including your full name and your Instagram username. Here is the screenshot of the email I received.
Day 1: The first email response from Facebook asking for your photo with a code
So do it right away!
Here is the photo I took. I look mad and frustrated. Haha!
Day 1: My photo holding a paper with 5-digit code
It is rare that you will not receive this first email response. BUT in case you didn’t, there are other forms to fill up:
FORM 2 – VERY similar to FORM 1, except it doesn’t ask which country you’re from. You also have to state the reason why Instagram should not permanently disable your account. Just simply say you didn’t do anything wrong or it might have been hacked and then eventually got disabled.
You’re basically talking to a “BOT” so don’t hurt yourself explaining too much!
FORM 3 – You’ll need to submit your government-issued photo ID here.
FORM 4 – VERY similar to FORM 2, the only difference is that it’s from Facebook Help Center. (Instagram is owned by Facebook in case you haven’t heard.)
Day 2-3 (April 6-7, 2021):
Our goal is to get that email (asking for our photo with a code) once a day until we receive a response from either Instagram or Facebook.
With that in mind, on the second day, I filled up FORM 2 and also receive the same email with a different code. The same thing I did on the 3rd day but I filled up FORM 3! I received the same email again with a new code.
So basically, I’ve been sending that photo with a code for 3 straight days!
Day 4-10 (April 8-14, 2021):
On the 4th day, I filled up FORM 4, but unfortunately, I didn’t receive the email. I also filled up FORM 1-3 one at a time but still, I am no longer receiving the same email!
I repeat filling up each of the forms per day from Day 5 to Day 10 but again, NO EMAIL! I have the feeling that Instagram max it to only 3 email responses per email address. I tried a different email add to fill out FORM 1and I finally received the same email response from Facebook! But of course, we wanted Instagram/ Facebook to know that the email in question is the email linked to our Instagram account. So I didn’t bother continuing the appeal process using a different email.
So from Day 5 to Day 10, I tried several other ways to contact Facebook and Instagram. I have listed those on the HELPFUL TIPS section below.
Day 11-14 (April 15-19, 2021):
On the 11th day, I almost gave up. I stopped filling up the forms.
I created a NEW Instagram account, too =(. I told myself: at least the posts on my Instagram have synced into my Facebook page. So somehow I still got the memories.
Basically, I just left it in the hands of GOD! If Instagram will give it back then I’d be very grateful. If not, then that’s fine. I already accepted the fact that it might not be recovered. Huhu!
On the 14th day, I received this email stating that my account is fixed?
The email message reads:
“We just investigated your report and it looks like this is NO longer an issue. If this comes up again, just reply to this message and let us know…” (refer to the screenshot below)
Day 14: The second email response I received from Facebook
So I tried logging in BUT still the same “Your account has been disabled…” notification.
This email was a HUGE relief to me though! I believe Instagram is in the process of reactivating it. So I replied to the email asking them to help me since I am still getting the same error.
Day 15 (April 20, 2021):
FINALLY, on the 15th day, I received a new email from Facebook saying that my Instagram account has been reactivated.
AND IT WORKED!!!!
Day 15: The third email response I received from Facebook stating my account is BACK!
The first thing I did after recovering my account was to switch it to PRIVATE. I feel like from this time onwards, I am going to protect this personal account of mine and refrain from doing any sort of violations. Haha!
HELPFUL TIPS (OTHER WAYS):
When I stopped receiving those email responses from Facebook on the 4th day, I started looking for other workarounds to contact Facebook and Instagram.
Here are some of the useful tips I could give you! I’ll explain each as per my experience.
TIP 1: ACCESS THE FACEBOOK SUPPORT CHAT
You can access the Facebook live chat if you have a Facebook business account after running an ad in it. Since I already have a Facebook business account with ads in it, I can easily access it and get help regarding my Instagram account. BUT NO! I couldn’t find the live chat.
After watching a couple of YouTube videos, I learned that Facebook has temporarily stopped this kind of support somewhere in March 2021. Maybe it has to do with the pandemic? I’m not sure.
TIP 2: CALL FACEBOOK NUMBER
I came across another YouTube video claiming that calling the Facebook landline number had helped her in recovering her disabled Instagram account. The number is:
1-650-543-4800 (US landline number)
Since this number is in the US, I used my SKYPE Credit to call this number. Please note that you won’t be speaking with an actual person. Instead, you will have to explain everything as quick as you can probably in less than 40 seconds (as it will cut you off) AFTER THE TONE! Also, you’ll need to spell out your name, Instagram username, and email address.
TIP 3: MESSAGE ACTUAL FACEBOOK/INSTAGRAM EMPLOYEES
This is another option. What you’ll need to do is head to LinkedIn and find Instagram (see snapshot below). Then click “See all XX,XXX employees on LinkedIn.”
