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Firstly, I have to thank Paulin Aro, of HBO Asia, for recommending me to the Malay Mail for the interview. The header and the introduction of the article was prepared by Ng Suzhen (thank you!). Here’s the link and the article!
It’s My Life, Thanks to Bon Jovi
It’s all about life for Daniel Franklin Gomez, and in his ‘gallivantings’, which is the tagline for his blog (www.danielfranklingomez.com).
Bon Jovi has a pretty big say because music-loving Daniel has a dedicated section at the top of his site for his super idol Jon and the Bon Jovi band.
Daniel, better known by his online persona of Gallivanter, subscribes to the philosophies of Bon Jovi’s poetic lyrics and writes about the influence they have had on his life (and maybe, should on others too?).
But being a true-blue Gallivanter, he does not just confine himself to his passion for BJ music. He does entertaining, easily digesting reviews of all types of music that grab him.
Furthermore, Daniel also shares all aspects of his life – from autos to thoughts (take a peek at his site’s categories), and has garnered quite a following with his humorous style of writing.
He takes pleasure in meeting fellow bloggers, and although based in the Klang Valley, this Gallivanter, true to his name, even took the trouble to help organise the Sabahan Bloggers Gathering 2008 and other blogger meets.
And why not, because like the song from the 2002 Bon Jovi album ‘Bounce’, whether in Cyberspace or in the real world, we should all be ‘Undivided’.
Tell us a bit about yourself?
I just turned 31 on the Dec 6, and work as a New Media Acquisitions Manager for a sports marketing agency. I have a younger brother and my mom is a part-time real estate agent.
When did you start to blog?
I started blogging sporadically back in November 2005 and moved to my own domain in August 2006. My blog site currently attracts approximately 1000 unique visitors per day (there must be lots of other ‘gallivanters’ out there), with an average of 12 comments per entry.
Your reasons?
The main reason I blog is to ‘vent’ my thoughts about everything, especially music. I love unearthing new music. It has always been my ‘soul’. I make it a point to share songs with blog readers and it has become more like an ongoing hobby.
What do you hope to achieve through blogging?
I believe my postings may have helped some people in their relationships, careers and lives by my sharing of experiences in the same areas.
The comments received are also a motivation for me to blog. I had a reader sending me a friendship request via Facebook with the message, “Your blog is like my morning coffee, I can’t start the day without it”. That’s the best compliment and I guess a testament of my contributions towards the blogosphere.
Any regrets through blogging?
None whatsoever!
Has blogging changed your life? How?
Certainly. Yes, blogging has unleashed my extrovert self. I have become much more sociable than I was. It certainly has built my confidence over the years, helping me make more acquaintances.
I’m really satisfied on my blog evolution and just hope that my daily ramblings touch the lives of my readers.
The ‘Blogosphere’. What does it mean to you?
To put it simply, it’s a giant social network of a connected community that represents the voices of many, who previously, never had a platform to share their thoughts.
Who is your absolute favourite blogger?
My favorite blogger goes by the initial of RPK and he writes for Malaysia Today. I love his entries; very straightforward and I feel he speaks for the silent majority…
Features in the Blogosphere that amaze/ irritate you?
The ease of making new acquaintances is amazing. On the other hand, the most irritating thing is tags/meme which is nothing but link-baiting! Those are highly annoying!
If there is someone you could influence to take up blogging…
A whole bunch of people. I would say Jon Bon Jovi, to learn about what inspires him. Also my fellow Arsenal compadre Ravind, if only to read about his daily curses. There’s my brother, Reuben, to keep up to date with the other aspects of his life; and my-wife-to-be, Mel, to post more regularly so I don’t have to read her mind all the time, just read her blog!
Any memorable incidents?
Two of my blog readers met and fell in love during the first bloggers’ meet I organised. They are still a couple today.
Any additional thoughts?