Instagram LinkedIn page
You’ll be able to find the list of real employees working on Instagram. You can also filter the employees by location, say for example employees in California. And with their names, find them on either Facebook or Instagram then message them! I messaged like 15 people! There are two people who responded but only advised me to check out the HELP Center instead. Not really the response I am looking for! But at least I tried.
You could do the same thing with Facebook employees on LinkedIn.
TIP 4: DON’T EVER FALL FOR CYBER HACKERS
Now this one is interesting. When I posted about my situation asking for help to Instagram on Twitter, a person who claimed he is a professional hacker messaged me. Apparently, this is common on Twitter wherein they would claim they can help you get your account back. There are a lot of these people on Twitter (and even in YouTube comment sections of most of the videos I’ve watched.)
Below is the message I received from Twitter:
Thank God I didn’t fall for this hacker!
Don’t listen to these people! Just trust the process!
As an example, I got this message from someone who hired a hacker to get her account back. Turns out, the hacker is scamming her for what else…her money!
Apparently, the hacker created a fake account of her into thinking they had the details.
I feel sorry for this gal. Hope she can still get her account back.
LET’S WRAP THIS UP:
I can understand your frustration and pain. Because I’ve personally experienced this myself.
But the good news is that it isn’t too complicated to get back your disabled account. The only frustrating part is we have to wait for God knows HOW LONG!
It might take a few days but that’s nothing compared to the months or years of photos and videos that you uploaded to your Instagram account!
So don’t lose all the hope. You will get it back! =)
I was in a constant lookout for any home-based job I could find after quitting my 9-to-5 day job in the pursuit of long-term travel. In June 2019, I signed up for Remotasks after hearing great things about it.
The best part? Remotasks offers FREE training in the Philippines. They call this the Remotasks Boot Camp, and it happens biweekly in major cities across the country. I was lucky enough to join a 10-day training in Quezon City, which helped me dig deeper into how the platform works.
Hi there! I am Daniel – a solo backpacker from the Philippines. If you don’t know my story yet, feel free to read this article where I talk about how I quit my job to travel. This story was also featured on TripZilla Philippines.
IS REMOTASKS LEGIT?
Remotasks is a LEGIT opportunity to work as a freelancer and start making money quickly. It’s popular because you don’t need special degrees—just a good command of English and the patience to pass exams to unlock tasks.
Try this too: You can also check out SproutGigs (previously Picoworkers) for simpler tasks like surveys or website testing. I’ve earned $0.02 to $1.00 per task there.
HOW TO JOIN REMOTASKS
Simply visit the Sign Up page here and join using your Facebook account. Once in, you can start taking courses at Remotasks University to unlock earning opportunities immediately.
TYPES OF TASKS
Classic Tasks: Includes image annotation (drawing boxes), categorization, and image/audio transcription.
LiDAR Tasks: This involves Light Detection and Ranging technology used for self-driving cars. These are the highest-paying tasks on the platform.
HOW MUCH CAN YOU EARN?
Task Type
Pay Rate (USD)
Duration
Image Annotation
$0.05 – $0.20
< 4 minutes
Categorization
$0.01 – $0.02
< 3 minutes
LiDAR
$5.00 – $80.00
3 – 6 hours
IN-PERSON TRAINING BOOT CAMP
For those in the Philippines, the 10-day Boot Camp is a game-changer. Not only is it free, but you get paid for tasks completed during training and a bonus upon graduation. Training is available in cities like Manila, Cebu, Davao, and Quezon City.
My co-trainees at Remotasks Boot Camp in Quezon City
Note: LiDAR tasks require a decent computer. Make sure you have at least 4GB of RAM (8GB is better!) to work smoothly from home.
PROS AND CONS
✅ Pros
Quick sign-up and weekly PayPal payouts.
No minimum payout requirement.
Complete flexibility of time and location.
❌ Cons
Tasks can be repetitive and tedious.
Consistently low accuracy can lead to bans.
Requires a good PC for high-paying LiDAR tasks.
MY FINAL SAY
Is Remotasks worth it? If you live in a country where the USD is strong and you don’t mind repetitive work, then yes, go for it! It’s a reliable way to build a consistent income from home while you plan your next travel adventure.
What are your thoughts? Have you tried working on Remotasks before? Let me know in the comments!
At the moment, English transcription may be limited — but many applicants don’t realize you can apply using other languages where competition is lower.
Click “Apply as a Transcriber” 👉 You may also click “Apply as a Translator” depending on availability
Fill out the application form
Take the transcription test
Wait for results
The test is the most important part — follow the guidelines carefully.
🧭 My Experience as a Beginner Transcriber
I had no experience
I was just looking for ways to earn online
When I first applied:
The test was challenging, but manageable.