I think the media needs to play a more interactive role with bloggers in Malaysia. It is indeed easier to criticise than to come up with suggestions for a better Malaysia, but I think the Government needs to be more liberal to create a channel to accept constructive criticism, maybe a weekly TV show/forum, that picks up topics off the Blogosphere.
Blogs are here to stay, and, if a channel can be opened to them, I believe that we will get some wonderful ideas and thoughts to push Malaysia forward to achieve 2020. It is still not too late.
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Tags: Aro, blogger, Bon Jovi, Cyberspace, daniel franklin, Hbo, Hbo Asia, Humorous Style, klang valley, Life Thanks, Malay Mail, Marketing Agency, Media Acquisitions, Philosophies, Real Estate Agent, sabahan, Sports Marketing, Tagline, Unique Visitors, Visitors Per Day
January 13th, 2009 at 12:22am
well done man! you have achieve celebrity status…
January 13th, 2009 at 2:48am
Bravo!!! 1000 per day?!!!! hehe…
celebrity status wei..hehe…next time gathering sure many celebrity kena jemput la this..hehe..
wel’s last blog post..Not a smooth week..
January 13th, 2009 at 8:18am
Wow! Great kick start for 2009,yes?
Congrats on that
January 13th, 2009 at 9:20am
Woot! Congrats Dan!
January 13th, 2009 at 9:23am
Congrats Dan!!
*woot*woot*
alicetine’s last blog post..Wet Monday
January 13th, 2009 at 9:28am
wow fehmes!
p/s: ng suzhen is my sec fren omg! the world is round, really.
January 13th, 2009 at 9:29am
Well Done!! Gorgeous…
Alv0808’s last blog post..Happiness Is The Way
January 13th, 2009 at 9:30am
congrats! kick eh XD
January 13th, 2009 at 9:41am
nice one, dan!
January 13th, 2009 at 11:11am
walao! good for you man
COngrats!
January 13th, 2009 at 11:22am
this is so major and beyond!
congrats dan!
cornelia’s last blog post..Bersiaran dari Kota Kinabalu
January 13th, 2009 at 12:23pm
walneh!!.. Congrats! ^_^
“but I think the Government needs to be more liberal to create a channel to accept constructive criticism, maybe a weekly TV show/forum, that picks up topics off the Blogosphere.”
what a thought!!! hahaha.. if this really happen, argh!! I think my grandma oso want to build her own blog and regret why she born too early (kidding).. I mean u r so damm ‘future’.. Good one!
kuai’s last blog post..‘Chingu’
January 13th, 2009 at 1:46pm
hehe….very nice. congrats!
claire bennet’s last blog post..Age Of A Woman
January 13th, 2009 at 3:23pm
Nice!!! COngratsssss!!!!
Psttt…when is the BIG DAY for you and mel????
kaDusMama’s last blog post.."Rojak" story..
January 13th, 2009 at 3:36pm
CONGRATS…
good start for 2009.
January 13th, 2009 at 3:36pm
Are you serious about wanting Mel to blog more of her thoughts to save you time guessing what’s in her mind? Cos, i think that could work for me too.
January 13th, 2009 at 4:23pm
wah!!! femes liow lor!!
congrats….so long since i came here n now i’m commenting on a celebrity’s blog. dahsyat!!! good on ya, daniel. keep it up!!! 
*pppssttt….this will definitely affect ur 12 comments on avg per day! lol 
*
yvy’s last blog post..More on changing my name
January 13th, 2009 at 4:59pm
cool!
now u will be very famous!
January 13th, 2009 at 5:10pm
Congrats!!! Way to go. I believe you’re blog will invite more traffic after this
My husband read your blog and he thinks your a funny guy 
January 13th, 2009 at 6:03pm
yo bro. congratulation..I am so proud of you..I wish you can achieve 10,000 visitors per day,,,go figure go!
Daniel Ng’s last blog post..The Global Financial Crisis In Photos – Ten Of The Best!
January 13th, 2009 at 6:54pm
Well done Dan!