Once accepted:
I started taking small transcription jobs
It took me time to get used to the workflow
My GoTranscript worker certificate
👉 At first, I was slow.
👉 Over time, I improved — but the pay didn’t increase much.
💻 Is GoTranscript Worth It?
👉 Yes — if you are a beginner
👉 No — if you’re looking for high income
Use it as a starting point and move to better opportunities later.
🧠 Final Verdict
GoTranscript is legit, beginner-friendly, but low-paying.
It’s a great starting point — but not a long-term income source.
My interview happened this morning (March 19th). My schedule was for 9:45 AM, and by 9:30 AM, I was already in the waiting hall. At 9:55 AM, we were directed inside for the three stages of the application:
Pre-screening
Fingerprint Scanning
The Interview
The most interesting part is the INTERVIEW. I kept telling myself, “You got this, Daniel!” As I moved closer to the windows, a Filipino couple let me go ahead of them. I later realized they were avoiding the interviewer on the leftmost side—she was loud, dominant, and had just rejected the lady in front of her. That’s when I got really nervous!
THE INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT
ME: Good morning, Ma’am. (I handed over my passport)
INTERVIEWER: Good morning. (Looking at her computer) What will you do in Los Angeles?
ME: Hollywood… Hollywood Walk of Fame… (I went blank for a second) Ro-rodeo Drive, Venice Canals—the famous ones.
INTERVIEWER: (Sees my Turkish visa) Oh, you went to Turkey. What did you do there?
ME: I went backpacking, Ma’am. I have been to 21 countries before.
INTERVIEWER: How do you fund your travels?
ME: I have a job here in the Philippines, Ma’am.
INTERVIEWER: What kind of company?
ME: I work as a Mechanical Engineer for an engineering firm.
INTERVIEWER: But what does your company actually do?
ME: (Blank again!) We buy equipment… basically, we’re a contractor and a middleman between the client and the vendor to build power plants. It’s in the Oil and Gas industry.
INTERVIEWER: Alright. What other countries have you been to?
ME: Recently, I went to South America—
INTERVIEWER: (Cuts me off) Yeah, you have a Peru stamp. Where did you go in Peru?
ME: I went to Lima, Cusco, and Machu Picchu.
INTERVIEWER: What college degree did you finish?
ME: Mechanical Engineering at Sorsogon State College.
INTERVIEWER: SORso-what?
ME: SORSOGON State College.
INTERVIEWER: When did you graduate?
ME: April 2011.
INTERVIEWER: How do you travel so much despite your work?
ME: I normally file leave for 4 days to a week. For South America, I used 2 weeks because I sacrificed my Christmas vacation for it.
INTERVIEWER: Who do you live with? Where is your family?
ME: I live alone in a rented room. My family is in my hometown, Sorsogon. It’s about 600km from here.
INTERVIEWER: Backpacking in Los Angeles. Interesting. How do you do backpacking?
ME: It’s a low-cost style of travel, for example, staying at hostels.
INTERVIEWER: Do you have relatives in the US?
ME: No, Ma’am.
INTERVIEWER:Your visa is approved. You’ll have it in one week.
ME: Thank you so much!
*Phewww*
Yep! She did not ask for any documents. The interview was 5-8 minutes long I think. It went fast. But I must admit the first minute of the interview, I was nervous and shaky.
I know you’re nervous, too. And it’s okay. But just like myself, you’re gonna rock this!!! Just be true to your intentions but also make sure you established your rootedness to the Philippines. You need to convey to them that you will return after your touristic trip. That is very important. Like in my case, I have to come back to work after my trip.
💡 TOP 3 TIPS TO NAIL YOUR INTERVIEW
Be Brutally Honest & Consistent: The interviewer already has your DS-160 data on their screen. If you wrote “backpacking,” stick to it! Don’t try to sound like a luxury traveler if you aren’t one. Like I did, it’s okay to admit you’re staying in hostels—they value consistency over “rich” stories.
Prove Your “Rootedness”: This is the most important part! You need to show them you have every reason to come back to the Philippines. Mention your job, your family in the province (like my 600km connection to Sorsogon), or your rental commitments. They need to know you aren’t going there to stay illegally.
Keep Your Composure (Even if you blank out!): I went blank twice during my interview—once about the places in L.A. and once about my own job description! It happens. Just stay calm, smile, and explain it simply. You don’t need a perfect “script”; you just need to be a real person.
Bonus Tip: Don’t let the “loud” interviewers at the other windows scare you. Focus on your own window and your own story!
Feel free to read a separate blog I made on How To Apply A US Visa With Your Philippine Passport HERE. It is a step-by-step guide to apply for your US Visa.
If you have any questions, feel free to leave a reply below. I will respond as soon as I can to help you somehow. That’s a promise.