Mimi’s last blog post..ungrateful s.o.b.
January 13th, 2009 at 7:14pm
congrats bro!
by the way, i love your answer for the amaze/irritate questions.. you say tags is highly annoying/irritating and just a link-baiting, but i see you have like 20 tags for this entry only! hahaha! i salute you bro!
p/s: when is the big day, bro?
January 13th, 2009 at 8:13pm
chrisau, wel, Mell_f, JACQ, alicetine – Thank you!
xin – Cool, yes, the world is round.
Alv0808, massy, edgar, DA, cornelia – Thank you!
kuai – Thanks. Yeah, it’s time the government opens up to us.
claire bennet – Thanks!
kaDusMama – Thanks! Big day??? It’s on the way, within the next 5 years. Hehehehe!
sheela – Thanks!
chegu carol – Yes, partially serious.
We men can never read a woman’s mind. So complex bah.
yvy – Thanks! Well, not really, I don’t think it will have any impact on the blog whatsoever. But, it’s certainly nice to be featured.
kristie – No la, it’s not something I’m aiming for, the main intention is to make more friends and to organize more gatherings among strangers-soon-to-be-friends.
sarah – Thank you.
Daniel Ng – LOL! I was at 2500 average once, before the days of Facebook.
Mimi – Thanks!
Pai – Thanks! Eh, tags and comments are not the same bah. Tags are annoying things bloggers tend to do just to fill their entries.
My big day, coming soon, in a few years’ time. I’ll keep you informed, kio? 
January 13th, 2009 at 8:43pm
Wah.. This has FAME written all over it!! Congrats man!
cdason’s last blog post..Rain, Rain Go Away…
January 13th, 2009 at 9:00pm
Any memorable incidents?
Two of my blog readers met and fell in love during the first bloggers’ meet I organised. They are still a couple today.
Dan, thanks for the hookup.
endroo G’s last blog post..Bear Beer
January 13th, 2009 at 11:25pm
Hey Congrats buddy
Can I have your autograph now … hehehe …
January 14th, 2009 at 1:09am
congrats on the interview..when is my turn…wondering..wondering…
|1f34|-|1r3’s last blog post..Use isthatsitedown.com to check site is down or not
January 14th, 2009 at 8:51am
yo buddy, congrates on the interview !!!
January 14th, 2009 at 9:26am
Wife to be!! Awwwwww
charlenediane’s last blog post..Batu Caves: doing the tourist thing
January 14th, 2009 at 11:48am
Congrats! Famous already lah now? : )
foongpc’s last blog post..All About Moon
January 14th, 2009 at 11:51am
congratulations for this one sir..
pirut’s last blog post..Balance of The Day to The KENTE : 17th Day
January 14th, 2009 at 10:07pm
cdason – LOL. No fame man, just plain old Galli!
endroo G – No prob, I had to mention you both. To know that I had some part in it, was memorable.
Nick Phillips – Autograph? How about having a beer instead?
|1f34|-|1r3 – It’ll come.
Archie – Thanks!
charlenediane –
foongpc – No la, where got, still feels the same.
pirut – LOL! Thanks! No need to call me Sir though.
January 15th, 2009 at 12:44am
Wow…. talking like a proffesional man! Congrats! Hope there are many more to come! I was just about to ask who fell in love but… nah my Q is already answered.. he,he,he..
Olie’s last blog post..Gotta Be Somebody – Nickelback
January 15th, 2009 at 8:35am
dah fehmes now! well, at least ‘we’ were featured too hehehehhehhehe….
January 15th, 2009 at 7:36pm
Olie – Yeah, my fellow bloggers Endroo & Tihtahpah.
tihtahpah – Ya man, because it was memorable!
January 19th, 2009 at 6:20pm
Here also deleted? Wah la wei… LOL.
January 19th, 2009 at 7:07pm
papajoneh – Indak bah, not deleted, but lost because I transferred my domain to an overseas server, more stable.