This post may contain affiliate links which means if you purchase something through that link, I will make a small commission at no additional cost to you. Think of it as buying a cup of coffee for me on someone else. Thanks & enjoy!
The Turkish Embassy is located at Dasmariñas Village (Dasma for short), Makati City. It is an exclusive village so you need to go to Dasma Village front gate (near Magallanes MRT Station) and wait for the shuttle going to the Embassy. Look for the guard on duty, show you appointment details, and he would require you first to log in on the logbook as it is a ‘first-log first-ride-to-shuttle basis’! Then I keep asking myself – ‘am I ready for my Turkish visa interview?’
Your first stop is the Dasma Village Office Hall where you’ll pay 150 pesos for the shuttle fee.
Please note that it is not allowed to bring bag or mobile phones inside the embassy building. Leave it to the guard station once you arrived. Once you’re inside the building (yeah that building in the below photo!), you’ll be logging in again.
On my appointment day, there was only one Consular Officer (a Turkish guy) so it took me a while to wait! Also, the AC is down inside the building so bear with the heat!
When I was called, I greeted the Consular Officer and gave him the hardcopies of my pre-application documents. Here’s an excerpt of how the interview went on:
INTERVIEWER: Purpose?
ME: I’ll be traveling to Istanbul. Here is my day-to-day itinerary. (*handed over to him a piece of paper*). *Blah blah blah*…*Also mentioned going to Russia after Istanbul*
INTERVIEWER: You’re staying for 4 days. Ok. What is your work?
ME: I am a Mechanical Engineer.
INTERVIEWER: What company?
ME: *States the Company*. My employment certificate is right here in these papers. Let me find it. *Give to him my Certificate of Employment*
INTERVIEWER: *Stares at my employment certificate and writes something down on my application form*. Do you have birth certificate?
ME: Yes. *I pointed him to last page of the hardcopies I gave him*
INTERVIEWER: Flight and Hotel reservations are also right here?
ME: Yes. *Blah blah blah*
INTERVIEWER: Do you have 60 dollars?
ME: I do. *hands over to him my 60USD cash*
Phew….
That’s it! Then he gives the claim stub. I was scheduled to return after two weeks.
But wait! There is more!
After 13 days…
A lady phoned me a day before the scheduled release date of my passport/visa. She scheduled another interview prior to the release of my Turkish tourist visa. She did not give me any details. It was unexpected but I hurriedly went to Dasma Makati again to check what’s going on.
You can see my conversation with her below. Her name is Gladdy (not sure if it spells correctly) and she was quite strict. Sabe sa ibang blogs masungit daw siya, so I tried my best to be composed and look confident as possible during my interview with her:
INTERVIEWER: Why Turkey?
ME: Ma’am, I love traveling. I’ve been to 14 countries. And I believe Turkey is one of the best countries to visit next (not sure if that’s the exact words I’ve said).
INTERVIEWER: Are you traveling alone?
ME: Yes.
INTERVIEWER:Wala dito Employment Certificate mo… (she can speak Tagalog, I was told she was half Filipino).
ME:Nandyan Ma’am. Binigay ko kay Sir on the day of my first interview. Pero bigyan na lang po kita copy . Do you need the original copy?
INTERVIEWER: Yes, please. I also need the original copies of your Birth Certificate and Bank Certificate.
ME: Here. *gives the original copies*
INTERVIEWER: Do you have travel insurance?
ME: Yes. *gives the travel insurance copy*
So I guess I gave her a good impression of my intention to travel to Turkey!
I really thought the interview was enough during the day of my submittals because I know I have completed the requirements and I know they should be reviewing the completeness of the documents too prior to filing them. It was the consulate guy (Turkish national) who interviewed me before. Now it turns out one of the documents was missing and it is the lady consulate who’s interviewing me this time. She requested the original copies of some of the documents. Glad I brought them all!
It is also good to note that the interviewer would likely ask for “travel insurance”, I actually have this (thanks to the blogs I have been reading!) and I intend to show this document only when asked.
Thus, I highly recommend you guys to get a travel insurance. I bought one from the World Nomads where most travelers get their travel insurances. Get yours NOW from the below widget.
Or you can also go to the World Nomads link, click HERE.
UPDATE: World Nomads is no longer covering residents of the Philippines and the link above was now looped to another travel insurance in the Philippines. Although I was told by World Nomads that they are working their best to get the insurance back in the country, I would suggest for now to go for Safety Wing (this is now my insurance while traveling abroad.) Click here .
Unfortunately, the release date of my visa has been pushed a week more. 😦
After a week, I came back to the Turkish Embassy and…
VISA APPROVED! The long wait is over! Haha. Got my single-entry Turkish Tourist visa that day! It took me almost 2 months from the day I submitted my pre-application online. Hoorray!
Dan Travels 